Part One: Do Writers Really Need a Website? Branding, SEO & Sustainable Marketing with Elina Haverinen

PR Isn’t Marketing: How Authors Actually Get Seen with Allison Preston

Most authors think visibility means posting more content. But what if that’s not the real strategy? In this episode, PR specialist Allison Preston breaks down what public relations actually is, and why it’s one of the most overlooked tools for authors who want to get seen beyond social media. We dive into the difference between PR and marketing, how “earned media” works, and practical ways authors can start building visibility—even without a large following. If you’ve been posting consistently but not seeing results, this episode will shift how you think about audience growth and book promotion. In This Episode, We Cover: * What PR really is (and what it isn’t) * The key difference between PR and marketing * What “earned media” means for authors * Why social media alone isn’t enough for visibility * How to tap into existing audiences instead of building from scratch * Beginner-friendly PR strategies you can start right now * Where authors should be showing up beyond social platforms * Common PR mistakes (and how to avoid them) * And then we end with Allison's Five Best Tips for authors and the Ink Starter Lightning round About Allison: Allison Preston has more than a decade of experience in journalism, public relations, and strategic communications. Her work has been in front of the camera as a news anchor and reporter, and behind the scenes, pitching stories and overseeing communications for international nonprofits. She has ghostwritten opinion pieces for nonprofit and biotech leaders, hosted two podcasts, and secured media hits in major outlets including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, NPR, and more. She is also a Young Adult Fantasy writer of power girl princesses and warrior women. You can find her at:  * allisonprestonpr.com [http://allisonprestonpr.com/] * IG: @prestonpublicrelations [https://www.instagram.com/prestonpublicrelations] or on her Author Socials: * IG @authoralicesheffield [https://www.instagram.com/authoralicesheffield/] * TikTok @authoralicesheffield [https://www.tiktok.com/@authoralicesheffield] * Substack @authoralicesheffield [https://substack.com/@authoralicesheffield] Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com  Newsletter:  The Underground [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/#newsletter] Website: micamerrillrice.com  Instagram: @micamriceauthor [https://www.instagram.com/micamriceauthor/] Facebook: @ [https://www.facebook.com/micamerrillrice]micamriceauthor TikTok: @ [https://www.tiktok.com/@micathenightwriter]micamriceauthor "Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ

From Corporate Social Media to Bestselling Romance: The Kandi Steiner Story

In this episode of Traditionally Self-Published, I sit down with bestselling romance powerhouse Kandi Steiner to talk about her latest release, Love Overboard, and pull back the curtain on her incredible 12-year journey in indie publishing. From her early days balancing a corporate career in social media to managing a backlist of over 40 books, Kandi shares the raw truth about what it takes to "do the hard thing" and find your voice. We gabbed about: * The New Release Dirt: Kandi’s latest release, Love Overboard, featuring a reality TV trope set on a super yacht. (Out now and available everywhere) * The Corporate Edge: How Kandi used seven years of corporate social media experience to build a marketing foundation for her books. * The "AHA" Moment: The story behind Weightless, the breakout book that hit #26 on Amazon and gave Kandi the courage to walk away from a guaranteed paycheck. * Trusting the Story over the Formula: Why Kandi ignores "external noise" and industry formulas to let her characters dictate the spice and pacing of her novels. * Building a Sustainable Backlist: How Kandi manages a massive library of books to ensure there is something for every type of romance reader, from sports romance to emotional angst. * The Power of Community: Why the shift from "masses" to "newsletter subscribers" is the key to surviving the ever-changing landscape of social media. * And we conclude with: The Romance Author vs Thriller Author INK STARTER LIGHTNING ROUND and Kandi’s 5 Best Tips for Authors! About Kandi: Kandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal. An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell. When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life. CONNECT WITH KANDI: ➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter ➜ FACEBOOK: @kandisteiner ➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook . com/groups/kandilandks ➜ INSTAGRAM: @kandisteiner ➜ TIKTOK: @authorkandisteiner ➜ WEBSITE: kandisteiner.com Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab on her website to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future. Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com  Newsletter:  The Underground [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/#newsletter] Website: micamerrillrice.com  Instagram: @micamriceauthor [https://www.instagram.com/micamriceauthor/] Facebook: @ [https://www.facebook.com/micamerrillrice]micamriceauthor TikTok: @ [https://www.tiktok.com/@micathenightwriter]micamriceauthor "Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ

Part Two: How to Make Your Author Website Work for You: Blogs, Press Kits & Reader Discovery

You have your author website, but how can you make it work harder? Last episode, I talked with Elina Haverinen about why writers need websites. In this episode, I’m taking it a step further and focus on what you can actually do with your website once it’s built. Your website can be more than just a landing page; it can also support your writing career, help readers discover your work, and create opportunities behind the scenes.  In this episode, I cover three practical ways to elevate your website without overcomplicating it: * how blogging can improve discoverability through SEO * why every author should have a simple press kit * how to design your site with your reader’s journey in mind I also share a few of my favorite technical tips for authors—from optimizing SEO descriptions to using alt text and linking strategies—to help your site work for you long-term. These small practical steps can help make your website stand out and get discovered over time.  Websites Referenced in this Episode:  * Reedsy: How to Build a Rocking Author Media Kit: a 7-Step Template [https://reedsy.com/blog/author-media-kit-template/] * Kindleprenuer: How to Write a Book Press Release (the Right Way) [https://kindlepreneur.com/book-press-release/] * Mica Merrill Rice’s Media Page: https://www.micamerrillrice.com/media [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/media] Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com  Newsletter:  The Underground [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/#newsletter] Website: micamerrillrice.com  Instagram: @micamriceauthor [https://www.instagram.com/micamriceauthor/] Facebook: @ [https://www.facebook.com/micamerrillrice]micamriceauthor TikTok: @ [https://www.tiktok.com/@micathenightwriter]micamriceauthor "Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ

Part One: Do Writers Really Need a Website? Branding, SEO & Sustainable Marketing with Elina Haverinen

Do writers really need a website anymore? With social platforms constantly changing, many authors wonder whether building a site is even worth it. In this episode, website designer and brand strategist Elina Haverinen joins me to talk about why websites still matter—and how writers can approach branding and marketing in a way that feels sustainable instead of overwhelming. Elina has spent more than eight years helping creatives and small business owners build websites, brands, and marketing strategies that actually support their work. Together we unpack what writers really need online (and what they don’t), why branding is often misunderstood, and how authors can create a digital presence that grows alongside their writing career. In this episode, we discuss: * Whether writers actually need a website in today’s social media landscape * Why websites are still the most stable home for your writing * The essential pages every author website should include * The difference between SEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and why it matters for discoverability * What branding actually means for writers (hint: it’s not just colors and logos) * How clarity can make marketing easier and more authentic * Balancing writing, creative work, and real life Elina also shares her five best tips for writers building their online presence and how authors can start small without getting overwhelmed. Elina Haverinen is a writer and designer who works with creatives and small, thoughtful businesses. In her studio, she builds brands, websites, and marketing expressions that remember what they're made from – speaking in their own voice, from spirit to structure, from message to form.  She lives and works between her boreal forest farm and Finland’s southwest coast, and her work sits at the meeting point of craft, story, and presence. Elina writes about creativity, identity, and the art of being human in her newsletter and Substack publication All That You Are. You can find her at:  Website: elinah.studio [https://elinah.studio/]  Substack:  allthatyouare.substack.com [https://allthatyouare.substack.com/] Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com  Newsletter:  The Underground [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/#newsletter] Website: micamerrillrice.com  Instagram: @micamriceauthor [https://www.instagram.com/micamriceauthor/] Facebook: @ [https://www.facebook.com/micamerrillrice]micamriceauthor TikTok: @ [https://www.tiktok.com/@micathenightwriter]micamriceauthor "Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ

Elevating Your Prose: The Craft Shift from Commercial to Literary Fiction

How do you elevate your prose without rewriting your entire story? In this craft-focused discussion, I’m joined by editors, AJ Volante and Margie Libling from The Wednesday Refinery to talk about sentence-level revision, literary voice, and the difference between commercial and literary fiction. If you’re revising a manuscript, preparing a query package, or trying to refine your prose, this episode breaks down what actually strengthens fiction at the line level. After a chance class on prose refinement with them, I saw a shift in my own thriller, not in the plot, but in the sentences. In this conversation, we explore how elevated prose comes from precision, restraint, and voice rather than adding more description or complexity. We dive into:  * What elevated prose really means * The difference between correct writing and compelling writing * Sentence-level habits that weaken fiction * How to strengthen voice during line editing * Line edits vs. developmental editing * How prose quality affects your query package and first pages * Refining description without listing or over-explaining * Protecting your voice during the revision process This episode is for fiction writers working on revision, literary fiction, thrillers, or preparing to query. If you’re trying to move from commercial structure toward a stronger literary voice, this conversation will help you understand how prose refinement shapes a manuscript. About The Wednesday Refinery Run by AJ Volante and Margie Libling, The Wednesday Refinery [https://www.thewednesdayrefinery.com/] offers manuscript editing and query guidance.  About AJ:  AJ first started writing and editing for museum exhibits and gaming companies before realizing she wanted to help writers with their manuscripts. When she's not working or writing dark speculative fiction, she enjoys restoring her 1924 craftsman home and taking her cats for walks. About Margie: Margie is a former social worker who now writes and edits full-time. She is the author of two adult fiction novels and is currently working on a third. When not at her desk, Margie spends time with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dogs. You can learn more about them here: * Website: https://www.thewednesdayrefinery.com/ [https://www.thewednesdayrefinery.com/] * Instagram: @thewednesdayrefinery [https://www.instagram.com/thewednesdayrefinery/] Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com  Newsletter:  The Underground [https://www.micamerrillrice.com/#newsletter] Website: micamerrillrice.com  Instagram: @micamriceauthor [https://www.instagram.com/micamriceauthor/] Facebook: @ [https://www.facebook.com/micamerrillrice]micamriceauthor TikTok: @ [https://www.tiktok.com/@micathenightwriter]micamriceauthor "Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ