The Self Publishing Show

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are joined by Hollywood screenwriter and author Thomas Dean Donnelly to discuss his new book, Superdraft, and how writers can improve their writing process to produce better books, faster.

Tom explains why writers often become attached to their existing routines and how making even small changes can transform the way they work. He introduces the two competing voices in every writer's head – the creator and the critic – and explains why giving each its own space is essential for a more productive and enjoyable writing process.

From brainstorming and outlining to walking, dictation and allowing your subconscious mind to do the heavy lifting, Tom shares practical techniques to help writers overcome creative blocks, generate better ideas and rediscover the joy of writing.

Plus, James and Cissy discuss Amazon's announcement that Kindle Unlimited is becoming Kindle Plus, including the introduction of audiobooks and concerns about how the changes could affect author earnings.

There's also exciting news that SPS Live USA has officially sold out!

Key Talking Points

•

Tom Donnelly's new book Superdraft and why writing process matters just as much as craft

•

Understanding the creator and critic voices and how to use them effectively

•

Why brainstorming without judgement can unlock better story ideas

•

Finding the right balance between plotting and pantsing

•

Making small changes to your writing routine to improve productivity

•

The benefits of walking, dictation and giving your subconscious mind space to work

•

How writing groups and sharing story ideas can strengthen your creative process

•

Kindle Unlimited's move to Kindle Plus and concerns about audiobook payments

•

SPS Live USA sells out, with a waiting list being set up

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions

SPS Patreon / Support https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

SPS Live LONDON https://learnselfpublishing.com/spslive

SPS Live USA Waitlist https://learnselfpublishing.com/spsliveusa

SPS Live Digital Recordings https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital

Superdraft TD Donnelly: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HN6P14X3

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca tackle a growing concern for indie authors: is the flood of AI-generated books making it harder for genuine authors to get noticed and earn a living?

James shares some worrying findings from research into AI-written books, alongside data from Alex Newton showing how AI-generated titles are making their way into competitive Amazon categories. They discuss what this means for authors, the potential impact on Kindle Unlimited earnings, and why building a loyal readership and maintaining a strong newsletter could be more important than ever.

Cissy also shares a clever and affordable way to create special edition paperbacks using IngramSpark, plus a fresh approach to newsletter swaps after analysing the marketing habits of successful romance authors.

There's also an update on latest on SPS Live USA ticket sales, and news of another speaker joining the Fort Worth line-up.

Key Talking Points

• The growing number of AI-generated books and their impact on indie publishing
• Alex Newton's findings on AI-written books in competitive Amazon categories
• Concerns about manipulated rankings, page reads and Kindle Unlimited earnings
• Why building your own audience and email list matters more than ever
• Cissy's affordable special edition paperback hack using IngramSpark
• Bringing back newsletter swaps to reach new readers
• Using AI to improve reader freebies, websites and newsletter marketing
• SPS Live USA ticket updates and Mark Recklau joining the speaker line-up

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

SPS Patreon: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

SPS Live 2027 USA: https://learnselfpublishing.com/spsliveusa

SPS Live 2027 LONDON: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are joined by Stuart Grant to talk about author discoverability in the age of AI and why your author website might be more important than ever.

Stuart explains how the way readers search for books and authors is changing, and what authors can do to make sure they're being found and recommended by tools such as ChatGPT. They discuss the difference between traditional SEO and the newer GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), the importance of keeping your online information consistent, and some surprisingly simple ways to improve your website's visibility.

James and Cissy also share their own experiences of updating their websites using AI, and Stuart offers listeners a free author website audit to help identify what's missing.

Plus, there's an update on SPS Live USA, including ticket prices, Founders tickets and when tickets will go on sale.

Key Talking Points

• Author discoverability and how AI is changing the way readers find books
• SEO versus GEO and what authors need to know
• Why your author website is central to your online presence
• Using schema markup to help search engines and AI understand your website
• How ChatGPT and Claude can help with website optimisation
• The importance of FAQs, blogging and consistent author information
• Stuart Grant's free website audit for SPS listeners
• SPS Live USA ticket prices and early access for Patreon supporters

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

Free Author Website Audit: https://learnselfpublishing.com/audit

SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

SPS Live USA Waitlist: https://learnselfpublishing.com/spsliveusa

SPS Live Digital Recordings: https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital

Stuart Grant – http://digitalauthorstoolkit.com/

https://reedsy.com/stuart-grant

On social media @stuartgrantuk on all platforms

Big news this week – The Self-Publishing Show Live is coming to the USA!

James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reveal the plans for the first SPS Live USA, taking place at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in Texas on April 29th and 30th, 2027. The first year will be deliberately small, with just 200 places available, and the first 100 people on the waitlist will have the chance to secure special Founders tickets.

They also reveal the first two speakers: bestselling romance author Lucy Score and Hollywood screenwriter Tom Donnelly. James talks through why Fort Worth was chosen, plans for keeping the event affordable and what they want to bring across from the London conference.

Elsewhere, James and Cissy discuss the latest controversy surrounding RARE London 2027 and the large number of authors withdrawing from the event. James also shares an update on his Etsy experiment, including what happened when he promoted his Cold War book package directly to his mailing list and why bringing your own traffic to a new sales platform can make such a difference.

Key Talking Points

• SPS Live USA officially announced for April 29th–30th, 2027
• Fort Worth Botanic Garden confirmed as the venue
• The event will be limited to 200 attendees in its first year
• The first 100 people on the waitlist will be offered Founders tickets
• Lucy Score and Tom Donnelly announced as the first speakers
• Why SPS Live USA will avoid traditional hotel room blocks
• The latest controversy surrounding RARE London 2027
• James's Etsy experiment and selling books as gift packages
• Why driving your own traffic to a new platform can help generate sales
• Avoiding "shiny new object" syndrome and focusing on what's already working

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

SPS Live USA Waitlist: https://learnselfpublishing.com/spsliveusa

SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, it's launch day for Cissy Mecca's latest medieval romance, while James Blatch is getting serious about his own writing again, with a preorder underway and book two already taking shape.

The main discussion focuses on two significant developments at Amazon KDP. James and Cissy look at the new limits on the number of titles authors can upload each week and reports that Amazon may no longer be honouring permafree price matching. They discuss why these changes may be happening, how they could affect different types of indie authors, and why adapting to changes outside your control is simply part of running an author business.

There's also news from SPS Live London 2027, with Isabelle Knight and A.P. Beswick announced as the latest speakers, plus details of ProWritingAid's Novel November, the Orlando writing retreat and a very big SPS announcement coming next week.

Key Talking Points

• Cissy's launch day and the next book already on preorder
• Amazon KDP's new weekly publishing limits
• What the KDP changes could mean for rapid-release authors and translations
• Reports of changes to Amazon's permafree price matching
• Adapting your author business when platforms change the rules
• ProWritingAid's Novel November writing challenge
• Isabelle Knight and A.P. Beswick announced for SPS Live London 2027
• Writing routines, deadlines, editors and accountability
• The Orlando writing retreat and the value of author communities
• A major SPS announcement coming next week

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15 Orlando retreat waitlist - http://indiewritersclub.com/orlando Cissy's New Series: https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-But-Her-Captive-Medieval-ebook/dp/B0HDN38GS6 James' new A+: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-espionage-thriller-Espionage-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0HJQBSTGD/ PWA's Nov-Nov: https://prowritingaid.com/novel-november Meta Link Workaround: https://youtu.be/frjsqfhKruI?si=cKvwPiYc-yk9_2Ym For the FB messages: Log into business page Go to: https://business.facebook.com/latest/inbox/automated_responses Select "custom keywords" automation

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca catch up from opposite sides of Europe, with Cissy joining from Sicily as she prepares for the September 29th launch of her new book.

James shares news from Learn Self-Publishing, including plans for a brand-new course, Self-Publishing Pathway, which will replace Launchpad and be built from the ground up for today's publishing landscape. He also reveals details of the Orlando writing retreat taking place in March and teases a major industry announcement coming on October 8th.

The main discussion turns to AI audio, as James shares his latest experience using ElevenLabs to create an audiobook version of his novella Desert Venom. They look at how much AI narration has improved, where AI-narrated audiobooks can currently be distributed, and the cost and practical considerations for indie authors.

Cissy also gives an update on her upcoming book launch, including ARC readers, Meta preorder ads, Amazon Ads and her new Vanguard reader group. She shares how she's using Claude and ChatGPT to analyse years of sales, newsletter and BookBub data to help shape a more data-driven launch strategy.

Key Talking Points

• The new Self-Publishing Pathway course and the future of Launchpad
• The Orlando writing retreat in March
• A major Learn Self-Publishing announcement coming October 8th
• James's experience creating an AI-narrated audiobook with ElevenLabs
• Where authors can distribute AI-narrated audiobooks
• Human narration versus AI narration and the cost of producing audio
• Cissy's September 29th book launch and ARC reader strategy
• Meta preorder ads, Amazon Ads and the new Vanguard reader group
• Using Claude and ChatGPT to analyse historical sales and marketing data

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

Orlando Writing Retreat Waitlist: https://indiewritersclub.com/orlando

ElevenLabs: https://elevenlabs.io/

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch is joined by author Skye McKinnon to dig into the numbers behind BookBub Featured Deals and ask whether they still offer authors the same value they once did.

Skye shares data from 28 BookBub deals, showing how the additional sales generated by her 99-cent promotions have fallen significantly over the years. They discuss whether the cost still stacks up, the results from free promotions, and whether combining several smaller newsletter promotions could offer better value.

The conversation also turns to Skye's recent success with Instagram and Facebook Reels. After experimenting with short-form content using Author Scale, she saw older books that had barely been selling suddenly take off, with some reels reaching hundreds of thousands of views.

James also shares a few thoughts on using AI, including where tools such as Claude can be useful for analysing author business data – and where authors should be more cautious about relying on their answers.

Key Talking Points

• Skye McKinnon's findings from 28 BookBub Featured Deals
• Whether BookBub promotions still offer good value for authors
• Free versus 99-cent promotions and the importance of sell-through
• Stacking smaller newsletter promotions as an alternative to BookBub
• Skye's success using Instagram and Facebook Reels to revive older books
• Using Author Scale to create short-form book content
• Repurposing successful organic content for paid advertising
• Using AI to analyse author business and advertising data

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/

SPS LIVE 2027 tickets are now available: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are together in Pennsylvania after celebrating the wedding of their friends Lucy Score and Tim. James even had the honour of officiating the ceremony.

There's also exciting news for Lucy Score fans: Things We Never Got Over is heading to the screen, with filming for the Amazon Prime series, titled Runaway, about to begin in Vancouver.

Inspired by Lucy and Tim's own friends-to-lovers story, James and Cissy dive into romance tropes and why they work. Cissy runs through some of the most popular tropes with readers right now, from enemies to lovers and forced proximity to fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, second chance and fated mates. They look at how tropes create conflict and reader expectations, how authors can combine several tropes in one book, and why the same relationship dynamics can be useful well beyond romance.

Key Talking Points

• Why building an audience and strong author business matters before a breakout moment arrives
• Why tropes have become such a powerful part of romance marketing
• How BookTok has helped make readers increasingly trope-aware
• Enemies to lovers and why it remains such a popular trope
• Forced proximity and the "one bed" microtrope
• Combining multiple tropes to build conflict and tension
• Fake dating and arranged relationship scenarios
• Grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract
• Friends to lovers and second-chance romance
• Protective and morally grey heroes
• Fated mates
• Using romance-style relationship dynamics in thrillers, crime, fantasy and science fiction
• Why successful tropes still need believable characters, conflict and emotional development
• A preview of next week's discussion on book promotions and BookBub Featured Deal performance

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/ Discount code: IWC15

SPS Live 2027 TICKETS are now available here is the link for more information: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca have a packed episode of indie publishing news, starting with a significant change to Amazon's preorder rules. Authors can now set up preorders up to 18 months in advance and postpone them twice without penalty – enough to tempt even preorder-phobic James into considering one for his next book.

They also discuss a legal case involving Amazon Ads, Cissy's plans to test a Goodreads giveaway for her upcoming release, and the opportunities for indie authors in the Italian market following James's conversation with the team behind Indieverse in Milan.

Later, Cissy shares an experiment using ChatGPT and Claude to create an interactive, visual experience around the world of her historical romance series. This leads into a wider conversation about AI, reader-facing marketing and the pressure some romance authors feel around using AI in their businesses.

Key Talking Points

• Amazon's new 18-month preorder window
• Authors can now postpone a preorder twice without penalty
• James considers setting up a preorder for his next book
• The North Carolina Attorney General's case involving Amazon Ads
• Cissy's Goodreads giveaway experiment for her September launch
• Goodreads Giveaway Month and whether giveaways are worth testing
• Tracking launch data with Claude
• The Indieverse conference in Milan and the Italian indie publishing market
• Opportunities for English-language indie authors publishing in Italian
• An upcoming SPS conversation about the Italian market
• Cissy's AI-created interactive world-building experience for readers
• Using ChatGPT to create historical inspiration images
• Using Claude to build interactive marketing experiences
• AI as a tool for launch preparation, data and book marketing
• The debate around reader-facing AI use in romance
• Authors deciding their own boundaries and approach to AI

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/

Indie Writers Club / SPS Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

Down Under Mystery Club: https://ajblythe.com/podcast

Cissy's: Walk the Border Password: vivian

Big news this week, the first two speakers for SPS Live London 2027 have been announced! Melanie Harlow and Theodora Taylor will be joining us in London.

James and Cissy share the news and talk about when tickets will be going on sale, with Patreon supporters getting first access.

James is also back from his travels in New Zealand and Australia, and there's plenty to catch up on. They talk about the latest changes to Meta advertising and what losing some of the usual targeting and placement options could mean for authors running Facebook ads.

They also return to the conversation around RARE London and its AI policy, look at the growing importance of newsletters for book discovery, and Cissy shares what she discovered after digging into the preorder numbers from her own books.

Key Talking Points

• SPS Live London 2027 – Melanie Harlow and Theodora Taylor announced as the first speakers
• When SPS Live 2027 tickets will be available
• James's New Zealand writing retreat and trip to Australia
• RARE London and its AI policy
• Changes coming to Meta/Facebook advertising
• Losing some targeting and placement controls
• What the Meta changes could mean for author advertising
• The importance of strong ad creative, blurbs and book pages
• Newsletters and how readers are finding books
• What Cissy learned from looking back at her preorder numbers
• Whether longer preorders actually result in more sales

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support
• SPS Live London 2027 ticket information will be live in September: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch checks in from his final day in New Zealand while Cissy Mecca takes us behind the scenes of her upcoming historical romance launch. They discuss realistic launch goals, building an ARC and influencer team, setting a marketing budget, and choosing advertising strategies that have actually worked for you rather than simply throwing money at launch day.

James also shares insights from Written Word Media on how authors at different stages of their careers are approaching AI, plus plans to test different Facebook ad setups and share the results with the SPS community.

Key Talking Points

• Cissy's strategy for launching her upcoming historical romance
• Setting realistic goals and expectations for a book launch
• Building ARC, street team and influencer support
• Finding and approaching relevant book influencers
• Deciding when to send physical books to creators
• Creating a launch budget that feels sustainable
• Facebook versus Amazon advertising
• Why proven strategies matter more than simply spending more
• James's upcoming Facebook ads testing and challenge/webinar
• Written Word Media's findings on author attitudes towards AI
• James's plans for another writers' retreat in Florida in 2027

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch checks in from New Zealand with Cissy Mecca to tackle the increasingly complicated relationship between authors and AI. They discuss AI watermarking and detection, the problems authors could face when AI is used for editing or research, and the strict anti-AI rules appearing at romance reader events.

James also reports back from his New Zealand writing retreat, while Cissy shares how she is using AI to build and manage her new reader ambassador hub.

Key Talking Points

• AI watermarking and what it could mean for authors
• The problems with AI detection and false positives
• Using AI for proofreading, research and author business tasks
• RARE's strict rules surrounding AI use
• The growing risk of authors being wrongly accused of using AI
• Research into whether readers can distinguish AI from human-written fiction
• James's New Zealand writing retreat and Facebook ads session
• Using book reviews and AI to identify marketing hooks
• Cissy's new Border Ambassadors reader hub
• Using AI to manage ARC readers, assets and launch teams

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• Indie Writers Club / Patreon: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca conclude their two-part conversation with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood. They delve deeper into how AI is transforming books into cinematic experiences, discussing the practical realities of creating feature-length films, the current limitations of AI video, and how authors can use visual storytelling to reach new audiences. Michael also shares his vision for the future of AI-powered entertainment and how authors can position their intellectual property for the next wave of publishing innovation.

At the start of the episode, James also announces that SPS Live 2027 tickets will be launching soon and reminds listeners about the exclusive Creatorwood giveaway, with 1,000 free viewings of the AI feature film adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail.

Key Talking Points

• Part 2 of the interview with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood
• Turning books into feature-length AI-generated films
• The opportunities and limitations of AI filmmaking today
• Choosing which stories are best suited to visual adaptation
• Building new revenue streams from your intellectual property
• The future of AI-powered entertainment for authors
• Why story remains more important than technology
• Creatorwood's vision for connecting authors directly with audiences
• Announcement of SPS Live 2027 dates and ticket launch
• Creatorwood giveaway: 1,000 free viewings of Scare Mail

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid – https://prowritingaid.com/
• Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage
• Free Scare Mail viewing giveaway: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/creatorwood

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are joined by Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood, for Part 1 of a two-part discussion about using AI to turn books into trailers, short films and feature-length adaptations.

They also discuss developmental editing, author voice and improving your craft.

Part 2 arrives next Friday, when the giveaway link will be shared. Creatorwood is offering 1,000 free viewings of its adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail, with Patreon subscribers receiving early access.

Key Talking Points:

• How Creatorwood turns books into films
• AI video opportunities for authors
• Book trailers and short-form marketing
• Developmental editing and author voice
• Part 2 and the Scare Mail giveaway

Links & Resources Mentioned:

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/

Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca argue that as AI makes it easier than ever to produce competent books, craft is becoming an author's greatest competitive advantage. They explore why developing a distinctive voice, creating emotionally resonant stories, and continually refining your writing matter more than ever. Alongside the discussion on craft, they also cover the latest AI developments, compare tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Fable, and share practical advice on using technology without losing the human qualities that make readers fall in love with books.

Key Talking Points

• Why craft is making a comeback in the age of AI
• How a distinctive author voice sets your books apart from AI-generated content
• What "voice" really means—and practical ways to develop your own
• Why emotionally resonant writing creates the word-of-mouth every author wants
• The difference between writing quickly, writing slowly, and writing well
• How editors and writing coaches should strengthen your unique style, not standardise it
• Understanding that improving craft looks different for every writer
• The influence of TikTok and shareable reading moments on modern storytelling
• The latest updates from Fable, Claude and other AI tools
• Choosing the right AI subscription and building an effective workflow

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• Claude AI: https://claude.ai/
• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
• Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/
• Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the next wave of AI tools for authors, focusing on Fable and the rise of agentic AI. They explore how these new tools can ingest an author's entire backlist, create series bibles, analyse metadata, support developmental editing, and become long-term business assistants rather than simple chatbots. Along the way, they share updates on their own writing projects, discuss practical AI workflows, and look at how tools like ChatGPT's new Sites feature are rapidly changing what authors can build without coding.

Key Talking Points

• What is Fable and how does it differ from traditional AI chatbots?
• Agentic AI and why it's a game-changer for author businesses
• Building a series bible from an entire backlist
• Using AI for developmental editing and metadata optimisation
• Why authors should ingest their content while pricing remains low
• James shares how AI is helping him plot Book 5 without writing it for him
• Practical examples of AI organising story structure and chapter planning
• The real costs of AI-powered publishing workflows
• Creating AI "decision filters" to avoid shiny object syndrome and stay focused

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• Claude Fable 5: claude.ai - just open claude.ai (or the desktop/mobile app) and pick it from the model dropdown.
• Patreon: learnselfpublishing.com/support — where listeners can sign up for the Indie Writers Club Patreon (tiers: Quirky Friend $5/mo, Reliable Narrator $10/mo, Main Character $15/mo).
• https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?si=dGSQ65NIC9Y7EkEK
• https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/fable-download

Episode Summary

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca welcome author and former music industry executive Jack Williamson to discuss what authors can learn from the entertainment industry. Jack shares how a career spanning 17 years in music, followed by psychotherapy, inspired his transition into writing fiction, and why storytelling, branding, and understanding genre expectations are essential for building an author career. The conversation explores lessons from the music business, creating immersive reader experiences, writing authentic romance, and how authors can think more like entertainers when launching books.

Key Talking Points

• Jack Williamson's journey from the music industry to indie publishing
• What authors can learn from the music business about building an audience
• Why storytelling is at the heart of every successful creative career
• Writing authentic romance inspired by real-life experiences
• The importance of understanding genre expectations and reader promise
• Building a book launch that extends beyond the novel itself
• Using original music and multimedia to enhance the reader experience
• Branding lessons authors can borrow from musicians and performers
• The value of treating your author career as a long-term creative business
• SPS banter covering football, conferences, and the indie author community

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the latest AI developments, including changes to Claude's subscription tiers and what they mean for authors using AI in their daily workflows. They also discuss TikTok marketing, the risks of AI-generated recommendations being manipulated, and why authors need to think critically about discoverability in an AI-driven world. Cissy shares an update on her upcoming fantasy romance launch, including cover design, budgeting, and building a comprehensive launch strategy, while James reflects on book formatting mishaps, marketing lessons, and England's World Cup campaign.

Key Talking Points

• Claude's new subscription limits and what they mean for authors
• Comparing Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools for writing and business tasks
• How AI-generated recommendations can potentially be manipulated
• Why authors should stay informed as AI changes search and discoverability
• TikTok marketing tips and understanding how the algorithm works
• Cissy's upcoming Black Sails of the Border fantasy romance series
• Cover design investment and the cost of illustrated covers
• Building a launch strategy using AI alongside proven marketing methods
• Launch planning, advertising, newsletter swaps, and budgeting
• James shares a formatting mishap that surprisingly didn't affect book sales
• Why readers often notice story over formatting imperfections

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• Cissy Mecca: https://meccaromance.com/

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on The Self Publishing Show Live 2026 and discuss what happens after the excitement of a conference ends. They explore the importance of reviewing progress at the halfway point of the year, assessing business goals, and deciding what to focus on for the remainder of 2026. The conversation covers productivity, TikTok marketing, author accountability, using data to make better decisions, and feedback from SPS Live attendees. James also shares plans being considered for future SPS Live events, including more hands-on workshops and potentially expanding the conference format.

Key Talking Points

• Why a mid-year business review is essential for authors
• Assessing goals, progress, and priorities for the second half of the year
• Using data and metrics to make smarter publishing decisions
• TikTok marketing and deciding where to focus your time
• The challenge of balancing creativity with business planning
• SPS Live attendee feedback and highlights from the event
• The possibility of adding a third day to SPS Live
• Ideas for future hands-on workshop and implementation sessions
• The value of accountability and sharing plans with other authors
• Avoiding overwhelm by focusing on a small number of key objectives
• Homework: James & Cissy's Mid-Year Author Check-In Questions:

• What number are you proudest of from the first half of 2026?
• What did you stop doing, and was it the right decision?
• What is your Q3 pivot — what are you going to do differently?

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• SPS Live Digital Ticket & Replay Access: https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital
• Cissy Mecca Romance: https://meccaromance.com/
• Two Authors' Podcast: https://youtu.be/QhYcucRQeBw?si=yPfqRHW_P4INK1RI

This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on SPS Live 2026 and the Cambridge Retreat, sharing their biggest takeaways from the event and the sessions that made the biggest impact. From direct sales and BookVault strategies to AI workflows, reader engagement, advertising, TikTok marketing, and writing for commercial success, the pair discuss the practical lessons authors can apply immediately to their own publishing businesses. The episode serves as a post-conference debrief, highlighting the trends, tools, and mindset shifts that are shaping the future of indie publishing.

Key Talking Points

• Key lessons and standout moments from SPS Live 2026 & The Cambridge Retreat
• Direct sales opportunities and simplifying fulfilment with BookVault
• Using AI to streamline author businesses and administrative workflows
• Building AI projects and systems rather than relying on individual chat prompts
• Advertising strategies and improving marketing effectiveness
• Why consistency beats chasing viral success on TikTok
• Reader engagement, newsletter performance, and audience growth
• Writing for commercial success and understanding reading-age expectations
• The importance of clear, accessible writing ("Saxon over Latin")
• Practical actions authors can take immediately after attending a conference
• How successful authors focus on implementing ideas rather than collecting them

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com
• SPS Live 2026 Digital: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive-digital
• BookVault: https://bookvault.app
• Tammi Labrecque: https://newsletterninja.net
• Gunning Fog Index — estimates how hard a piece of writing is to read. The formula is: Fog Index=0.4×(wordssentences+100×complex wordswords)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times \left( \frac{\text{words}}{\text{sentences}} + 100 \times \frac{\text{complex words}}{\text{words}} \right)Fog Index=0.4×(sentenceswords​+100×wordscomplex words​)Where: Words per sentence = total words ÷ total sentences Complex words = words with three or more syllables, usually excluding proper nouns, familiar compound words, and common suffix forms. So in plain English: Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times (\text{average sentence length} + \text{percentage of complex words})Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)Example: If a passage has:

• 120 words
• 6 sentences
• 12 complex words

Then: Average sentence length = 120 ÷ 6 = 20 Percentage of complex words = 12 ÷ 120 × 100 = 10 0.4×(20+10)=120.4 \times (20 + 10) = 120.4×(20+10)=12 So the Fog Index is 12, meaning the writing is roughly suited to someone with a 12th-grade / late secondary-school reading level.