Best amquerying Podcasts (2024)

1
The Idea of Writing the Book That Doesn’t Exist 1:19:33

1h ago1:19:33

1:19:33

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe interviews Claire Jiménez, assistant professor and author of What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez. They discuss the three pivotal moments in Claire's writing career; Claire's experience writing a multitude of POVs; how she went about developing her charact…

1
#185 - Jess Popplewell 23:43

2h ago23:43

23:43

Young adult fantasy author and winner of the Times/Chicken House Chairman's Prize Award 2021 is on the podcast chatting about her debut novel, feeling like she sort of cheated her way into publishing and what careers advice she gives to people thinking about working in publishing. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended…

1
#184 - Karen Jennings 25:42

1d ago25:42

25:42

Critically acclaimed author, Karen Jennings joins us this week to chat about how being long-listed for the Booker prize changed her life, her writing process and how aspiring authors can approach the publishing industry. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳…

1
Why You Shouldn’t Make Every Change Your Beta Readers Suggest 1:07:53

5d ago1:07:53

1:07:53

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews MK Pagano, author of the YA thriller romance, Girls Who Burn. The two discuss MK's journey to publication; the importance of knowing when to part ways with an agent, even if s/he is a good agent; MK's experience with beta readers and fol…

1
#183 - Emily Layden 26:17

10d ago26:17

26:17

Author and screenwriter, Emily Layden is on the podcast this week to chat about her new novel, 'Once More From the Top', her journey to becoming an author and the differences between writing novels and writing for film and television. (Photo by Michelle Lange) 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-fr…

1
Working With an Agent on Edits Ahead of Submission 1:16:14

12d ago1:16:14

1:16:14

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe speaks with her very own client, Anamely Salgado Reyes, author of My Mother Cursed My Name. They discuss Anamely's query letter to CeCe and CeCe's response to it; Anamely's experience with her first round of edits from CeCe; the inspiration behind he…

1
From Self-Publishing to Traditional Publishing: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know 34:23

15d ago34:23

34:23

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews Kern Carter, author of And Then There Was Us. They discuss the different routes to publication and the differences between traditional and self publishing; how Kern worked to improve his craft while trying to land an agent; the challenges of writing from a perspective that isn’t your own, and why you…

1
#182 - Ellery Lloyd a.k.a. Collette Lyons & Paul Vlitos 27:18

15d ago27:18

27:18

Best-selling husband and wife writing team, Ellery Lloyd joins us this week to chat about their approach to co-writing, the tricky parts within that and their latest novel 'The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby'. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, M…

1
Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs 1:27:19

19d ago1:27:19

1:27:19

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews creative writing professor, essayist, and author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, Alison Espach. They discuss falling into the mode of writing the same sorts of novels repeatedly; the genre that Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance w…

1
#181 - Phoebe Morgan 37:20

25d ago37:20

37:20

Publishing Director, editor and best-selling author, Phoebe Morgan joins us to chat all things publishing from both sides of the curtain! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things writing, tropes and publishing! ✍️ …

1
Giving Yourself Permission to Change and Grow as a Writer 1:15:56

27d ago1:15:56

1:15:56

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe interviews Parini Shroff, lawyer and author of the national bestseller and award nominated The Bandit Queens. They discuss, Parini's experience working as a lawyer part-time while also writing fiction; finding it difficult to sustain writing for long…

1
#180 - Rachel McLean 34:56

29d ago34:56

34:56

Award winning indie-published crime writer, Rachel McLean is on the podcast this week talking about her novels, how she cracked self-publishing and moving into a hybrid publishing approach with Hera. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and N…

1
Writing Issue-Driven YA Fiction & Considering Alternate Routes to Publication 1:07:36

1M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews author, editor, head of Writing Ink Publishing, and creative writing teacher, Abigail Wild. They discuss Abigail's latest novel, More Than One Way To Breathe; the extent to which younger readers can handle difficult topics; Abigail's adv…

1
#179 - Samuel Burr 36:59

1M ago36:59

36:59

Debut novelist, amateur puzzle enthusiast and TV executive, Samuel Burr joins us this week to talk about his debut novel "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers" and how it came to be including an unbelievably fast pre-empt after just 4 hours of going out on submission. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-…

1
The Joy of Writing Without Following a Synopsis 1:08:23

1M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Carly interviews her very own client and best-selling author, Renee Carlino, to discuss her latest novel, This Used to Be Us. They chat about Renee's journey to becoming a published author; how she found her first agent; what it's been like changing her f…

1
#178 - Kate Young 36:20

1M ago36:20

36:20

Award winning cookbook author and debut novelist, Kate Young is here to chat about her debut novel, 'Experienced', the process of creating a cookbook and the differences between publishing cookbooks and fiction. (Photo by Tom Jacob Headshots) 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen O…

1
How to Tackle Writing an Omniscient POV 1:11:53

2M ago1:11:53

1:11:53

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly are joined by Jennifer to discuss her thriller submission. They chat about trigger warnings and their necessity in a query; ensuring your stakes aren't too obvious while illustrating the bigger 'why' at hand; framing your query letter in a way that highlights your POV characters and not others; t…

1
#177 - Sawad Hussain 37:44

2M ago37:44

37:44

Awarding winning translator Sawad Hussain joins us this week to tell us about how she tackles translation, what it's like to get into and work as a translator in publishing and her latest publication "The Djinn's Apple". 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳…

1
What Message Do You Want to Convey Through Your Writing? 28:36

2M ago28:36

28:36

In today's bonus episode, Bianca interviews author, Kirsten Miller, to chat about her latest novel, Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books. They discuss writing across different genres and what drove Kirsten to change up her genre; writing with the intention of sharing a message with readers; the inspiration behind the novel; Kirsten's experien…

1
How Interiority Makes a Character Come Alive 1:12:27

2M ago1:12:27

1:12:27

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a rom-com and a YA submission. They discuss the importance of clarity in your query and avoiding language that might cause confusion; the necessity of a clear major dramatic question in your query; ensuring your protagonists aren't anticipating everything that happens in your pages; the …

1
#176 - Joanna Courtney AKA Anna Stuart 32:46

2M ago32:46

32:46

Historical, contemporary and romantic fiction author Joanna Courtney joins us on the podcast this week to chat about her latest novels set in World War 2 as well as her previous work in medieval and contemporary fiction. We chat about publishing and the differences between a traditional publisher and a digital first publisher like Bookouture. 💖 Joi…

1
An Inspiring Journey to Publication 1:05:49

2M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly critique two upmarket submissions, one of which is in the gothic genre. They discuss the reasoning behind placing your metadata at the top of a query; avoiding unnecessary detail in your query; avoiding slipping from pitch to synopsis; the need for interiority, particularly interiority that will …

1
#175 - Emma Steele 34:02

2M ago34:02

34:02

High concept romance writer, Emma Steele is on the podcast this week chatting about her debut novel and going through each step of her publishing journey from writing her first manuscript all the way through to the launch of her debut, "The Echoes of Us". 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚…

1
Writing That Evokes All the Feels 1:04:48

2M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly are joined by guest literary agent, Mary C. Moore. They critique a resubmission and a sci-fi query, during which they discuss: the importance of making tropes as fresh and different as possible; how to ensure your pitch isn't too dense, especially in genres that involve world-building; highlighti…

1
#174 - Philip Kavvadias 36:46

2M ago36:46

36:46

Children's author, Philip Kavvadias joins us this week to chat about his debut novel with Chicken House, his writing process and the journey he went on as a writer before landing his three book deal. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and N…

1
Choosing How to Frame Certain Aspects of Your Work 1:11:00

3M ago1:11:00

1:11:00

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by listener, Kelly Fuller, as they critique her book club fiction submission. They discuss picking comps that match the genre you're writing in; using your query to discuss the plot of the book rather than backstory about your characters; ensuring your stakes are high enough; pitching …

1
#173 - Claire McGowan 25:34

3M ago25:34

25:34

Best-selling crime/thriller writer, Claire McGowan is on the podcast chatting about her books, writing romance as Eva Woods and teaching an MA in Crime Writing. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things writing, tro…

1
May Bonus Episode 1:25:08

3M ago1:25:08

1:25:08

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca chats with Courtney Preiss to discuss her debut novel, Welcome Home, Caroline Kline. They speak about the inspiration behind Courtney's novel and her journey to publication; her experiences with rejection during the querying process; being aware of cultural moments that could propel your novel forward when you’…

1
A Debut Experience All Authors Dream Of 57:13

3M ago57:13

57:13

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a YA submission and a literary coming-of-age horror. They discuss avoiding using repetitive language in a query; considering SEO when choosing a book title; the concept of 'scene work'; the need for disruption to occur in opening pages; matching word choice to genre when writing your que…

1
#172 - Alexandra Potter 34:09

3M ago34:09

34:09

Best-selling romantic comedy author, Alexandra Potter joins us to talk about her latest the novel, the sequel to 'Confessions of a Forty-Something F*** Up'. We also chat about the television adaptation, 'Not Dead Yet', as well as the writing process and how publishing has changed over the years. (Picture by Alecsandra Dragoi) 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 S…

1
Insights from Publishing Phenomenon, Veronica Roth 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a literary fiction query and a high concept YA fantasy query. They discuss the necessity of being specific with plot details and your protagonists' motivations in your query; honing in on world-building when your novel takes place in a reality that's different from ours; the issue with n…

1
#171 - Karen Swan 41:15

3M ago41:15

41:15

Sunday Times bestselling romance author, Karen Swan joins us this week to talk about her writing, how she chooses her locations and how she loves to schedule and plan out each novel. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about a…

1
Rewriting Instead of Giving Up 1:09:05

3M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by Paige to discuss her query for her action-adventure romance novel. They discuss the importance of spelling out your protagonist's motivation in your query; the need for story-forward plot escalation; accurately positioning your novel’s genre; making an agent's job easier by picking …

1
#170 - Megan Carroll 36:05

3M ago36:05

36:05

Literary agent, Megan Carroll is back on the podcast to chat about everything happening in publishing, her list and what she's looking for in submissions. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things writing, tropes an…

1
Metaphor and Meaning in Memoir 1:22:51

3M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by two guests, author Rachel Kapelke-Dale and her agent, Sarah Phair. They discuss ensuring your comps align with each other and with your work; making sure your query is representative of your whole novel and not just one part; using your author bio to help show why you're the one to …

1
#169 - Sally Hepworth 35:32

4M ago35:32

35:32

Best-selling contemporary fiction author, Sally Hepworth dials into the podcast this week all the way from Australia to chat about her latest novel, how she finds a different approach to writing each of her stories, where she finds inspiration and the dream of a big screen adaptation. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the exte…

1
April Bonus Episode: Writing Without a Pricetag 1:11:31

4M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews poet, novelist, and Chair of the Amherst Writers (AWA), Sue Reynolds. They discuss the AWA workshop method and how it differs from other workshops; what occurs in an AWA workshop; the importance of giving writers a safe and encouraging space to share their work; the concept of strength-based feedback…

1
Caroline Leavitt’s Insights and Encouragement 1:04:10

4M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

In today’s Book with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two listener queries, a resubmission and a YA fantasy. They discuss the issue of starting with a protagonist that has a 'simple, stable' life; a great example of an inciting incident; ensuring your major dramatic question is strong enough; good storytelling as the promise of change; making your pr…

1
#168 - Sandie Jones 31:25

4M ago31:25

31:25

Psychological thriller author, Sandie Jones drops by the podcast to talk about her latest novel, her writing process and the excitement of being a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all…

1
Figuring Out What Genre You Should Be Writing In 56:24

4M ago56:24

56:24

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a children's picture book and a literary fiction query. They discuss avoiding vagueness, no matter the genre; using illustrator notes in a picture book pitch; the need for tension, even in a children's book; framing your novel in your query so agents aren't confused when they get to the …

1
#167 - Boo Trundle 28:04

4M ago28:04

28:04

Literary fiction author, artist and musician, Boo Trundle is on the podcast talking about her debut literary fiction novel, "The Daughter Ship", the journey of writing it and the experiences she's gained through publishing her first book. Get your copy of The Daughter Ship here. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended c…

1
Choosing the Best POVs for a Multi-POV Novel 1:00:36

4M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by guest agent, Jo Ramsay, to critique two queries. They discuss the issue of withholding too much plot in a query; highlighting the stakes in your query; the importance of first lines in a novel; the need for psychological depth and acuity in your characters; the issue of comping to titles tha…

1
#166 - Chloe Seager 33:12

4M ago33:12

33:12

Director of Children's and YA, literary agent and author, Chloe Seager is back! Tune in for a fascinating episode discussing some of the behind the scenes of publishing, how Chloe approaches the industry and how she fits new authors into her list. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Cho…

1
Insights from Mary Kubica 1:04:55

4M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss choosing a unique title for your work; having a strong plot connection between your main characters in a multi POV novel; avoiding situations where the agent has to make too many assumptions in a query; choosing between italics and dialogue tags when having a character talk to themselves; …

1
#165 - T.M. Payne 25:43

5M ago25:43

25:43

Procedural crime author, T.M. Payne joins us this week to chat about her debut novel 'Long Time Dead', her previous work in criminal justice and the ups and downs of her publishing journey. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk …

1
Defining Book Club Fiction 1:01:44

5M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss keeping your author bio paragraph concise; the need for causality in a plot paragraph; paying attention to the language you use in a query so you don't create confusion surrounding the book's premise; knowing who your protagonist is and highlighting their interiority and inner life over o…

1
#164 - Yasmin El-Rouby 27:08

5M ago27:08

27:08

Certified eye doctor turned children's author, Yasmin El-Rouby joins us this week to talk about the Misty Mole series, her children's picture books that focus on helping educate and identify ocular complications from an early age. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Othe…

1
March Bonus Episode 47:33

5M ago47:33

47:33

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews game designer, curator, and writer, Holly Gramazio to discuss her debut novel, The Husbands. The two discuss Holly's journey to publication; the novel’s inspiration and genre; how game design lends itself to novel writing; how she structured the novel; the importance of causality; Holly's approach to…

1
How Research Should Inform a Novel Without Leaving Too Many Fingerprints 1:06:23

5M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by Ron, to discuss his query submission. They chat about Ron's curiosity-inducing first query paragraph; the line between giving away too much plot and sharing just enough in a query; how subjective agents’ opinions can be; the right emotional calibration within your characters; the is…

1
#163 - Melissa Welliver 30:58

5M ago30:58

30:58

Speculative and dystopian romance author Melissa Welliver is back on the podcast to chat about her latest novel, Soulmates and Other Ways to Die. We also cover writing processes, book deals and publishing trends. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended cuts early and ad-free! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, …

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Amquerying Podcasts

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