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.

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 books this year" dreams and achievable milestones✨ How to measure progress when writing success isn't always about word count

✨ Goal-setting strategies from indie authors who've figured it out

Whether you're a debut author trying to finish your first manuscript or a seasoned indie looking to level up your publishing game, this episode is packed with practical tips and honest conversation about what actually moves the needle.

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Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss the behind-the-scenes scoop on indie publishing.

💬 Let us know in the comments: What's your biggest goal-setting challenge as an author?

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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