Diana Urban: Author Tips & Tea

How Taylor Swift inspired me to get the rights back to my book

These Deadly Games is back in my hands... and today, it's back in readers' hands, too.

Jul 9 • Diana Urban

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June 2026

What it's like to be an author in 2026

This isn't anything helpful, just a dollop of solidarity.

Jun 23 • Diana Urban

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May 2026

A review of StoryOrigin's Beta Copies with 30 beta readers

I used StoryOrigin to run a 30-person beta team for my self-pub debut. Here’s everything I loved… and what I’d love to see improved.

May 22 • Diana Urban

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Important reminder about ARC opportunities + writing updates!

We will return to our previously scheduled programming after this brief message to make sure readers see ALL THE EXCITING THINGS!

May 5 • Diana Urban

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April 2026

Running a beta reader team for an indie book: assets & emails

Here’s what I created to recruit and run my 30-person team: the application, critique guidance, welcome email, and more!

Apr 14 • Diana Urban

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How I got 30 beta readers for my debut self-published novel

A deep dive on how I ran a 30-person beta reader team with a 70% manuscript completion rate.

Apr 2 • Diana Urban

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March 2026

You're Overthinking This: My self-publishing journey begins!

Sharing what I’ve done so far, from recruiting beta readers to teasing the preorder…

Mar 16 • Diana Urban

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February 2026

The 5 biggest book marketing lessons I learned the HARD way

From going viral on social media to NetGalley widgets, I’m sharing the five biggest lessons that will shape my approach to promoting my books.

Feb 6 • Diana Urban

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January 2026

ALERT: Join my reader mailing list + get a free steamy psychological thriller!

You’ll be the first to know about my new stories, discounts, giveaways, and ARC opportunities. This Substack is for author tips and publishing tea!

Jan 12 • Diana Urban

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December 2025

Publishing lessons on book production I learned the HARD way

From cover consultations to packaging and sprayed edges, I’m sharing eight book production challenges I faced so YOU’RE prepared to handle them.

Dec 19, 2025 • Diana Urban

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October 2025

Publishing lessons on writing & editing I learned the HARD way

8 lessons I learned from writing and editing four books under contract—protecting yourself from burnout, when to stet, getting extensions, and more!

Oct 6, 2025 • Diana Urban

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September 2025

80+ ways publishing can reject you AFTER a book deal

As an aspiring author, I thought once I got a book deal, things would be smooth sailing. Here's what I wish I knew...

Sep 17, 2025 • Diana Urban

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