A Book Launch Year in Review: Angels & Assets

This is a podcast for authors by authors! (And also readers who want the scoop on what authors are REALLY thinking.) Join Valerie Biel and T.K. (Tracey) Sheffield as we share topics to help our fellow writers as well as fun tidbits on what we’re reading and where we’re roaming. 2024 will have 10 episodes on topics like agent searching (episode 1), indie vs traditional publishing (episode 4), book launch basics (this episode), helpful writing conferences (episode 2), why we write what we write (episode 3) and this final episode listing the best angels and assets in 2024.

ABOUT US—YOUR PODCAST HOSTS:

Valerie Biel is the author of the award-winning Circle of Nine series and mystery-suspense novel, Beyond the Cemetery Gate, and middle-grade novel Haven. She’s also a publicity professional who aids other authors with their book launches and marketing. You can find her here on Substack at Reading, Writing, & Roaming or at ValerieBiel.com.

Tracey writes stories for readers who want to laugh and escape. She is the author of the award-winning Backyard Model comic culinary cozy mysteries, and other books. She is found at her website, T.K. Sheffield Writes, and her Instagram, The Backyard Model.

ABOUT EPISODE 10:

In episode ten, Tracey and Valerie give a shout out to the angels that played an important part in making their year of indie publishing a delight and success. Additionally, they list the tools they rely on and give some hints on the best gifts for writers during this holiday season!

Here’s the quick lists from each of them, but you’ll want to watch / listen for the full details.

Valerie’s Angel List:

1. My Podcast Partner T.K. Sheffield

2. Book Reviewers (in particular the advance reviewers for my new releases!)

3. Guest Authors at Books & Beer (the monthly book club that Valerie hosts.)

4. Book Buyers (who helped shepherd my book to #1 new releases on Amazon.)

5. My illustrator for my middle grade novel.

6. Membership organizations like Wisconsin Writers’ Association and Sisters in Crime and — I made a mistake by not including the Blackbird Writers in our podcast portion, so I am being sure to add that group here. Both T.K. and I are members of this great group.

Tracey’s Angel List:

1. My good writerly friends who are supportive even on the bad days (aka Kerri & Valerie)!

2. Indie bookstores.

3. Ken Humphrey — the guy behind the tech at WWA!

4. The anonymous angel donor with their matching gift for Tracey’s art donation to the Iowa County Humane Society. (The whole fabulous story is in the podcast.)

5. The Book Kitchen and the Mineral Point Hotel. (See more about Mineral Point here.)

6. My Book Cover Designer

Tracey’s Must-Have Tools & Writerly Gift List:

1. Scrivener writing software (and their blog & library of tutorials)

2. Vellum book formatting software

3. Reedsy (and their blog.)

4. Gift cards to bookstores and places that sell upcycled items

5. Divine Consign - Upscale resale enterprise

6. Coffee . . . this Bunn Coffeemaker is magical.

Valerie’s Must-Have Tools & Writerly Gift List:

1. Substack - the platform for really connecting with people!

2. Canva Pro - graphic design help

3. Formatting software - Atticus

4. Publisher Rocket program

5. Tools on the Kindlepreneur.com

6. Gift cards to bookstores or give an author the gift of time by giving them a retreat or a hotel stay or do a chore for them so they can write.

7. Coffee — I also have the same Bunn coffeemaker Tracey mentions in her list, but I’m kind of in love with the Nespresso Vertuo Machine.

It’s been a pleasure creating this podcast for you all this year. If there are topics you’d like covered in 2025, please put them in the comments or email them to us!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! - Valerie & Tracey