In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas sits down with Cassie Newell to talk about her journey into traditional publishing and what authors need to know about querying, researching agents, and navigating rejection.

They explore the realities of balancing indie, hybrid, and traditional publishing paths, along with practical strategies for researching agents, pitching effectively, and understanding what opportunities are worth pursuing.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How to research agents using tools like QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace
• What authors should know before entering the query process
• How to handle rejection, ghosting, and the emotional side of querying
• Balancing indie, hybrid, and traditional publishing goals

🔗 Connect with Cassie Newell:
https://ckdarling.com/

🛠️ Resources mentioned:
Publishers Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/
QueryTracker: https://querytracker.net/
Joanna Penn on AI: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/

🎙️ Learn more about the show:
https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with bestselling author and indie publishing expert Kevin Tumlinson, of Author Anchor, to talk about scaling your author business with virtual assistants.

Kevin shares how authors can move beyond doing everything themselves and start building systems, hiring support, and treating writing like a business. From onboarding and communication to leveraging tools like AI, this conversation offers practical strategies for increasing productivity, streamlining marketing, and creating long-term growth.

In this episode, they discuss:

• When it’s time to hire a virtual assistant and scale your author business
• How to find, onboard, and build strong relationships with VAs using Author Anchor
• Why documenting your processes is key to growth
• Using AI and tools to enhance productivity and marketing
• Shifting your mindset from writer to business owner

🚀 Learn more about Author Anchor:
https://authoranchor.com/home

🔗 Connect with Kevin Tumlinson:
Website: https://kevintumlinson.com/

🛠️ Resources mentioned:
Book Brush: https://bookbrush.com/
LastPass: https://www.lastpass.com/

🎙️ Learn more about the show:
https://theauthornextdoor.com/

📬 Sign up for exclusive content:
https://bit.ly/49hvRVp

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Aimee Ravichandran of Abundantly Social to talk about what actually works in social media and book marketing right now — and how authors can stop feeling so overwhelmed by all the noise.

They discuss consistency, audience fatigue, platform selection, community building, and the difference between chasing vanity metrics versus cultivating real reader relationships. The conversation also dives into Facebook groups, Instagram engagement, newsletter growth, paid ads, and why authors need to think long-term when it comes to marketing their books.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why consistency matters more than chasing every algorithm change
• How authors can show up online without feeling like content machines
• Which metrics actually matter when measuring marketing success
• Why authentic community beats follower count every time
• How social media, promotions, and paid ads work together over time

✨ Learn more about Aimee and Abundantly Social:
https://abundantlysocial.com/

🎙️ Learn more about the show: https://theauthornextdoor.com/
📬 Sign up for exclusive content: https://bit.ly/49hvRVp