Happy Friday, everyone! We hope you’re having a good week, are staying healthy, and are staying safe. It’s definitely starting to get chillier here in Toronto……
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Live Q&A on September 22nd 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover guest, Ines Johnson, will be…
Internationally bestselling author Laurelin Paige joins us on the podcast this week. Laurelin has a background in musical theatre and marketing, making her an expert in…
“Publishing wide is an attitude, not just a technical choice”– Joanna Penn One of the biggest questions indie authors face is, “should I go wide or…
Hello and happy first Friday of the fall, everyone!. I know, I know, *technically* summer doesn’t end for another ten days, but the kids are back…
Hi everyone, As you might already know, we recently made a change to the promo application process. Now, when you submit a title for certain promos,…
Jeff and Jamie from Deyan Audio join us on the podcast this week to discuss all things audiobooks! Jeff and Jamie have a combined 23 years…
This post originally appeared on SachaBlack.com If you’re an indie author, the world of information on publishing can be overwhelming. We wanted to break down some…
Bestselling author and creator of The Indie Author Mindset Adam Croft joins us on the podcast this week. Adam is a huge advocate for publishing wide,…
Happy last Friday of August, everyone! It’s wild to me that we’re almost in September and summer is coming to an end. Where does the time…
Bestselling author Sam Maggs joins us on the podcast this week. Sam has written both fiction and nonfiction, as well as comics, graphic novels, and video…
Hello and happy Friday everyone! It’s been a pretty slow week in publishing news, which is pretty par for the course in the late summer as…
Author and founder of Izzard Ink Tim McConnehey joins us on the podcast this week. Tim has spent almost a decade working with indie authors and…
Good afternoon and happy Friday, everyone! Another week has just flown by, making me worry about how quickly winter and it’s accompanying cold is approaching. I’m…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Live Q&A on August 20th 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our very own KWL…
Melissa Dalton Martinez, a veteran marketing and PR manager and the host of The Book Break, joins us on the podcast to discuss the ins and…
Another week has come and gone, and I hope everyone is still hanging in there as 2020 continues to 2020. We’re kicking off the roundup this…
Bestselling author Nick Thacker joins us on the podcast this week to discuss utilizing street team marketing to grow your readership. Nick explains how to use…
Hello everyone, and happy Friday! Although, to be perfectly honest, I’m writing this on Thursday as we have a long weekend here at Kobo, so if…
Author Megan Angelo joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her debut novel Followers. Megan tells us what inspired the story of Followers, how…
Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you’re continuing to stay safe, healthy, and cool during this hot and humid July (if you’re located somewhere that is not…
Kobo Plus, our all-you-can-read subscription service, launched in Canada last week, so we asked the director of Kobo Plus and Publisher Relations, Erik Rigters, to join…
Happy Friday everyone! It has been a very busy week here at Kobo. In case you missed it, we had two big launches this week! We…
The big Kobo announcements keep coming this week! We are so thrilled to announce the launch of our newest eReader, the Kobo Nia. Our latest entry-level…
Bestselling author and writing coach Allison Fallon is on the podcast this week. As the published author of thirteen books and the founder of the writing…
This is a big week for us here at Kobo and KWL – Kobo Plus has officially launched in Canada! For those who need a refresher,…
Happy Friday everyone, and a belated Happy Canada Day/Fourth of July. I hope everyone is staying safe, healthy, and if you’re experiencing a heat wave like…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Live Q&A on July 23rd 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover guest, Jane Friedman, will be…
Now that we’re officially halfway through 2020 (AKA the longest year in the history of humankind), we thought it was time to check in on the…
Veteran Publicist, social media pro, and brand manager Dana Kaye joins us on the podcast this week to discuss all things marketing, publicity, and branding. Dana…
Mystery author Paul Austin Ardoin joins us on the podcast this week. After spending eight years writing the first few chapters of his novel, Paul signed…
Good afternoon and Happy Friday everyone! The speed at which time is flying by is really out of control. Was I not just saying I couldn’t…
This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march, but with social distancing measures in place across the world Pride as we know it…
Bestselling author and publisher Kevin J. Anderson joins us on this podcast this week to discuss his illustrious thirty year writing career and how the world…
Another week has come and gone, and on this warm Friday before the summer solstice, I am really looking forward to spending the next two days…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Live Q&A on June 25th 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Becca Syme, will be…
Please enjoy this special bonus episode from Kobo in Conversation! We spoke with thriller writer (and former newspaper columnist and humourist) Linwood Barclay about the myth…
Writing to music is a controversial subject. Some of us need absolute silence to get writing done, some of us need some background noise, and some…
Hi KWLers, To say the past few weeks have been difficult would be an extreme understatement. It has been an extraordinarily emotional time, especially for the…
Kobo’s Global Audiobook Merchandiser Elyse Daniels is on the podcast this week discussing all things audio. Elyse tells us the ins and outs of selling audiobooks…
We want to take the time to acknowledge that many in our global community are in pain and experiencing feelings of fear, fury and heartbreak. We at Kobo…
by Sacha Black There are very few strict rights and wrongs in storytelling. Sure, some might argue that grammar has rules that should be followed. But you…
Happy Friday, everyone! Can you believe June is almost here? It seems like just yesterday I was saying the exact same thing about May. Time really…
We’re pleased to announce that we’ve expanded our reach to libraries by adding the cost-per-click purchase option for OverDrive distribution! This gives librarians from OverDrive’s vast…
Skye MacKinnon is an international bestselling author who writes across multiple genres, from science fiction to fantasy to paranormal romance and even children’s books. Skye joins…
Happy Friday, everyone! To those who celebrated a long weekend last week, I hope you had a wonderful break, and to those who are heading into…
Author Nora Shalaway Carpenter is on the podcast this week to discuss her debut YA novel, The Edge of Anything, and how her own experience with…
It’s Victoria Day Weekend here in Canada (or May 2-4 if you will), so heading into the long weekend means our news roundup is coming at…
Science fiction and fantasy author Anthony Dobranski is on the podcast this week to discuss the tarot deck he created as a tie-in to his book,…
As you might have seen in our latest newsletter, we at Kobo have been supporting the UK’s publishers association in its lobby to #AxetheReadingTax and equalise…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Live Q&A on May 20th 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Orna Ross, will be…
Happy Friday, everyone! This week saw a big book announcement and some huge news for indie authors; it was also a week that included Star Wars…
Romance author and marketing executive Kilby Blades joins us on the podcast this week to talk about the new, ever evolving storytelling platforms authors can access…
I can’t believe May is already here! It seems like April just flew by. Although I think we can all agree that during social isolation, time…
Author Abbigail N. Rosewood joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her debut novel, If I Had Two Lives, and the real-life inspiration behind the…
By Orna Ross Are you using lockdown to tackle that project you’ve always wanted to complete? Or struggling to find motivation and inspiration in these crazy…
By Sally Jenkins, author of Public Speaking for Absolute Beginners Editor’s Note: We know that most in person events have been put on hold for…
Another week of social distancing has come and gone. This week included the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and since we can’t celebrate by planting trees…
Happy World Book Day! If you’re on our blog, there’s a very good chance that books have changed your life in one way or another. Whether…
We always want to make sure all of our authors are up to date with everything that KWL has to offer. Here are five things you…
Happy Friday, everybody! This week has just flown by. I guess that’s the advantage of holiday Mondays, right? Kobo hit a huge milestone this weekend –…
By D.F. Hart I began this journey in March of 2019, and literally had no clue what I was doing through my first three book releases.…
Writer, illustrator, and poet Jasmin Kaur joins us on the podcast this week. Jasmin’s work has been celebrated globally, and has been shared by celebrities and…
Happy Friday Thursday! We here at KWL are lucky enough to be heading into a four day weekend, and while an extra long weekend without being…
Bestselling author, podcaster, and motivational speaker Joanna Penn joined us for a KWL Facebook Live event recently, where she discussed all things audio from recording her…
Another week of social distancing and it’s starting to feel a bit more normal. As normal as staying in my small, Toronto apartment full time can…
By Nate Hoffelder With all public events canceled for the duration, your website is ten times more important than it was last month. You can no…
Historical fiction author Glenn Dyer was in his sixties and freshly retired when he published his first novel, The Torch of Betrayal. Now planning the release…
Today is Trans Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate trans and nonbinary people around the globe and to honour the courage it takes to live…
Another week of adjusting to our new normal is in the books, and I hope everyone is still doing okay. Here at KWL we’ve settled into…
By Grant Faulkner, for Writer’s Digest I have to admit that I’ve had moments over the years when I’ve questioned writing—or, rather, the level of dedication…
Canadian musician and author Eamon McGrath joins us on the podcast this week to discuss the differences and similarities between being a musician and being an…
Hi KWL Community, This week has been a tough one, and we hope you’re doing okay. As we all adjust to social distancing and what that…
By Deandra Lalonde Originally posted on Chateau Chemo. A note from the KWL team: We hope everyone is staying safe during this time of unknowns and…
Debut author Andrew David MacDonald joins us on the podcast this week. Fresh off the release of his first novel, When We Were Vikings, Andrew talks…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook Live Q&A on March 27th 2020. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Joanna Penn, will…
This content originally appeared on Walmart.com Everyone has a “How I Started My Career” story. Which is different from their “My First Job” story. Cuz my…
I think I speak for everyone when I say this week has been A Lot. Living in the era of the never-ending news cycle can be…
Award winning poet Saeed Jones was in the Kobo office recently to discuss his new memoir, How We Fight For Our Lives. In conversation with maxine…
Are you a new sci-fi or fantasy author that’s looking for some well earned recognition? Then you may want to consider entering the Writers of the…
It has been a big week for book news as the effects of the Coronavirus continue to hit the publishing industry. There were also some big…
Tawdra Kandle, a USA Today bestselling romance author, writes across multiple genres using just as many pen names. She tells us why she decided to utilize…
J. Robert Kennedy is a bestselling author with over fifty titles under his belt and over one million copies sold. He was kind enough to take…
Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you don’t mind, but instead of sharing strictly news this week I’ve also included some book-related articles I absolutely loved; you…
Bestselling Science Fiction and Paranormal author TS Paul joins us to discuss how he went from a reluctant writer to an author who puts out over…
This content was originally published on Kobo.com As the Senior Manager of Author Experience at Kobo, Tara Cremin is constantly working with authors. Over the years, she’s…
I don’t know about you guys, but this week has just flown by! I guess that’s the joy of four-day work-weeks, huh? (Sincere apologies to those…
As 2020 is a leap year and contains an extra day, we figured why not record an extra podcast! Our international KWL team members were in…
USA Today bestselling author Darcy Burke sits down with Steph and Tara to discuss the importance of having a writing group, what writing retreats are really…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook Live Q&A on February 27th 2020. From 2:00 PM-3:00 PM EST, our takeover host, BookBub’s Carlyn…
Happy Valentines Day! I know today isn’t everyone’s favourite holiday (myself included), but you can’t deny how great curling up with a good book while devouring…
New York Times Bestselling romance author Jennifer Probst discusses her experience in publishing and how she found her success in an evolving industry. Jennifer tells us…
Hello KWLers and welcome to the KWL 2020 Reading Challenge! Is it a little bit late? Maybe. But in our defense, it has been really busy…
Happy Friday! After a brief hiatus, we’ve decided to reboot our Literary Round Up feature, compiling all of the important book-related news in one convenient location.…
USA Today bestselling author, Autumn Jones Lake explains the misconceptions associated with motorcycle romance, how she plots her Lost Kings MC series (15 books and counting!)…
Holly Mortimer, both an author and email marketing specialist, discusses strategies authors can implement to sell more books. Holly describes the common mistakes authors make when…
Sara Rosett, USA Today bestselling author, gives her tips for plotting mystery novels, discusses the psychology of why readers choose cozy mysteries, and explains the challenges…
David Mark Brown speaks to Kobo Writing Life about Fiction Vortex and StoryVerse™, which allows authors to collaborate and make narrative content in shared worlds. Listen…
Vanessa Vale, USA Today bestselling author of sexy romance novels, discusses publishing in a niche genre and how she strives for brand recognition through her author…
NOTE: This piece originally appeared on StoryShopUni. Looking to sell more titles on Kobo? Then you should be taking advantage of Kobo Writing Life’s Promotions Tool!…
Crime fiction writer Robert Craven chats to us about how he writes strong female characters, his formula for writing and pitching a book, and provides insight into the conference scene in the UK and Ireland
Thank you to everyone who submitted and voted! We are delighted to present the 10 finalists below in our best overall cover poll.
Multi-media artist and author Victoria L. Szulc chats to us about using steampunk as a creative theme and how she is able to create her own…
With 30 books published for children and teens, New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, discusses the evolution of the young adult genre from when she…
Based on your romance reading preferences, we’ll recommend a bestselling romance series you’re meant to be in. You may just find your next binge-worthy read!
It’s here! Huge thanks to everyone who entered the contest. It was tough to narrow it down, but we have selected ten finalists in each category!…
In this episode, we pulled Kobo’s very own Michelle Kaatz from her desk to tell you all about Kobo Originals and give her sizzling hot takes…
This is a friendly reminder that as the holiday season approaches, the schedule for our regular content processing services will be adjusted.* December 19 is the…
Noah Steele, indie author of gay romance, shares his insights on market research. It’s not as scary as you might think!
Michael Anderle, best-selling indie author, gives us the scoop on the launch of his first “wide” series, Opus X. He tells us his author origin story, and…
This week on the podcast, award-winning Mexican author and academic Juan Pablo Villalobos spoke to us about his latest title, The Other Side. This project explores…
Zoe York talks to us about how she began her career writing “the stories of her heart”, and then went on to turn those stories into…
We’re at the halfway point for NaNoWriMo! This mini-marathon of writing has been intense, and we’re definitely feeling the burn. Check in on what the Kobo team has been up to.
The Kobo Writing Life team loves Nonfiction November! Check out the books we think everyone should read.
Violet Howe talks to us about her writing career and how feeling strongly about her story and characters led her to indie publishing. Violet discusses how writing two different series in the same town allows her to explore two genres. Violet also talks to us about how her past work experiences have influenced her writing but also how they have helped with other aspects of her writing business.
Prize-winning author, former BBC journalist, bookseller and magazine editor Helena Halme shares her wisdom on creating gripping, sexy, and heartfelt first romantic encounters.
We’re almost at the halfway point for NaNo! I wanted to take a step back and reflect on my progress and what I’ve learned in the first few weeks of the challenge.
Narrative voice and story content are intricately bound together, and the two must be compatible for your novel to work. Recognize the four most common issues with narrative voice and how to overcome them.
We’re a quarter of the way through our NaNo journey! Members of the Kobo team share what they’re working on and how NaNo is going so far.
Melissa Yi, an emergency room physician and author, chats to us about how she balances being a writer and part-time doctor. She discusses how her work experiences have made their way into her Hope Sze Medical Mystery Series and she shares some of her favourite emergency room stories. Plus an exclusive sample of her audiobook, Code Blues!
By Melissa Yi Hi, I’m Dr. Melissa Yi, emergency physician and the author of GRAVEYARD SHIFT, which debuted November 1st. Have you ever wondered if the…
Our NaNoWriMo journey has begun! Check out Joanna Penn’s 5 tips to help you write a novel in one month. Plus an exclusive offer on The Writer’s Toolbox 2019 and The Successful Author Mindset.
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook Live Q&A on November 21st 2019. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover hosts Jill…
Author Rachel Grant and her narrator Greg Tremblay shed some light on the process of creating an audiobook. Rachel discusses the working relationship she has with Greg and how his narration has influenced her future work. Greg shares his experience as a narrator, and the process for creating audiobooks. Start self-publishing today with KWL.
Catch up on popular new releases across genres this October. Plus news on major book award winners and a spine-tingling horror writing playlist!
National Novel Writing Month is only days away! Make sure you’re prepared for what’s coming, so you can start this challenge strong.
Tell us what your horror tastes are and we’ll recommend a top-rated title on Kobo! Halloween vibes, anyone?
Award-winning author Anne Allen discusses the fascinating history of the British island of Guernsey. The island’s turbulent past and its connection to the legendary Victor Hugo served as a backdrop of inspiration for The Guernsey Novels.
New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young talks to us about the life-changing success of her self-published novel On Dublin Street. Samantha examines the benefits of being a hybrid author, stepping out of her comfort zone with her forthcoming novel Outmatched and why relatable characters are the hallmark of all her novels. Plus an exclusive offer on Samantha’s audiobook, Into the Deep.
Every month, the KWL newsletter features a discussion prompt and gives authors the opportunity to contribute to the blog. See what experienced authors have to say about crafting dialogue.
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month: a frenzy of writing with the goal of producing a 50,000-word novel during the thirty days of November. Find out more about this global writing challenge!
Writing duo, Piper Rayne, gives us insights on what it is like being a writing duo and they discuss the writing and revision process that works best for them. No two writing duos are alike! They discuss the prep work and strategy behind releasing a successful new persona and give their tips for new co-authors starting out. Plus an exclusive offer on Book #1 of The Baileys!
Incorrectly categorizing your books can keep them away from your target readership. Worse still, this could lead to bad reviews, when readers do not get what they expect. Are your novels in the right category?
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook Live Q&A on October 17th 2019. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Tyra Burton, will…
Have you ever considered telling a story in different points of view? Five key ways multiple narratives can benefit your novel, adding depth and meaning to your story.
Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist originally from Wasauksing First Nation, talks about his latest novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, a take on a post-apocalypse story told from an indigenous perspective. He also describes his path to writing and offers advice for young aspiring writers.
KWL recently launched an audiobook upload service for its authors! Whether you are considering creating an audiobook or just want to stay up to date with…
Ricardo Fayet, CMO and Founder of Reedsy, talks about Reedsy Discovery’s unique approach to book marketing.
Some of the most renowned authors have surprisingly humble beginnings. Their stories of overcoming poverty and childhood struggles, persevering through rejection after rejection, and writing out of necessity to support their families are truly remarkable. You will appreciate these legendary authors more knowing how far they’ve come.
Emma Chase, NYT bestselling author, discusses the importance of learning the habits of your readers and setting reader expectations before the release of a new book. She discusses how she built up her newsletter audience and gives us hints about what to expect next from her Royally series.
September’s top book releases and news from the book world, plus a personally curated Sci-Fi writing playlist!
A video tutorial on the audiobook publishing process, plus tips and resources to help KWL authors succeed with audio.
Writing is most often a solitary pursuit. Many of us are introverts who live in our books (whether we are writing them or reading them). If…
New York Times best-selling author, Rachel Van Dyken discusses how having an authentic online presence offers something tangible to readers and allows authors to stay relevant in the ever-changing publishing world. She talks to us why she decided to be a hybrid author and discusses her upcoming novel Fashion Jungle which she co-wrote with model Kathy Ireland.
So, you have a concept of the tale you want to tell. Is the story truly of your own design? Follow these five steps to creating an original story.
Every author has a characteristic writing style and a creative essence that they use to put words to paper. Take the quiz to learn what resonates in your writing. If you are yet to be published, use your imagination for the questions about your novel!
Joshua Lisec take us behind the scenes on what it is like being a celebrity ghostwriter. He discusses how he became a ghostwriter, what the ghostwriting…
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook Live Q&A on September 20th 2019. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Ryan Zee from Booksweeps will be answering all your questions on the Kobo Writing Life Facebook page. If you can’t make the takeover, feel free to comment on this post with your questions and we can ask them for you! Keep reading to learn more about Ryan and his experience in the indie world, and get your questions ready!
Dutch author Jeroen van Mastbergen enlisted the help of translator Goltan Varashk to translate his Young Adult title in English. Here they tell us about the process of working together––and the challenges of translating jokes!
With 20 years in the industry and over 100 novels under her belt, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis shares her tips for finding the right method of publication for you and how to sustain a lifelong publishing career.
KWL authors share their experiences of how their characters came to life and took the story into their own hands.
If you’re one of those writers who buys a planner six months early, I’m betting you’re psyched to see the title of this article! If not, I hope to lure your over to the dark side with some guidelines to help keep you on track as an author and savvy entrepreneur.
Julie Evelyn Joyce talks to us about the inspiration for prize-winning novel Steeped in Love. Julie shares how writing Gilmore Girls fan fiction taught her about craft and how a chance meeting at RWA led her to entering and winning Kobo’s Emerging Writer Prize!
If you’ve been soaking up the final glorious rays of summer or have been too busy to follow new releases, let me introduce some great titles that have come out this month.
This week, Steph and Joni sat down with David Wind, author of The Indie Writer’s Handbook. Wind has written 59 titles and started his author journey with a traditional publisher, before becoming a very early adopter of indie publishing in 2008.
Creating a vivid and realistic setting for your readers is a complex process. KWL breaks down the nuances of setting, from its relation to characters, plot, and symbolism, writing with the five senses, and figurative language. Plus, some musical inspiration for setting: get lost in your fantasy world with our playlist of the month!
Nora Decter, Kobo’s Emerging Writer Prize Winner for Literary Fiction, chats to us about her debut novel How Far We Go and How Fast. She talks about…
KWL has compiled a list of budget-friendly book review platforms that will help get readers talking about your book.