Success as an indie author is not about luck, it's about putting significant effort into all aspects of the author business. In today's interview, I talk to Rachel Abbott, one of the UK's top crime authors, who also happens to be indie. In the intro, I talk about how Amazon has overtaken Flipkart as India's biggest online retailer, plus how sanity has prevailed at the Hugo awards giving diversity a chance. I also reflect on measuring your life by Olympic periods, and how we can't achieve too much in one year, but things can change dramatically if you take consistent action over 4 years. I challenge you to think about your writing life as it was in 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London), 2016 (Rio), and how it will be in 2020 (Tokyo). This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. abbott.com/">abbott.com/">Rachel Abbott is the internationally bestselling author of 6 crime thriller novels including the recent Kill Me Again. In August 2015, Amazon revealed that Rachel is the UK's bestselling independent author over the last five years. She is also listed at who-wrote-novel-for-fun-joins-world-famous-authors-on-bestseller-list.html">number 14 in the list of UK bestselling authors – both traditionally and independently published – over the same five year period, outselling authors like Jeffrey Archer and JoJo Moyes. You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher or watch the video here, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below. * On what has changed since Rachel was on the show four years ago. * Why Rachel continues to choose to publish independently. * The current process for Rachel producing a best-selling book. * How marketing strategies have changed since Rachel first started publishing her books, and the marketing strategies she finds most effective. * The team that works together with Rachel to help her succeed. * On whether anyone can be an indie author. * On publicists and PR agents and how to decide whether to use one. You can find Rachel at abbott.com/">www.Rachel-Abbott.com. Transcription of Interview with Rachel Abbott Joanna: Hi, everyone. I'm Joanna Penn from thecreativepenn.com, and today I'm here with Rachel Abbott. Hi, Rachel.