Pen to Paycheck Authors
Welcome to pen to Paycheck Authors podcast. We’re two indie authors; Matilda Swift, author of quintessentially British Cozy Mysteries, and Sam Cummings, author of Young Adult books about magic, myths, and monsters. With over a dozen books between us, and still a long way to go towards the ‘quit the day job’ dream, we’re here to write our way to financial success. Listen along for our mastery through missteps journey
Episodes
Samantha and Matilda are challenging each other to stretch their creative muscles with craft exercises.
Next week, it’s challenge week. Join Matilda and Sam to strike down the least inviting items on their to-do lists.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, w...
Samantha and Matilda are still focusing on their craft, talking through their process for planning whole series and books, from the biggest arc to the smallest word.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are sharing the results of a day of craft exercises.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda are still focusing on their craft, turning a critical eye to our own writing and that of others.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are talking about how they plan all elements of a new series and its books, down to the craft level.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda are working on their craft, sharing their tactics for improvement and the resources they use.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are doing a craft critique of their own and other writing.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCORD...
Samantha and Matilda are reaching out to authors and readers in new genres…yes, it feels uncomfortable, but they’re doing it anyway!
Next week, Matilda and Sam start a mini-series on craft, sharing what they’ve been focused on and their favourite resources.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda are getting better at asking for help, and they’re making plans to improve even more.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are finding ways to build contacts in new genres.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCORD, and you&r...
Samantha and Matilda are ending series and discussing how to do it well.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are working on asking for help. They’re not good at it, but they’re making plans to get better.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a ...
Samantha and Matilda are preparing to launch their next series, and they’re thinking big!
Next week, Matilda and Sam are planning the ends of their current series and how to do this successfully.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCOR...
Samantha and Matilda have just finished challenge week, and they’re figuring out how not to quit the things they ought to be doing.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are planning new series launches and considering all the things they can do for them.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda are looking back over the months in which everything has changed!
Next week, join Matilda and Sam for challenge week. What are you challenging yourself to?
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCORD, and you’re invit...
Samantha and Matilda are talking through allll the options for reaching readers, searching for the ones that suit their skills.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are reviewing Q2!
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCORD, and you’re invited: ...
Samantha and Matilda are back from SPS Live 2026, and they’re sharing all the details of how it helped.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are talking about alternatives to ads - how else can they get their books out there?
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we&r...
Samantha and Matilda are walking you through their most recent Mastermind Day, sharing all the inside details on what they discuss, so you can set up your own sessions with writing peers.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are sharing what they learned at SPS Live 2026.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda aren’t just reading resources and hoping they sink in. They’re figuring out how to get the best out of tools and sharing the results with you. This week, they’ve read Claire Taylor’s Reclaim Your Author Career, and they’re talking through what they can take away.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are pulling back the curtain on their mastermind partnership and sharing all the details of w...
Samantha and Matilda are looking back on their first month of building up our community, sharing what works and why.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are reading Claire Taylor’s Reclaim Your Author Career and practising action points from the business books they read.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Samantha and Matilda are rewriting books…or are they? They talk through the reasons to publish new versions of old books and share their experiences with the process. Then they make some big decisions about what to do next.
Next week, Matilda and Sam are reflecting on their community building experience so far.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com...
Samantha and Matilda have written good books…so why don’t they sell? Are they somehow also bad?
Next week, Matilda and Sam are talking about when and how to rewrite published books.
Support the podcast by buying us a coffee (and a slice of cake if you’re feeling generous): https://ko-fi.com/pentopaycheckauthorspodcast/
Join us for more mastery through missteps…en masse. Yes, we’ve got a DISCORD, and ...
Samantha and Matilda are sharing their insights into coworking - how to set it up and how it supercharges your writing time!
Next week, Matilda and Sam are pushing themselves to level up by critiquing each others’ book 1s. They’ll be looking at everything from the cover to the contents, and comparing these to comps. Fingers crossed this doesn’t end in tears.
This week, Matilda and Sam are talking about CRAFT, and how they plan on improving theirs.
Next week, tune in to chat about co-working, both on and offline.
Where to find Sam and Matilda: SAM IG: @sammowrimo Website: www.samantha-cummings.com Book to start with: Curse of the Wild - https://books2read.com/curseofthewild (Moons & Magic Book 1) Most recent book: The Moon Is a Door - ht...
This week, Sam and Matilda are talking about community and The Epiphany Engine!!
Next week, they're back to discuss craft.
Where to find Sam and Matilda: SAM IG: @sammowrimo Website: www.samantha-cummings.com Book to start with: Curse of the Wild - https://books2read.com/curseofthewild (Moons & Magic Book 1) Most recent book: The Moon Is a Door - https://books2read.com/The-Moon-Is-A-Door&...
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