Awkward Author
55 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingA weekly podcast chronicling the adventures in the life of hybrid author Alissa Grosso. Learn about her writing progress, find out more about her marketing efforts, take a look at her monthly income and get a peak into all the ups and downs of this publishing business.
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Episodes
Noises, Shiny Things & An Announcement
April 15, 2020 09:00Between weather issues and the challenges of getting groceries in this strange, new world we live in now, I’m actually finding that my writing productivity has improved, but I have decided to make a change. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
March 2020 Author Income Report
April 08, 2020 09:00As our lockdown continues, I haven’t seen too much of an interruption in my daily life. I’m moving ahead with the edits on my book series, and I have my author income report for the month of March. Click here for Paul Teague’s 5-Figure Month Post Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
I’m Back with a Book Update & an Internet Archive Rant
April 01, 2020 09:00A small amount of drama kept me from recording last week’s episode, so I had to wait until this week to share my exciting book new. Plus some thoughts on how and why you should use public libraries during this strange time, and I get up on my soap box and rant about the piracy site Internet Archive. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
A Week That Was a Year Long
March 18, 2020 09:00The relentless news cycle has me feeling a bit overwhelmed. The Covid-19 outbreak has forced some changes to my routine, but I’m hanging in there, and even managing to get some writing done. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Staying Home & Writing Books
March 11, 2020 09:00What sort of impact will Covid-19 have on books sales and creative projects? That remains to b seen, but I’m still mostly staying at home and have been making use of this time to work on my book. Hoping you all stay well and safe! Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
February 2020 Author Income Report
March 04, 2020 10:00This week my author income report for the month of February, a small amount of writing progress and why the coronavirus or covid-19 outbreak might help me to get my book written faster. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
The Truth About In-Person Book Promo
February 26, 2020 10:00Promoting your book through store book signings, library events, book festivals and other literary events can be a great way o get the word out about your book, but it’s not always a profitable way to promote your work. This week I share some of my experiences as an author and some things to consider if you are thinking about doing some in-person book promotion. And also here’s the link to YA Outside the Lines to see some different authors talking about their school and library visits. Fi...
January Author Income Report
February 19, 2020 10:00So, my advice this week is that if you want to earn passive income from your books, you should seriously consider writing informational non-fiction. This advice is inspired by my author income report for the month of January. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Beta Reading & More About My Dog and His Issues
February 12, 2020 10:00This week I’m theorizing about my dog’s issues with eating, and dispense some advice for anyone contemplating adoption a working dog breed. Plus I’ve been busy with some beta reading, and why I think beta reading or joining a critique group is one of the most important things an author can do. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Sticky Keys & Whiny Dogs
February 05, 2020 10:00Some frustrations this week, but I’m soldiering on. Apologies for the extra background noise this week courtesy of my dog Jack. As it turns out this was all because he decided he wanted to eat his breakfast, which was in his bowl, but because he is a crazy dog could not actually eat until I was standing beside his bowl. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gro...
Should You Only Write What You Know
January 29, 2020 10:00I’ve finally finished working on the outline for my next book with the help of some Post-It Notes and now it’s time to actually write it, and speaking of writing books a recent publishing controversy has me asking whether we should only write what we know. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Publishing Plans and Podcast Bloopers
January 22, 2020 10:00Apologies for last week’s podcast upload error! This week talking about my publishing plans and why it might feel like it’s taking me forever and a day to get these books published, though now that I have a fully (more or less) functioning keyboard I’m looking forward to getting to work on the fourth book in the series. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gro...
3 Books Down, 1 To Go
January 15, 2020 13:00Well, after what feels like forever I have completed a first draft of the third book in the series I’m working on. This book proved to be a bit of a challenge. Some thoughts on the whole series-writing experience and some avenues of making money as an author that I won’t be pursuing right now. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Year in Review and My 2020 Goals
January 08, 2020 13:00I’m back from my short break. In this episode I share my December Author Income Report plus take a look back at what 2019 looked like for me as an author then look ahead at my 2020 goals. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com
Computer Maintenance and a Short Holiday Hiatus (97)
December 18, 2019 12:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! I’ll be back January 8th after a short break—hopefully with a fully functioning computer! Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Older, Wiser, and Marginally Richer
December 11, 2019 13:00This week I share my latest author incoming report, and reflect on some things I would like to accomplish now that I’m officially in my mid-forties. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Writing Routines
December 04, 2019 15:00Apologies in advance for dog noises in the background, and the somewhat disjointed nature of this episode thanks to constant canine interruptions. At a time when my routines are a bit out of whack, I talk about how sometimes what can help in getting those words written is coming up with a routine that works for you. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross o...
Thankful to Be Self-Employed
November 27, 2019 12:00There’s nothing like a nightmare to remind you about how good you have it. So during this week of giving thanks I’m grateful to be self-employed, well, grateful, but frazzled and slightly sleep-deprived. So, writing progress is likely at a standstill for the next week or two. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Three Books Become Four
November 20, 2019 13:00Strongly considering making a radical decision with the trilogy I’m working on, and this week some thoughts regarding the recent drama in the YA Twitter world. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Plot Issues, Author Mindset & More Marketing Thoughts
November 13, 2019 13:00I’m struggling a bit this week with the book I’m currently working on. It’s getting there, but working on my first series of books has proved to be challenging. Also thinking this week about a couple of useful articles I came across - one a marketing success story and the other some issues with author mindset, especially concerning the traditional publishing model. Click here to read that Boobub blog post And here’s Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s post Find out more about me and get a free book ...
A Sign from the Universe and My Author Income Report
November 06, 2019 14:00Wound up doing some more writing than I thought I would this week, and I’m going with the theory that the universe wants me to write my book. Plus I have a new, and not especially impressive author income report for you. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Hectic Weeks and Hyper Dogs
October 30, 2019 11:00My apologies for all the extra background noise this week thanks to my hyper dog. It’s been another hectic week, but I’m trying to keep up with everything and have actually made some writing progress and done a few authorly housekeeping tasks. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Marketing Thoughts and The Dangers of Getting Dressed (Awkward Author 89)
October 23, 2019 12:00Been thinking about marketing and why it’s necessary for selling any sort of product, including books on the internet. Though I’m a long way from marketing my next book, I am making some progress on the writing front. Also, I have some issues with my shirt. For an inside look at the realities of doing a rapid book release, check out Paul’s podcast here. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the grea...
Revising My Goals
October 16, 2019 12:00How did it get to be the middle of October already? I originally set a goal of finishing my current work in progress by about now, and guess what? I’m nowhere near done. So this week I’m talking about revising my goals in the face of what promises to be a busy couple of months. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Author Income Report & A Jaded View of Festivals
October 09, 2019 11:00This week I talk about why I have not made any word count progress on my book, though I won’t say the week was completely progress free. I talk about why I turned down the chance to appear at a book festival, and I share my September author income report. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
October 02, 2019 11:00Well, I ran into a bit of an impasse this week with the book I’m writing. Going back and rereading the first book in this trilogy I’m working on made me realize I need to make some changes to my current work in progress, and I was toying with the idea of scrapping the whole thing and starting from scratch. This and some thoughts on how planning isn’t really in my nature. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page here. Intro music in...
The Business of Being a Traditionally Published Author
September 25, 2019 13:00This week, I mostly take a look at the traditional side of things, and the weird world of traditional publishing. It’s not so much a rant about the trad world, but I do address some of it peculiarities and some room for improvement. Meanwhile I continue to make progress on my trilogy. As I mentioned, I’ve been enjoying listening to Paul Teague’s rapid release journey. You can find Paul's podcast here. And for those who are interested the Medium post that launched a thousand angry author re...
Hire an Editor and Other Advice
September 18, 2019 11:00Making progress on my latest book and thinking about all that I need to do before I’m ready. Meanwhile a perusal of some reviews on books available on Amazon is a good reminder that a) you should always hire a professional editor before publishing your book and b) reviews are opinions only, and some folks have wildly different reading experiences. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest b...
Taking Extreme Measures with my Author Website
September 11, 2019 12:00Another busy week here in alissa-land. After a nice visit with my mom it was time to tackle the issue of my ailing author website, and as usual I was a bit too optimistic about how long it would take to get it back up and running. Plus some musing on websites in general and their overall ease of use. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
My August Author Income Report
September 02, 2019 16:00A shorter episode this week, as I’m still dealing with some disruptions to my schedule, and I share my August author income report which is not exactly full of surprises. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page: Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
If You Write, You’re a Writer (Awkward Author 81)
August 26, 2019 20:00Another crazy week for me with not much writing getting done, but despite what some might say on Twitter. I’m still a writer, and it’s always good to remember that our own limited experiences might not be universal. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
How I’m Finding Inspiration Watching Veronica Mars (Awkward Author 80)
August 21, 2019 08:00Things are still topsy turvy here, but I’ve managed to complete an outline for my next book, and as I work on my first series I’m finding inspiration in watching Veronica Mars for the first time. Plus I do some old geezer rambling. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Lost in Translation
August 14, 2019 11:00Some good writing progress news for me. Plus I recently learned about some starling differences between American and British English, and wonder if I’ve confused or offended anyone as a result. Meanwhile I had to work extra hard to keep the dog calm while recording this because there was a slight change in my routine, and he couldn’t handle it. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyf...
Back From Hiatus & Author Income Report
August 06, 2019 17:00I’m back! A long episode as I catch up on everything that’s happened since my last episode, and I share my author income report from July and make excuses for why I didn’t write more. All this and a surprise Amazon discount. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
June Author Income Report and Hiatus Announcement
July 03, 2019 11:00I’ve got all the details about June’s glorious author earnings. Spoiler alert: they weren’t all that glorious. Plus I’m going to take a break to work on finishing my next book. Although first order of business will be fixing my website, which I broke yesterday. In the meantime you can check out my art website here. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross ...
Are All Your Eggs in Amazon’s Basket
June 26, 2019 11:00It’s another hectic week for me, but I’m enjoying the summer fun. Meanwhile an experience with one of my side hustles is a good reminder that keeping all your eggs in any one basket can be a bit scary. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
Blog Posts, Collaborations & a Trilogy
June 19, 2019 11:00After a hectic week, I’m happy to be back in the writing saddle. I had a productive Monday, and I’m hoping to squeeze in some more writing time this week, as I set some targets and goals for myself regarding my next project. Read my post about a book that made a big impact on me (and the woman who got hit in the face with it!) here. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in th...
Family Visits, Injuries, & Store Thoughts
June 12, 2019 15:00Family visits are all well and good until somebody sprains a toe. It’s been a rough week for my body, but a fun week visiting with my parents. That and some thoughts on retail stores in the latest episode of Awkward Author. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
Author Income Report
June 05, 2019 10:00It’s time yet again for an author income report, but I’ll warn you in advance I’m not exactly bringing in the big bucks. Plus I’m still moving ahead bit by bit on my work in progress. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
What’s Your Backup Plan?
May 29, 2019 14:00A “day job” related mistake this week cost me some writing time and reminded me about the importance of always backing up your work. When I’m working on a book, I like to email myself a copy after each writing session. What sort of tricks do you use to make sure you have a back up of your projects? Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
B&N Shows Me Some Love
May 22, 2019 12:00This week I was pleasantly surprised to be included in Barnes & Noble’s latest Nook promotion. Despite some difficulties, I’ve made some progress on my next book, and for now I’ll continue to use MailChimp to manage my mailing list. Find out all the details in this week’s episode of Awkward Author. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Awkward Author has a Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Image Editing Software & Tools for Authors
May 15, 2019 14:00Thankfully I overcame my image uploading issues from last week—through sheer dumb luck and no actual skill on my part. I also received some friendly advice from regular subscribers, and that prompted me to share some tips and tools to create and edit images for your author business. Links to the different products I mentioned can be found below. Adobe Affinity Gimp Inkscape Canva Photopea Cover Vault Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author ha...
Author Income Report and Box Set Blunder
May 08, 2019 11:00It’s an author income report week, and while I didn’t make a lot of money from my books in the month of April astute listeners will note that I actually did earn two cents more than I said in this episode. I’ll try not to spend it all in one place! Plus find out a box set blunder I made and my ongoing saga with this publication. As always thanks for tuning in! Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Awkward Author has a Facebook page. Intro music in this video by t...
Blurbs, Box Sets & Missteps
May 01, 2019 13:00I published my first ever box set, but it was two steps forward and one step back on my work in progress. Plus, find out why I haven’t been trying to avoid Game of Thrones and Avengers spoilers this week. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Check out the Awkward Author Facebook page Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Cranky Computer and What Makes a Book YA?
April 23, 2019 16:00This week I was talking about murder in a public place and dealing with a cranky computer. Plus an explanation of one of the most confusing names for a book category and what specifically makes a book YA. Read my YA Outside the Lines post here. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosos.com. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
Outlining, Collaborating & Fake Reviews (Awkward Author 65)
April 17, 2019 10:00My taxes are done, my outline is processing and a collaboration is moving along. I’ve begun working on creating a box set. Plus some random thoughts on fake reviews on Amazon inspired by this article. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
March Author Income Report (Awkward Author 64)
April 10, 2019 04:00Apologies for the microphone issues I had recording this. As soon as I get those taxes done, I'll go back to my usual setup, and hopefully all will be good! This month I have my latest Author Income Report to share, though it remains very similar to the last income report I shared with you. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda
Drafts, Outlines & an Amazon Slowdown (Awkward Author 63)
April 02, 2019 04:00I didn't get around to compiling my author income report yet, so I'll have that for you next week. Meanwhile I talk about my revision and planning process as I attempt writing my first ever series, and I muse about a slowdown in Amazon sales that has had an impact on my day job business as well as my author life. Find out more about me and get a free book at: http://alissagrosso.com Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda https://www.youtub...
Teacher Tips & Finished Drafts (Awkward Author 62)
March 27, 2019 04:00Thanks to Twitter, I learned about a technology goof I needed to fix and was inspired to share some words of wisdom for teachers, but my big news this week concerns a milestone for my current work in progress. Check out Paul Teague's podcast. Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com. Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda.
Books I Use When Outlining (Awkward Author 61)
March 20, 2019 04:00I'm not quite ready to work on the outline for my next book, but I'm getting closer. In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some books that I use when outlining my novels. Here are links to the three books I referred to in the video which do include my Amazon affiliate code: Save the Cat The Writer's Journey Story Genius Find out more about me and get a free book at alissagrosso.com Intro music in this video by the greatest boyfriend in the world, Ron Gross of Zega-Zadda