In this episode of Jolene's Book & Writers Talk, I sit down with Patricia D'Arcy Laughlin, author of The Sacrifices and Kingdoms Series, a contemporary romance saga spanning continents and cultures.

Patricia shares how decades of world travel, including visits to ancient ruins across nearly every continent, opened her eyes to long-buried histories of goddess worship and shaped thespiritual undercurrent running through her novels. We talk about her unconventional writing process (she often wakes in the middle of the night when inspiration strikes), her decision to self-publish, and the courage it took to learn computers for the first time as an adult before she could even begin writingher first book.

Patricia also opens up about her favorite authors, the role of her "book shepherd" in guiding her through independent publishing, and who she'd invite to her dream dinner party:Mahatma Gandhi, James Michener, and Barbara Taylor Bradford.

This conversation is perfect for writers interested in romance, self-publishing, world travel as creative fuel, and stories that challenge readers to think bigger about history, culture, andfaith. Visit the author's website: https://patriciadarcylaughlin.com

00:00 — Welcome and introduction 00:35 — Meet Patricia D'Arcy Laughlin and The Sacrifices and Kingdoms Series01:15 — On writer's groups and finding camaraderie02:10 — A life of early marriage, family, and art02:45 — World travel and discovering ancient goddess religions04:30 — Why this history matters to her writing04:50 — Favorite places: Africa's spiritual pull07:00 — Walkabout in Uluru and collecting world art07:50 — How the manuscript evolved from first draft tofinal edit08:40 — Learning her first computer as an adult10:30 — Working with a "book shepherd" through independent publishing11:35 — Why she chose self-publishing over traditional13:15 — The power of Amazon reviews and readerconnection14:40 — Writing routine: midnight inspiration over a fixed schedule16:05 — Favorite authors: Barbara Taylor Bradford, Diana Gabaldon17:10 — Comfort reads and a love of history21:05 — How publishing changed her self-perception22:00 — Dinner party guests: Gandhi, Michener, andBradford24:50 — Closing and where to find PatriciaSouthern Dragon Publishing Links

Website: https://SouthernDragonPublishing.com

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-dragon-publishing/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernDragonPublishing

Bookstodon Account: https://bookstodon.com/@sodragonpublishing

TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@sodragonpublishing

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sodragonpublishing.bsky.social

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SoDragonPublishing/

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/sodragonpublishing/

Threads Page: https://www.threads.net/@sodragonpublishing

Substack Publication: https://jolenetheauthor.substack.com/

Medium: https://medium.com/@SoDragonPub.jolene.macfadden

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sodragonpublishing

In this episode of Jolene's Book & Writers Talk, Jacksonville, Florida author and illustrator A.N. Cook joins host Jolene MacFadden for a wide-ranging conversation about building an indie publishing career across multiple genres.

A.N. Cook writes everything from picture books to adult fantasy under her own imprint, with 11 books publishedto date. She is the author of the completed four-book Pharian Chronicles fantasy series and her latest release, Nightmare Race, published in 2025. In this episode, she talks about the unexpected moment that sparked her writing career, why she publishes exclusively on Amazon under her own brand, and the hard-won lessons she has learned about daily writing discipline and cover design.

They also discuss: marketing challenges for indie authors, the role of vendor events and book festivals in building readership, the library landscape and why IngramSpark matters for hardcover distribution, A.N.'s evolving approach to social media and her interest in eventually joining Substack, and the audiobook options available to self-published authors today.

A full-time nurse who kayaks Silver Springs and visits Disney twice a month, A.N. Cook is proof that you can build a creative career alongside a demanding profession, one scheduled hour at a time.

This episode is for writers interested in indie publishing, fantasy and multi-genre storytelling, self-illustration, and building a sustainable writing practice. Visit the author’s website: http://www.aileencook.com/

Timestamped Chapter Markers

00:00 Show Intro

00:41 Meet A.N. Cook

01:18 Writing Origins

01:52 Indie Publishing Path

02:17 Social Media and Substack

03:49 Writer Groups and Festivals

06:20 Productivity and Editing Tips

07:30 Covers and Branding

08:52 Libraries and IngramSpark

10:54 Life Beyond Writing

11:58 Marketing and AI Concerns

14:03 Selling and Vendor Events

14:59 Pharian Chronicles Spotlight

15:58 Audiobook Options

17:41 Closing and Where to Find A.N. Cook

Southern Dragon Publishing Links

Website: https://SouthernDragonPublishing.com

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-dragon-publishing/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernDragonPublishing

Bookstodon Account: https://bookstodon.com/@sodragonpublishing

TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@sodragonpublishing

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sodragonpublishing.bsky.social

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SoDragonPublishing/

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/sodragonpublishing/

Threads Page: https://www.threads.net/@sodragonpublishing

In this episode of Jolene's Book & Writers Talk, I'm joined by Kat Beaulieu, an IT professional from Minnesota who did something no one in his field would expect: he listened to a feather, wrote a story, and self-published a strikingly beautiful hardcover children's book called Owl Music.

Published under the group name Plumo del Buho, Owl Music is a hand-numbered, cloth-bound, foil-embossed first edition offset lithography print run of 1,000 signed copies, created with producer-collaborators Kirsten Holland and Sandis Alaska, and illustrator Melissa Crowley. The book quickly found its perfect home at the International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota, the only owl education center in the country, where it has sold more than 100 copies in just five weeks.

Kat and I talk about the unexpected journey from IT career to debut author, the decision to self-publish with full creative control, what it means to create a true analog experience in a digital world, the grassroots discovery path through owl enthusiast communities, and the lesson at the heart of the book itself: the art of listening.

This episode is for writers, creatives, and anyone who has a story they feel compelled to tell, no matter how far outside their lane it seems. Visit the authors website: https://owlmusic.net/

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

00:40 Meet Kat and Owl Music

01:34 From Friends to First Print

02:04 Owl Center Breakthrough

04:12 Listening Theme and Praise

06:52 Book Design and Analog Feel

08:41 Self Publishing and Control

09:46 Distribution and IngramSpark

13:18 Owl Stories and Symbolism

15:11 Storytime Owl Music Read

20:36 Art Edition and Collectors

21:33 Closing and Next Episode

Website: https://SouthernDragonPublishing.com

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-dragon-publishing/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernDragonPublishing

Bookstodon Account: https://bookstodon.com/@sodragonpublishing

TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@sodragonpublishing

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sodragonpublishing.bsky.social

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SoDragonPublishing/

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/sodragonpublishing/

Threads Page: https://www.threads.net/@sodragonpublishing

Substack Publication: https://jolenetheauthor.substack.com/