Cara Clare and James Blatch host a weekly light-hearted chat about all things self publishing. Join the Word Count Club to be a part of the accountability partnership. We'll support each other in getting the words done :) Send in your questions, comments and talking points to our discord channel.
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James Blatch Podcasts
What does it take to make it in the intensely competitive author world? Best selling mystery and thriller authors Douglas Pratt and Nicholas Harvey host fellow writers for lively, entertaining, and informative conversation about forging a successful author career. Expect healthy banter surrounding themes and topics they occasionally stick to, often derailed by curious tumbles down amusing rabbit holes. Subscribe on your favourite platform for new shows now releasing every week.
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Mark Dawson is a best selling self-published author on multiple platforms including Amazon and Kobo. He is the author of the John Milton thriller series and its spin-off Beatrix Rose. In addition, he's written several 'Soho Noir' novels. Mark's breakthrough came when he developed a marketing strategy for promoting and selling his books. His swift success enabled him to quit his 9 to 5 job and he has generated gross revenues of more than a million dollars in less than five years. Mark has bec ...
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A podcast for authors who want to build successful writing careers. Each episode explores the business and craft of being an author, with practical strategies for selling more books, growing your audience, and navigating the publishing world. Presented by Written Word Media.
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Author and entrepreneur James Blatch joins the lads to chat about his SPS Live conference in London, the continuation of the Learn Self Publishing courses, Vinci Books, and much more in a great episode full of cool author info. Plus, Jeremy Flagg from Cover Villain drops in with a Patreon Listener Question. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patr…
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The Future of Indie Publishing: Real Talk with James Blatch
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22:16The indie publishing world is moving fast - and the authors who stay curious are the ones who thrive. In this live-recorded episode from the Novelist Inc. (NINC) Conference, Ferol Vernon sits down with James Blatch, co-founder of Self Publishing Formula, to talk about what's working right now for independent authors. From AI translation tools that …
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Pantsing with a Plotter Brain with Suzy K Quinn
46:32
46:32
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46:32The always-fun, bestselling author Suzy K. Quinn traces how her mum’s love of English sparked her career across traditional and self-publishing. She digs into industry surprises, why likability matters, and blending humour with emotional depth. Plus, the listener question comes from non-other than Longmire author Craig Johnson! Support us on Patreo…
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AI Rights and the Future of Publishing with Created by Humans Founder Trip Adler
31:11
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31:11In the newest episode of The Written Word Media Podcast, Scribd co-founder Tripp Adler joins Ricci Wolman to explore how his newest venture, Created by Humans, is helping authors navigate the rise of artificial intelligence. When you listen in, you will learn what AI rights are, how they fit into existing publishing contracts, and why this new mode…
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This week Cara & James touch on the subject of influencers and how to use them. James also talks about the coming AI storm for ads, he reports on AuthorNation and rants about the cost of living! 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 …
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Reedsy and AI Searches with Ricardo Fayet
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28:44
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28:44The lads chat with the always engaging co-founder of Reedsy, Ricardo Fayet, who explains how the author's marketplace service works. On the heels of one of the most interesting presentations at the NINC conference, Ricardo gives the Cliff Notes version of how the world is now searching for books (and everything else) on the internet. Support us on …
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In this week's episode, James reports from AuthorNation, indie publishing's largest conference. The talk is of new technology, a recent slump in ads effectiveness and the possibility of more seismic changes to come! USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 https://www.prowritingaid.com Join our Patreon …
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Prolific multi-genre author and indie publishing guru, Craig Martelle, joins Nick and Doug for a fascinating chat covering writing as a business, the indie landscape, getting started, and much more. Plus, kicking things off in this episode, Becca Symes drops in with a Patreon Listener Question. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetw…
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How to Build Courage and Silence Self-Doubt as an Author
33:48
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33:48In this inspiring episode, Ferol sits down with Jonathan Graham, founder of Daily Courage, to explore how creatives can turn fear into fuel. Jonathan shares his journey from Silicon Valley to launching a mission-driven business dedicated to helping people remove fear as a barrier to their potential. Together, they unpack practical tools like the “f…
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This week we delve into the intriguing world of ghost writing. You might know Cara is/has been, a professional ghost writer and she spills the beans on this industry that takes place largely in the shadows. We also touch on the sudden epidemic of author scams using AI to highly personalise the first approaches. USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans…
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Don't miss this episode with the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire series, Craig Johnson. The lads have fun asking plenty of questions about craft, keeping the stories authentic to their setting, and plenty more. They went extra long for this gem! Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the S…
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060 - How to Create an INCREDIBLE AI Assistant
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55:25
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55:25This week we have a bona fide guest! Cissy Mecca is a close friend and fellow author whose work I'm constantly admiring—she's brilliant at finding innovative ways to streamline our publishing workflow. (And she's an incredible writer, too.) We recently stayed together in Florence, and I was fascinated watching her receive her daily structure from h…
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059 - Trad Vs Indie - Is There Now a Winner?
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41:31
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41:31We discuss the the state of Trad vs Indie after a couple of comments from notable authors and commentators and come to an interesting conclusion! Also - it's possible Taylor Swift is secretly self-publishing poetry on Amazon KDP! We look at the evidence and implications... USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using …
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Joe Solari, the man behind one of the largest author conferences, Author Nation, sits down to chat with Nick and Doug about the conference and how to get the most out of attending. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: https://www.authornation.live/ https://joesolari.com/ Link to our friends at V…
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Much has happened behind the scenes of the Facebook Ads Manager and so james is setting out a series of tests. spending money on various combinations of Adv+ and manual targeting to see what's working now. James also reveals the finalists for the 2025 Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award without giving away any judging secrets! USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of …
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Critters for Protagonists with Sara Driscoll (Jen J Danna)
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40:18
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40:18The delightful Jen Danna who also writes under the pen name Sara Driscoll joins Doug and Nick to chat about her latest release, Shadow Play, having a dog as a major character, and moving on from losing her writing partner. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: jenjdanna.com https://www.amazon.com…
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Hybrid Publishing Lessons with Erica Rooney: From Writing to Launch
29:13
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29:13By Written Word Media
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It's Friday! It's the Indie Writers Club! We continue our deep dive into the new era of searching using AI. Even if you are dead set against all things AI - you cannot ignore the fact that readers will be searching for your books using AI in the future. That means you need to adapt the way you describe your books, where you list them and a host of …
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Recorded live from the 2025 NINC conference
1:01:52
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1:01:52In this special edition, Doug and Nick chat live with authors, organizers, and industry guests at the 2025 Novelists Inc conference in St Pete Beach, Florida. Find out why hundreds of successful authors attend this event every year to network, get the latest info, and discover the Tiki Bar! Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoaut…
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The era of keywords and Google searches is coming to an end. Searching through a longer form conversation with an AI is already taking over. That means we need to get our blurbs and book packages ready for the new era. James & Cara discuss the take-aways from NINC including Ricardo Fayet's talk on GEO. USEFUL LINKS: Ricardo's Blog: indiewritersclub…
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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Alessandra Torre, joins the lads to chat about publishing, her annual author conference, InkersCon, and Authors A.I., that uses artificial intelligence to help authors with their development and editing process. InkersCon discount code for listeners: TWOA50 Support us on Patreon…
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Staying productive as an author isn’t just about writing more - it’s about creating systems that help you focus, avoid burnout, and actually enjoy the process. In this episode of The Written Word Podcast, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon share their favorite productivity hacks, from planning your week with intention to using the Pomodoro technique and…
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In episode 55, James reports from the Floridian beach where he's attending the annual NINC conference. He and Cara also report some encouraging signs from their Facebook Ads campaigns. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclu…
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Digging Into Doug's Strengths with Becca Syme
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55:38Author and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Becca Syme, brings her Better-Faster Academy coaching prowess to the show and conducts a session with our very own Doug! While Nick tries not to heckle too much, Becca does her best to unlock the secrets to Doug's strengths. If you've ever wondered how your Clifton Strengths can be understood and applied…
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Making the switch from hobbyist to full-time author is a dream for many. But it comes with its own challenges. From two of us who have become full time self-employed, we go through some of the pitfalls and areas to think about. USEFUL LINKS: Self Publishing Launchpad is open for enrolment: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/launchpad Join our Patr…
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Doug and Nick chat with the always interesting and entertaining man behind K-Lytics, Alex Newton. He talks about the services he provides and delves into many of the features and real-world applications for the data. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: k-lytics.com Link to our friends at Vellum…
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How to Grow Your Author Email List (and Why It Matters More Than Ever)
29:51
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29:51Your email list is one of the most powerful marketing tools you’ll ever build as an author. However, getting from zero to thousands of subscribers can feel overwhelming. In this episode of The Written Word Podcast, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon break down practical, proven strategies to grow your list. From adding your first 15 “friendlies” to usin…
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It's part 2 of our discussion about generating income from audio versions of your books. We talk about the AI options among other things, and James has a mini rant about the opposition many authors still face, because they use the latest technology which is available to all. USEFUL LINKS: ElevenLabs: https://www.indiewritersclub.com/elevenlabs Join…
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USA Today bestselling mystery author Sara Rosett joins Doug and Nick to discuss cozies, in-depth research, Kickstarters, special editions, and her exciting new subscription project. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: www.sararosett.com https://wishidknownforwriters.com/ https://www.sararosett.…
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We take a two episode dive into audio books. In the first part we discuss the options facing indies, such as wide or exclusive, self produce or collaborate etc. USEFUL LINKS: 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 Self Publi…
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Legend of the Indie author community and host of the brilliant Creative Penn Podcast, Joanna Penn, joined the lads for a lap around the shifting tides of authoring, AI, Kickstarters, and much, much more. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: http://www.jfpenn.com/buried https://creativepennbooks.…
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How to Grow Your Author Platform: The Power of Building an Email List
41:35
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41:35Email marketing isn’t dead - in fact, it might just be your most valuable tool as an indie author. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down why building and nurturing your email list is still one of the smartest and most effective ways to connect with readers and sell more books. You’ll Learn: Why email offers a stronger ROI than social or paid …
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There's no correct way to plot, but here are our suggestions. Mentioned in the pod were my 5 points to note during plotting - see below the links. USEFUL LINKS: 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 Novel November - a new w…
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USA Today bestselling author and founder of Severn River Publishing, Andrew Watts, dropped in to chat with Doug and Nick about how he used his military experience to forge authentic stories, stepping away from writing to build SRP, and forging a path ahead in a difficult business environment. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoa…
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Episode 50 is a good time to take stock of the industry and discuss the latest developments that can affect our indie world. Useful links: LSP Launchpad Course waitlist: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/launchpad Get your ticket for SPS Live: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As wi…
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AI powered translation provider, ScribeShadow, has taken off like a rocket lately, and co-owner Marisa joins the lads to talk about how the program is helping authors access foreign markets. She also kindly provided listeners of the show a 30% discount for first time users with the code twoauthors. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/t…
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How to Promote Your Book on Any Budget (and Other Questions You’re Probably Asking)
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36:14Want to sell more books without breaking the bank? Curious which promos actually work and how to tell? Ricci Wolman, Ferol Vernon, and Emma Boyer answer the most common (and important) questions we get from authors every day. How to promote with a small budget. How to revive a backlist that’s gone quiet. What to do when Amazon throws you a curvebal…
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049 - Your First Two Years as an Indie Author
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47:10Let's talk about the author platform you need to build. This episode covers those crucial foundation months as you start out. USEFUL LINKS: 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…
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Gareth Brown, author of the Sunday Times and USA Today bestseller, The Book of Doors, joins the lads to discuss his new release, The Society of Unknowable Objects, crafting his magical laced thrillers by the seat of his pants, and knowing when to start over. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: …
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048 - Are Facebook Ads Still Number One for Authors?
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40:44Welcome to episode 48 of the Indie Writers Club. This week Cara (spicy romance, romance) and James Blatch (thrillers) discuss Facebook (Meta) Ads. For years they have reigned supreme as the goto resource to drive readers to Amazon. But are they still working for writers? USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with J…
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Bringing Your Books To Life with Michael Evans from Creatorwood
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24:14The lads are joined by the dynamic Michael Evans, who discusses his Author Sidekick newsletter and his latest project, Creatorwood, a software that will bring your story to life as a movie or series under your direction. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thetwoauthorspodcast Links from the Show: https://lair.authorsidekick.com/ https…
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How Email Promos Actually Work (and Why They Still Sell Books)
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32:27If you want to sell more books, reach more readers, and spend less time guessing what works, start here. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon break down the strategy that helped launch the careers of countless successful indie authors - email promos. They’ll explain what email promos are, when to run them, and why they’re still one of the…
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Boost Your Book Sales with the Latest Trends from the Self Publishing Show (SPS) London
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40:46Emma Boyer is back from London and joins Ferol and Ricci to share her key takeaways from the Self Publishing Show (SPS)—Europe’s biggest indie author conference. In this episode, the team breaks down what they saw, heard, and felt at SPS and what it means for indie authors in 2025. You’ll Learn: Emerging trends in streaming vs. subscription audiobo…
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How Free Promos Can Grow Your Author Business
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30:04Welcome to the very first episode of The Written Word Podcast. This show is for people who write stories—and want them to be read. Authors. Indie or traditional. Aspiring or ten books deep. Each week, we dive into the business of being an author—marketing strategies, growing your audience, and selling more books. What’s working, what’s not, and wha…
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047 - How to Translate Your Books and Sell in Foreign Markets
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59:43In this episode we deep dive into the process and strategy for launching your English language books into global markets. We recommend scribeshadow.com (they are not a sponsor, this is a genuine recommendation). You can use our referral code IWC50 for 50% off your first month. You download a free PDF that contains the key points from the discussion…
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NYT bestselling author of historical and contemporary romance fiction author, Susan Wiggs, joins Nick and Doug to talk about her latest novel, Wayward Girls, her pen-to-paper writing, the things that haven't changed in the author biz, and plotting the pantsing. Links from the Show: www.susanwiggs.com https://www.facebook.com/susanwiggs https://www.…
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I'll confess, I love using AI for various parts of my marketing and editing, but even as an advocate of what AI can do for us writers, even I know there is a dark side. I experienced that recently with an email and in this episode we talk about how scammers are always one-step ahead. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Liv…
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Switching things up, Nick and Doug take the show weekly and kick off the new era with Brad West from Vellum giving listeners the industry insights and tips on the premier book formatting software. The lads also introduce their new Patreon where listeners can encourage them to keep recording shows by throwing them a few coins! Links from the Show: v…
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045 - How to Use an AI Manuscript Critique
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48:04In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James and Cara discuss various aspects of writing, the use of AI in manuscript critiques, and the impact of translations on indie publishing. They explore the benefits of using tools like ProWritingAid, the importance of character development, and the themes that resonate within their stories. The conversa…
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Twist, Delete, Twist with Gillian McAllister
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40:10Reese's Book Club Pick and New York Times bestselling author, Gillian McAllister, joins the show to discuss her unique method for completing a manuscript, the US and UK as different markets, and how she crafts her twisty, chart topping thrillers. Links from the Show: gillianmcallister.com https://www.instagram.com/gillianmauthor https://www.amazon.…
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