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Nina Harrington published her first romance in 2009 and since then she has won awards with her fiction, been translated into 23 languages, and sold over a million books worldwide.
As well as publishing with Harlequin Mills & Boon and Carina, Nina has dipped her toe in independent publishing with her thriller, Deadly Secrets, and a series of non-fiction titles aimed at writers. She also runs a website, The Prolific Author, which is packed with information and advice for writers wishing to increase their productivity and build a long-term career.
Nina took the radical (and not generally advisable!) step of chucking in her well-paid job in order to devote herself to full-time writing before she had written or sold a book.
Six years (and several books) later, she received her first contract with Harlequin and hasn’t looked back.
For more on Nina and her books, go to: www.ninaharrington.com
On hybrid publishing:
‘There is a world of difference between amateur self-publishing and professional self-publishing.’
On balancing business with writing:
‘I just accept it… Most days about forty percent of my day is going to be spent on the business and marketing and promotion side.’
On writing:
‘I had terrible problems with procrastination and it was threatening to derail my entire writing career…And it was all about fear.’
‘I am a perfectionist and I always have been.’
‘It all came to mindset… Accepting that there is a psychology behind procrastination and that it isn’t laziness.’
Recommendations:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt.
Nina’s non-fiction books:
How To Write Short Romance Kindle Books: A Forty Minute Masterclass
Keep Your Pants On!: How To Outline A Romance Novel When You Are An Intuitive Writer
Nina’s free video training:
Keep Your Pants On Video Course
Also in the show:
I mention Joanna Penn’s excellent new book, The Successful Author Mindset.
Joanna Penn runs the useful and inspiring podcast (and website), The Creative Penn, and I interviewed her back in episode #8 of The Worried Writer.
In this book she shares the highs and lows of professional writing. Joanna has built a six-figure business and published many novels and non-fiction books, so she really knows what she is talking about. It’s stuffed with practical tips, and I had several ‘me, too’ moments while reading about Joanna’s thought processes, making me feel less weird and alone – always a plus!
Don’t forget: If you have a writing (or publishing) question that you’d like me to tackle in a future episode, please get in touch via email or Twitter.
I’ll answer it on the show and credit you (unless, of course, you ask to remain anonymous).
Please spread the word and, if you can spare the time, leave a rating for the show on iTunes. I truly appreciate your support.
Thank you for listening!
Loved this podcast, so honest. I struggle with procrastination & this really hit home for me. Thank you ladies.
Thanks, Cynthia. I’m so glad you found it useful. Best wishes, Sarah