AMRA PAJALIC
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the joy of direct sales

14/5/2025

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It's still always such a buzz when I sell a book and while I get excited about stats to do with the online retailers that my books are available on, when I get a direct sale, it just somehow means more. And today I got two sales!!!!

Somehow these readers stumbled across my writing, went to my shop, and chose to buy a book from me. It feels more personal and visceral. So getting an email while I was at work was just so deliciously thrilling, I wanted to celebrate it.

I'd encourage all writers, no matter what stage you're at, to establish an online shop. I use PayHip which has no monthly fees as a small percentage is deducted per sale. I've connected it to BookFunnel to sell my ebooks and audiobooks. I sell paperbacks where I package and post, however this is only within Australia due to fees. 

There are options to integrate with Bookvault to do print on demand physical books internationally, but I haven't done that. And can also integrate with Printful for merch, which I might do.

I connected my store to my own domain so it's my own branding

​https://pishukinpress.com/

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Memoir is a genre of scars-Ep 7, amra's armchair anecdotes

13/5/2025

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🎙️ "."
Writing about trauma means navigating pain, truth, and compassion. In this episode, I talk about writing my memoir while protecting my mother’s dignity—acknowledging the harm without being cruel. Because you don’t owe your trauma to the page. You choose what to share.
​
🖋️ If you're writing from wounds, this one's for you.

Listen to the full podcast episode about Writing from Wounds
https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html


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podcast achievement

13/5/2025

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Got a lovely email from my podcast host Buzzsprout that my podcast has had 50 downloads! This is data only from my audio podcast provider, and there are also about 87 downloads on YouTube so nearly 100 downloads all up.

Very exciting considering this whole podcast idea came as more of an impulse and was more about building up new skills so that I can apply for funding for my history podcast. In the process have discovered that I really love podcasting and the opportunity to share information.

My goal is to record 10 solo episodes to build up my confidence and tech know-how and then I want to expand it into an interview format. The theme will be evolutions and transformations, and it will be all about sharing stories of becoming.

Have started the process of setting up my studio with two armchairs and want to invest in more hardware-a camera and microphones. 

Here are my episodes so far, and 3 more to record to achieve my goal. It's all about consistency and just plodding along. And before you know it, you create something pretty spectacular!!!

8-Own the Stage, 26/05/25
​
7-Wounds to Words, 12/05/25

6-Evolution of an author, 28/04/25

5-How Short Stories Build Publication History 14/04/25

4-Balancing the pen and the paycheck 31/03/25

3-The Art of the Pitch, 17/03/25

​2-My Journey to Self Publishing, 03/03/25

1-Benefits of Residency, 17/10/25

🎧 Catch all the episodes on Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes 

​www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html
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upcoming writing workshop

9/5/2025

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My weekly writing update where I talk about my upcoming writing workshop
Short Story with Amra Pajalic, Wyndham City Council online, Thu, 22 May 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

​https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/whats-on/short-story-amra-pajalic
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giveaway time

15/4/2025

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Self-Publishing as a Small Business course

15/4/2025

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​🚨 Calling all indie authors, aspiring self-publishers, and creative hustlers! 🚨

Want to turn your passion for writing into a thriving author business? 📚💼 Join me, Amra Pajalić—award-winning author, educator, and indie publishing queen—for my upcoming course "Self-Publishing as a Small Business" with @WritersVic.

Learn the ins and outs of: 
✔️ Setting up your self-publishing imprint
✔️ Budgeting, pricing, and getting paid
✔️ Marketing that actually works
✔️ Treating your author career like a real business (because it is one!)

This course will also cover financial aspects, including pricing, royalties, and revenue streams like audiobooks.  

📅 Session 1, Tuesday 17 June 6PM-8.30PM (online): Understanding publishing options and exploiting your intellectual property 
📅 Session 2, Tuesday 24 June 6PM-8.30PM (online): : Preparing for publication and the process of publishing 
📅 Session 3, Tuesday 1 July 6PM-8.30PM (online): : Marketing and promotion and sustainable business practices 

Sessions will be recorded and available to watch later.
You Will Learn:
• How to self-publish books. 
• How to prepare your manuscript, including editing, formatting and cover design. 
• The way in which you can distribute you book in different formats. 
• How to set pricing and how royalties for self-published books work. 

💥 You’ll walk away with the tools and mindset to run your publishing journey like a pro.

🎟️ Spots are limited so book now via link below or in bio:

🔗 https://writersvictoria.org.au/calendars/events/event/?id=1328

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Rejection, Deadlines & Making It Work | Amra's Writing Room Ep. 8

11/4/2025

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celebrating my first international conference presentation.

6/4/2025

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I am celebrating my first international conference presentation.
First, some background. I have been doing a PhD in Creative Writing for seven years now. This is my last year. I have written a novel (which actually ended up being three novels) set in Srebrenica and my thesis is about non-Bosnian writers writing about Srebrenica.

In the process of writing my books I undertook a lot of research that I will be publishing as essays for those interested in the real story behind the fiction.
I have been struggling with my thesis, struggling to find motivation, and to see it through. So I have regular newsletters about conferences to present at and saw an invitation to submit abstracts to "Somewhere in Between: Borders and Borderlands" International Conference at Birkbeck, University of London / Online.
This fit in well with my research and so I proposed a paper "From Safe Zone to Mass Grave: How Srebrenica’s Borders Were Rewritten."

Yesterday I attended the conference online and watched speakers present their research which helped to prepare me for the process, and also watched some YouTube tutorials to prepare.

Today, I regretted very much submitting my proposal and actually doing it. And then came the moment of truth, and I did it, I presented. I had such a great experience hearing from other presenters that were in my session, and then taking part in the discussion afterwards.

I feel more confident in my academic journey and identity, and more importantly, I have the impetus and drive to do one more deep dive into my thesis and get it off my back.
​
There truly is something amazing that happens when you push yourself out of your comfort zone, survive, and thrive, and then feel confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Sigh. So happy!!!
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amra's writing room episode 7: Rest, Recovery, and Academic Firsts

4/4/2025

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Episode 4 of Amra’s Armchair Anecdotes -Balancing the Pen and the Paycheck

31/3/2025

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Creative writers with full-time jobs—this one's for you. 👊
​

After 30 years of teaching and writing, I’m sharing my hard-earned strategies for staying creatively lit without burning out.🔥

✨ In this ep, I get into: • Writing in the cracks of time (forget waiting for the “perfect moment”)
• How writing groups & mentorships saved my sanity
• Why your 9–5 doesn’t have to kill your inspiration—it can feed it
• Tricks for sparking creative flow (yes, music + mood shifts work!)
• Rest as rebellion: avoiding burnout with intention
• Honoring your creative itch—even when life’s chaotic

💡 Visit amrapajalic.com/podcast for the full transcript, show notes, and my $5 how-to guides packed with real talk + tools to build your writing practice now.
Support the pod & fuel your craft. 🎧✍️

https://www.amrapajalic.com/podcast.html
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    Author

    Amra Pajalić is an award-winning author, an editor and teacher who draws on her Bosnian cultural heritage to write own voices stories for young people, who like her, are searching to mediate their identity and take pride in their diverse culture. She writes memoir, young adult and romance under the pen name Mae Archer.

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Copyright Amra Pajalic 2025
  • Home
    • Blog
    • About Me
    • Press Kit
    • Za Bosance
    • Resources for Teachers >
      • Remote Learning >
        • Narrative Writing
        • Poetry Writing
        • Fun activities
        • Spelling activities
    • My Newsletter
    • News & Events
    • Book Me >
      • Aspiring writers >
        • Six things writers should do
        • Young Adult Books
        • Writing tips for young people
    • Articles
    • My Books >
      • Young Adult >
        • Cuckoos Song
        • Sassy Saints Series >
          • Sabiha's Dilemma >
            • The Good Daughter
          • Alma's Loyalty
          • Jesse's Triumph
          • Sassy Saints Series Books 1-3
        • The Climb
      • Memoir >
        • Things Nobody Knows But Me
        • Teacher Teacher anthology
        • Growing up Muslim in Australia
        • Meet Me at the Intersection
        • Rebellious Daughters
        • St Albans piece
      • Romance >
        • Dreams of Destiny Romance Series >
          • Hollywood Dreams
          • Vintage Dreams
          • Vengeful Dreams
        • Return to Me
        • Kings of the Bay Romance Series >
          • That One Summer Anthology
      • Dark Fiction Horror >
        • WomanOnTheEdgeShortStory
    • Contact
    • Amra's Writing Room
    • Authorly Advice
    • Podcast >
      • Benefits of a residency
      • Journey to Self Publishing
      • The Art of the pitch
      • Balancing the pen and the paycheck
      • Short stories for publication portfolio
    • Pishukin Press
    • Grant Writing Course
  • My Shop