🧾 If you’ve published a book or two and you’re thinking… “Now what?” — this episode is for you.
In Episode 53 of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off the year with the unsexy-but-critical topic most authors avoid: business goals.

Because once you decide you want to earn income from your books, you’re not “just writing” anymore… you’re officially a small business owner.

In this episode, we talk about the question that changes everything:

✅ Is writing your hobby… or your career plan?
Your answer determines your path — from how you spend money to how you market, set goals, and build a sustainable author life.

We cover:

📌 The “Now What?” phase after publishing a few books
📌 How Cassie shifted from hobby mindset to business strategy (and why)
📌 Streamlining costs and getting a return on your investment
📌 Business basics authors forget: separation of expenses, systems, and tracking
📌 The KU vs Wide conversation (and why “test one thing at a time” matters)
📌 How to stop comparing yourself to full-time authors when you’re not full-time
📌 Why knowing your reader (like, really knowing them) is a business skill
📌 Short game vs long game: building a strategy you can actually sustain

✨ This episode is equal parts pep talk + practical, designed to help authors stop winging it and start making confident, intentional decisions.

👇 Question of the week:
Are you treating your writing like a hobby—or building it like a business?

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🎙️For More About The Author Nextdoor ➡ https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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

🗺️ Other places to find us and connect:
ANGELA HAAS Choose your own adventure 🚀💕 https://ahaaswrites.com/

CASSIE NEWELL Romance 🩷 https://ckdarling.com/
Young Adult 🧚 https://authorcmnewell.com/

ℹ️ Keywords 🔑 writing goals, business mindset, self-publishing, author success, reader engagement, financial planning, creative process, marketing strategies, indie authors, book performance

✨ What happens when you stop chasing numbers—and start chasing joy instead?
In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with indie author Holly Lyne to reflect on a year of unexpected growth, mindset shifts, and creative breakthroughs.

Holly shares how 2025 became a transformative year in her author journey—one where simplifying goals, reconnecting with creativity, and focusing on genuine reader engagement led to more success than she ever anticipated.

Together, they talk honestly about the realities of indie publishing today: navigating digital marketing, experimenting with platforms like TikTok, managing multiple pen names, and building meaningful connections through newsletters and community.

In this episode they explore:

📌 How mindset shifts can unlock creativity and productivity
📌 Why simplicity often leads to better writing goals
📌 Letting go of metrics and focusing on reader connection
📌 The challenges (and surprises) of marketing in the digital age
📌 Managing pen names with intention and strategy
📌 Using newsletters to build real engagement—not just numbers
📌 Finding inspiration and balance outside of writing (yes, concerts count 🎶)
📌 Why joy in the process can lead to unexpected wins

✨ This episode is a refreshing reminder that success as an indie author isn’t just about views, sales, or algorithms—it’s about sustainability, creativity, and loving the work you’re building.

👇 Question of the week:
What’s one way you’re trying to bring more joy into your writing this year? ✍️✨

Where to find Holly: https://hblyne.com/
https://writerroadmap.com/

🔔 Subscribe for more! ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@TheAuthorNextDoor

🎙️For More About The Author Nextdoor ➡ https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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

🗺️ Other places to find us and connect:
ANGELA HAAS Choose your own adventure 🚀💕 https://ahaaswrites.com/

CASSIE NEWELL Romance 🩷 https://ckdarling.com/
Young Adult 🧚 https://authorcmnewell.com/

ℹ️ Keywords 🔑 indie author, writing goals, mindset, marketing strategies, TikTok, creativity, pen names, engagement, newsletters, writing to market, indie authors, self-publishing

✨ A new year means a fresh reset—for your writing, your goals, and yourself.
In the first episode of the year, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas sit down to talk honestly about their writing goals, personal aspirations, and what they want this next season to look like—both on and off the page.

They dig into why focusing on one meaningful goal can be more powerful than chasing everything at once, how self-care plays a crucial role in long-term creative success, and why community matters more than ever for authors navigating publishing and career growth.

This episode also introduces a brand-new segment—✨ The Author Next Door After Dark ✨—where Cassie and Angela plan to have deeper, more unfiltered conversations about romance writing and the nuances that come with it.

In this episode they explore:

📌 How authors can reset and set intentional goals for the new year
📌 Why self-care isn’t optional for sustainable creative careers
📌 The role of community in writing, publishing, and personal growth
📌 Trusting your instincts in both writing and marketing
📌 Exploring romance and other genres as creative expansion
📌 Dream careers, personal aspirations, and passions beyond writing

👇 Question of the week:
What’s one writing or personal goal you’re setting for this year? ✍️✨

🔔 Subscribe for more! ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@TheAuthorNextDoor

🎙️For More About The Author Nextdoor ➡ https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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

🗺️ Other places to find us and connect:
ANGELA HAAS Choose your own adventure 🚀💕 https://ahaaswrites.com/

CASSIE NEWELL Romance 🩷 https://ckdarling.com/
Young Adult 🧚 https://authorcmnewell.com/

ℹ️ Keywords 🔑 writing, goals, self-care, romance, community, podcast, authors, publishing, career, aspirations, indie authors, self-publishing