Indie Authors Uncovered

Indie Authors Uncovered

Welcome to the podcast where self-publishing gets real. We're pulling back the covers on indie authorship—the good, the bad, and the autocorrect fails that made it to print. Each episode, we're spilling the tea on everything traditional publishing won't tell you: the messy first drafts, the marketing mishaps, the 3am formatting breakdowns, and yes, those typos that somehow survived five rounds of edits. Whether you're a seasoned indie author, thinking about self-publishing, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes of those books in your Kindle library, this is your safe space. Grab your coffee (or wine, we don't judge), and join us for honest conversations about the indie author life. Because if we can't laugh about that time we misspelled our own character's name for an entire chapter, what can we laugh about? New episodes drop weekly. No gatekeepers, no pretension—just real authors keeping it real.

Episodes

March 5, 2026 • 36 mins

Sue and Donna dive headfirst into the grammar debates that keep indie authors up at night — starting with the most divisive punctuation mark on the internet: the em dash. Is it a stylistic power move or a crutch for writers who can't commit to a period? And why does everyone suddenly have such strong opinions about it?

From the Oxford comma wars to the semicolon's identity crisis, this episode unpacks the grammar "rules" that indie ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

We're pulling back the curtain on the money talk nobody prepared us for when we started this indie author journey. Spoiler alert: it's not just editing and cover design.

In this episode, Donna and Sue get real about the financial surprises that caught them off guard as self-published authors. From the "small" expenses that add up faster than plot holes in a first draft, to the investments nobody mentions in those "how I made six fig...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 1, 2026 • 31 mins

It's here – episode 10 and the season 1 finale of Indie Authors Uncovered 🎉

We're wrapping up our first season by spilling the tea on our goals for 2026. What we're dreaming about, what we're planning to change, and what publishing lessons we're carrying forward into the new year.

This one's raw, honest, and maybe a little emotional (okay, probably emotional). We're talking about what worked, what flopped, and where we're headed nex...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 25, 2025 • 21 mins

What's working, what's not, and the unexpected victories we didn't see coming.

In this episode, Donna and Sue are getting real about their wins for 2025 - the planned ones, the surprise ones, and the "wait, that actually worked?" moments. From marketing strategies that finally clicked to writing goals that didn't implode, we're sharing what's been moving the needle in our author businesses this year.

You'll hear about:

  • The strateg...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Donna and Sue are back with their honest take on "The Bright Side of Christmas" by Morgan Elizabeth – because what's the holidays without a little romance and real talk?

In this episode, the co-hosts dive into Morgan Elizabeth's holiday romance, discussing what worked, what didn't, and everything in between. From character development to plot choices, they're sharing their unfiltered thoughts on this festive read.

What you'll hear:

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Ever gotten a review so bizarre it made you wonder if the reviewer actually read your book?

Join Sue and Donna, as we share our most memorable reader reviews—from the heartwarming ones that kept us writing to the absolutely baffling feedback that left us speechless. Like the time a reviewer told Donna she needed a lobotomy. Yes, really.

In this episode:

• The reviews that made our day and reminded us why we write

• Head-scratching ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Amazon might be the 800-pound gorilla in the room, but it's not the only place your readers are shopping for their next great read.

In this episode of Indie Authors Uncovered, we're pulling back the curtain on the often-overlooked opportunities to connect with readers beyond the Amazon ecosystem.

Sue and Donna dig into the real talk about diversifying your reader discovery strategies. We're sharing our own trial-and-error stories—i...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 27, 2025 • 45 mins

Is your goal list longer than your TBR pile? 📚

Join Sue Mills and Donna R Madden as they spill the tea on setting writing goals that actually work (not just the ones that look good on Instagram).

In this episode, we're getting real about:

✨ Why most author goals fail by February

✨ Setting realistic targets when you're juggling day jobs, families, and life

✨ The difference between "publish 12 books this year" dreams and achievable ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Balancing the Day Job and the Dream

Juggling a full-time career and your writing passion? You're not alone. In this episode of Indie Authors Uncovered, hosts Sue Mills and Donna R Madden dive into the real talk about time management when writing is your side hustle, not your only gig.

Sue and Donna get honest about the challenges of carving out writing time between work meetings, family commitments, and everything else life throws at...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 13, 2025 • 40 mins

Indie Authors Uncovered - Episode 3: Pantsers vs. Plotters: Finding Your Writing Style

Are you a meticulous planner or do you write by the seat of your pants?

In this episode, Donna and Sue dive deep into the age-old debate between pantsers and plotters!

oin us as we explore:

✍️ What it really means to be a pantser or a plotter

📚 The pros and cons of each writing approach

🎯 How to figure out which method works best for YOU

💡 Tip...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 8, 2025 • 39 mins

Consider this episode your indie author cheat sheet—written in our tears and typos.

We're getting brutally honest about every facepalm-worthy mistake we've made on our self-publishing journey. From launching a book without an email list (rookie move) to spending $500 on a cover that screamed "2003 clipart," we're confessing it all so you can skip straight to the smart decisions.

Think of us as your indie author guinea pigs.

We ate ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Welcome to the podcast where self-publishing gets real. We're pulling back the curtain on indie authorship—the good, the bad, and the autocorrect fails that made it to print.

Each episode, we're spilling the tea on everything traditional publishing won't tell you: the messy first drafts, the marketing mishaps, the 3am formatting breakdowns, and yes, those typos that somehow survived five rounds of edits.

We're talking plot twists i...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices