In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, Cara talks us through her launch strategy for a standalone book (a Chatterly retelling with vampires and spice!).

This is one of the toughest challenges for indies. Our process generally relies on series and readthrough, but with the many options emerging for exploiting your book (translations, special editions etc) might this be a future strategy we can all follow?

**** WARNING - NSFW - WE DO DISCUSS SPICE SCENES ****

USEFUL LINKS:

Join the AI Translations course waitlist:

https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/aitranslations

Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15

https://www.prowritingaid.com

Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career.

https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support

This week Cara and I review the current happenings in the world of indie and we briefly discuss our own plans for 2026.

And at 43.47 (if you want to skip ahead) Cara makes a sad announcement :(

We both wish you a Happy New Year and here's to an enjoyable, fun 2026!

James.

USEFUL LINKS:

Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15

https://www.prowritingaid.com

Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career.

https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support

In this festive episode of the Indie Writers Club, James Blatch and Cara Clare discuss the challenges of taking downtime during the holiday season while managing their writing businesses. They reflect on sales trends during Christmas, share personal experiences with marketing strategies, and delve into the impact of TikTok's algorithm changes on book promotion. The conversation also highlights success stories in indie publishing, the implications of AI in translations, and innovative book launch strategies. Finally, they share their favourite Christmas movies, emphasising the nostalgia and comfort these films bring during the holiday season.


Takeaways

Taking downtime during the holidays can be challenging for business owners.
Sales trends often dip during the holiday season, particularly for eBooks.
Marketing strategies need to adapt to changing platforms like TikTok.
Success in indie publishing often comes from direct engagement with readers.
AI can be a useful tool for translations, but it requires careful management.
Book launch strategies are evolving, with influencer marketing gaining traction.
Nostalgia plays a significant role in holiday movie preferences.
The pace of change in the publishing industry is accelerating.
Personal experiences can inform marketing decisions and strategies.
Finding a balance between work and downtime is essential for creativity.

Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15

https://www.prowritingaid.com

Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career.

https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support

Chapters

00:00 Christmas Reflections and Business Challenges
03:03 Marketing Strategies During the Holiday Season
05:48 Navigating TikTok's Algorithm Changes
08:47 Celebrating Success: Sasha Black's Journey
11:34 The Future of AI in Translations
14:35 Book Launch Strategies and Influencer Marketing
21:06 Christmas Movie Nostalgia
26:46 The Comfort of Familiar Films
31:06 Jane Austen and Holiday Humor