Best Melissa Perez Podcasts (2024)

1
The Metaworker Podcast | 020 Creating Anthologies, Part 1 1:07:21

5d ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Episode Description: Elena talks with Mel and Cerid about their upcoming anthology projects outside of The Metaworker. They discuss how the projects got started, how they chose pieces to publish, and the process of editing those pieces into a book. They also discuss editor/author dynamics and the joys of creating the anthologies for their communiti…

1
Breaking Barriers: Dr. Elsa Murano on Leadership and Legacy 21:38

7d ago21:38

21:38

In today's episode, METM's founding director, Dr. Ben Zoghi, sits down with Dr. Elsa Murano, the Director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture & Development. Dr. Murano shares her incredible leadership journey. From being appointed the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to b…

1
Ep 80 - Writing Through Pain: Chronic Illness Narratives with Cara Dion 54:34

22d ago54:34

54:34

"...if I want readers to be able to identify with the character then I want them to be able to identify with the illness specifically...I can't be ashamed to put the name (of illness) on the page." Romance author Cara Dion knows writing through the pain of chronic illness is not just about the physical aspects but touches ever part of her life. We …

1
From Engineer to Leader: A Conversation with Matthew Edghill of Lockheed Martin 18:22

1M ago18:22

18:22

In today's episode, Matthew Edghill, the Director of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Enterprise, explores the journey from being an individual engineering team contributor to stepping into leadership roles. Matt shares his personal experience of climbing the ranks at Lockheed Martin, offering valuable insights for those navigating similar transitions. …

1
Ep 79 - Prose to Pictures: Illustrating a Novel with C.A. Szarek and Gilbert Perez 52:40

1M ago52:40

52:40

"I think initially planning it out was kind of difficult. Only because...(the writer) is very descriptive. She says she can't draw, but in my mind, (they) just do it differently. (Writers) do it with words." USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek collaborated with comic artist Gilbert Perez to create an illustrated version of her romantic fantasy…

1
Ep 78 - Book to Screen: Writing a Script and Adaptation with Emily Roberson 52:32

1M ago52:32

52:32

"....(Screenwriting) is, to me, a lot more puzzle-like than novels...if somebody gives me a screenplay to read that is 140 pages, I know it doesn't work." Award-winning author Emily Roberson explores the intricacies of adaptation as she delves into how to write compelling scripts. From options as an author to translating a story to the screen, Emil…

1
Ep 77 - Romance in Filmmaking with Tosca Musk 48:10

2M ago48:10

48:10

"As a romance fan, we couldn't get anybody or any of the networks to buy into....(or) pay to make these adaptations, and so we started our own streaming platform..." Tosca Musk, CEO and founder behind streaming service Passionflix, takes proper time, care, and effort to make a romance book into a movie for the fans. We chat determining what role sh…

1
Ep 76 - Character Creation: Writing an Identity Not Your Own with Alex Temblador 49:28

2M ago49:28

49:28

"...and if you create this single story for a people of a certain historically, marginalized identities; you know, that gets taken by readers and it gets inside of them in ways we might not expect or intend to..." Award-winning author Alex Temblador commitment to diverse storytelling helped create a tool to authentically write and edit a character …

1
METM Alumni Spotlight: Carlos Perez 20:35

2M ago20:35

20:35

In today's episode, we are spotlighting an alumni of Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), a degree that prepares engineering and technology professionals to become the leaders of the future. Carlos Perez is a Navy combat veteran and currently works as an Offshore Maintenance Supervisor for Shell. Today, he speak…

1
Ep 75 - Unveiling Character Depth through Family with Amber Royer 52:11

2M ago52:11

52:11

"...Introducing family shows a different side (to the character) and allows the character to be a little more well-rounded in the way they interact..." Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, encounters the challenges and surprises of introducing new characters with her Bean to Bar Cozy Mystery Series. She even touched on understati…

1
Ep 74 - Creating an Indie Romance Audiobook with Melissa Whitney and Harlow Wilde 48:52

3M ago48:52

48:52

"It's been fun to kinda see (Melissa's writing) evolve also in the narration I have done for her....her stories get better and better with time. It's the same with narration too." Romance author Melissa Whitney Author and narrator Harlow Wilde are a dynamic duo when it comes to audiobooks. We discuss the changing production process of each book, wh…

1
Ep 73 - Audible Impact: Cultivating Listeners for Audiobooks with Karen White 58:01

3M ago58:01

58:01

"If you're just starting out, I personally would recommend waiting (to invest in audiobooks) until you have a full series that...is selling well. ...If the series isn't working, you're not going to know that until the series has been out for a while." As an author and narrator, Karen White knows what it takes to get into listening ears. We discuss …

1
Success Along a Nonlinear Path with Dr. Melissa Flagg 28:42

3M ago28:42

28:42

Considering switching careers? Dr. Melissa Flagg is familiar with that choice. Beginning her career as a pharmacist, she's also worked in security at the State Dept., in philanthropy at the MacArthur Foundation, as well as many other career fields and places. Not only has Dr. Flagg found success on her nonlinear career path, but she has used the di…

1
Ep 72 - Narrative Flow: Building Emotional Arcs with Kimberly Packard 45:53

4M ago45:53

45:53

"I try to write really fierce, headstrong characters...but at the same time, it's ok to be vulnerable. It's ok to say I don't have all the answers." Author Kimberly Packard lovingly calls women's fiction the "trash can punch" genre since it has a little bit of everything, and while her characters and novels run the gamut within the genre, the emoti…

1
METM Alumni Spotlight: Kat Pressler 24:20

4M ago24:20

24:20

In today's episode, we are spotlighting an alumna of Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), a degree that prepares engineering and technology professionals to become the leaders of the future. Today, Kat Pressler speaks about her leadership journey, her experience earning her METM degree, and how she has brought t…

1
Ep 71 - The Write Transition: From Podcast and Novels to Literary Life with Amy Kelly 48:22

4M ago48:22

48:22

"If it feels like I'm trying to force something...that's usually when I know to kinda let go. Either set it down or hold it with an open hand and see what happens. Whatever happens with it, let that be. " Amy Kelly, the new leader at Lone Star Literary Life, shares her unique journey as an author, podcaster and literary advocate to enrich both Texa…

1
Ep 70 - Using AI Ethically to Make the Most of Your Writing with Marcy Pusey 1:00:12

5M ago1:00:12

1:00:12

"There's this living in alignment, in integrity, and I don't like to do things out of alignment...and this is an area that has some consequences." Bestselling Author, Tedx Speaker, and therapist, Marcy Pusey helped me delve into the ethical use of AI in the creative process - pros and cons. She illuminates how AI operates with creative recycling an…

1
Ep 69 - The Authorpreneur Mindset: Blooming in Adversity with Kathryn McClatchy 1:02:44

5M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

"(It) started as a blog, Unleashing the Next Chapter, to document my stroke recovery and unleashing is a nod to the fact that I had just gotten Gizmo (service dog)...to (now) having a boutique marketing agency..." Kathryn McClatchy is an authorpreneur and consultant who lived two distinct lives: one before strokes and one after. She reveals what it…

1
Ep 68 - Beyond Stereotypes: Crafting Authentic Characters with Disabilities with Melissa Whitney 48:35

5M ago48:35

48:35

"....Whenever you are going to write disability or anytime you're going to write outside of your lived experience, first you have to ask yourself: Do you already platform and support this community?" As a romance writer with a disability, Melissa Whitney writes fantastic HEAs for non-typical protagonists - who have disabilities and neurodivergences…

1
The Metaworker Podcast | 019 Pushcart Nominees, Part 2 42:57

5M ago42:57

42:57

Episode Description: In this two-part series, we celebrate our Pushcart Prize nominees. This episode features Chris Cooper, Frank Njugi, and Linda Lacey. We asked each author to read an excerpt from their poetry or prose and to share some insights about their piece and themselves as writers. Elena, Mel, and Cerid also discuss what we loved about ea…

1
The Metaworker Podcast | 018 Pushcart Prize Nominees, Part 1 43:42

5M ago43:42

43:42

Episode Description: In this two-part series, we celebrate our Pushcart Prize nominees. This episode features Amita Basu, Daniel Brennan, and Marie-Louise McGuinness. We asked each author to read an excerpt from their poetry or prose and to share some insights about their piece and themselves as writers. Elena, Mel, and Cerid also discuss what we l…

1
Coaching Effectively: How to Have Difficult Conversations with Sunshine Webster 28:24

5M ago28:24

28:24

As a manager, the responsibility of having difficult conversations is necessary, yet a skill most of us struggle to properly develop. In this episode, we speak with Sunshine Webster, the Senior Manager of Talent Development at Q2, about how to coach effectively through these interactions. Listen as Sunshine gives practical strategies to transform d…

1
Ep 67 - Tragedy and Humor: Creating a New Happily Ever After with Courtney Deane 41:31

6M ago41:31

41:31

"...I certainly hope that (this book) reaches the people who do, for one reason or another, feel that the world has just been so unfair to them and why can't it pick on somebody else for once..." After both her parents died, Courtney penned those tragedies into a debut book, When Happily Ever After Fails. In the book, she proves all tragedies can b…

1
The Legal Side of AI Innovation: What You Need to Know with Lawyer Mike Speed 24:14

6M ago24:14

24:14

Over the past year, the landscape of AI innovation has surged dramatically into the public consciousness, permeating nearly every professional domain. Yet, amidst this rapid expansion, a crucial question arises: what are the legal boundaries of AI application? Tune in to today's episode as lawyer Mike Speed delves into the current legal state of AI…

1
Transitioning from a Tech-Based Role to a Management Role with Jordan Caddick 17:30

7M ago17:30

17:30

Transitioning from a tech-based role to a management role is not without its difficulties. In today's episode, we speak with Jordan Caddick, a project director at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, about his own journey into management. Jordan highlights the importance of time spent in a technical role, continued education throughout one's career, and…

1
Ep 66 - Collaborative Magic: Crafting a Holiday Novella Series with Lark Green, Lucy Limon, and Catrina Bell 55:54

9M ago55:54

55:54

"...as we're solving problems in our own stories, we're creating problems for the other stories that (Lark and Catrina) had to work in... It made for some really creative outcomes." - Lucy Limon As critique partners and writers with complementary strengths, romance authors Lark Green, Lucy Limon, and Catrina Bell devised a plan for a holiday novell…

1
017 | A Writer’s Life For Me: Catchup with Matthew Maichen, Part 2 53:01

10M ago53:01

53:01

Episode Description: Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with former Metaworker Editor in Chief Matthew Maichen about writing rituals, how they create characters, and the benefits and drawbacks of writing with or without a plan. They discuss the importance of respecting readers and doing research when writing about vulnerable topics, then Matthew shares an …

1
Ep 65 - Building an Interconnected Series with C.A. Szarek 44:40

11M ago44:40

44:40

"They always say start your book on a day that's different. That's called an inciting incident. That's what I try to do naturally. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't." A decade into writing her Highlander series, USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek has built a large cast of interconnected books, and her unorthodox method continues to hav…

1
016 | A Writer’s Life For Me: Catchup with Matthew Maichen, Part 1 40:27

11M ago40:27

40:27

Episode Description: Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with former Metaworker Editor in Chief Matthew Maichen about his writing and publishing journey since he stepped away from leading the magazine. They discuss writing query letters, the challenges of marketing a novel and finding stories you didn’t know you were looking for. They also discuss what goes…

1
Ep 64 - Overcoming Writer’s Block and Procrastination with Dr. Nicole Janz 48:01

11M ago48:01

48:01

"We need to see writer's block in a different way. It's really not the enemy, but...it's a sign. And usually, it's that your body and your mind are telling you something is off..." Author and writing coach, Dr. Nicole Janz, helps creatives use their writing voice with breakthroughs on writer's block and procrastination. Straightforward and detailed…

1
Ep 63 - Unconventional Love Stories: Monster Romance with Kate Prior 45:03

12M ago45:03

45:03

"(Not) to dive into the core fear...that we're unrelatable that people will not communicate with us...and I think that's one of those things you see get demonstrated with monsters in the history of storytelling." Romance Author Kate Prior fell into writing Monster Romance by accident and now, has three books to show for her Claws and Cubicles serie…

1
Ep 62 - Reimagining a Holiday Classic with Kelly Farmer 38:59

12M ago38:59

38:59

"You know it is such a beloved story but the modern twist...it's really a celebration of queer joy and community...like a true Hallmark-y story nothing truly bad happens." We're celebrating the most fabulous time of the year! Contemporary Romance Author Kelly Farmer crafts heart, humor, and depth into her books and gave the premise of "It's a Wonde…

1
Ep 61 - Writing Engaging Pets and Animal Sidekicks with Amber Royer 54:57

1y ago54:57

54:57

"I think the key is either treat the character (animal) as a sounding board...or you treat this as another character on the same level as a human character." Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, incorporates all types of animals in her writing - from an octopus to a cockatoo. She directs us in how writing sidekick animals and pet…

1
Ep 60 - Re-assessing Successful Writer Goals with Kathryn McClatchy 1:03:25

1y ago1:03:25

1:03:25

"....We need time to think. We need time to research, and we need time to be creative. And so that has to go into our calendar as well." Back in episode 42, Writer, speaker, and social media consultant Kathryn McClatchy provided ways to create realistic, achievable goals and put the right timeframes in place. Over six months later, we're doing a re…

1
Ep 59 - Creating Compelling External Conflict for a Captivating Story with Susan Sheehey 44:34

1y ago44:34

44:34

"...What drives the conflict most are the character's goals and motivations. So you have to ask 'what is the main character's top goal in life and the focus of the story?'..." Author and Developmental Editor, Susan Sheehey writes compelling stories by embracing flaws, loving imperfections, and building external conflict. She reminds us of the great…

1
Ep 58 - Scoring Goals and Soccer Romance with Liz Lincoln and Lainey Davis 44:25

1y ago44:25

44:25

"My book, A Beautiful Game, was...a love story and also, a love story about soccer and playing soccer." Liz Lincoln and Lainey Davis score goals when it comes to soccer romance. Both ladies write other kinds of sports romance, but in honor of the World Cup, we chat making soccer (or football!) romance accessible to the masses, writing from althetic…

1
Ep 57 - How to Launch Yourself as an Author before Publishing with Danika Bloom 53:05

1+ y ago53:05

53:05

"Being a pre-published author is to know exactly what your expectations are of yourself and of your writing...Like is this a career for you or do you just have that one story...?" Danika Bloom, USA Today bestselling romance author, coaches authors like she used to coach small business owners. She empowers and creates a community, so authors don't w…

1
Ep 56 - The Power of Voice: Dictating your way to Better Writing with Heidi McCahan 40:02

1+ y ago40:02

40:02

"...Dictating helps me get to the emotional level of my characters a little easier than if I was handwriting or typing on my laptop. It's just for me, dictation takes away a little bit of a barrier..." Heidi McCahan had an interesting path to becoming a Harlequin author and found a smart way to create leverage in writing multiple books a year - dic…

1
Ep 55 - Cowboy Romance and Emotional Character Arcs with Kayla Grosse 41:08

1+ y ago41:08

41:08

"...I really wanted all my characters to have this nice arc...They start at point A and then they're sort of figuring their way through it as the book goes on." Kayla Grosse can't help but write compelling characters with depth - which propelled her previous romance book into a bestseller. Now her cowboy romance, Reign Me In, rides highs and lows a…

1
Ep 54 - Planning a Successful Book Launch with Carolyn Choate 48:59

1+ y ago48:59

48:59

"...when you can bring your creative brain to marketing, it explodes. There's so much great opportunity to be creative in marketing and think outside the box and try new things." Author and Speaker Carolyn Choate hosts The Financially Free Author Show and has been imbedded in the indie publishing world since the wild west of ebook publishing when K…

1
Ep 53 - Evolving and Embracing Change as a Creator with Bree Unabashedly 57:04

1+ y ago57:04

57:04

"We're pretty good at (the podcast)....I have to not be afraid of like stepping out of the intentions of what it looked like....Not being afraid to step out, to do something different. Owning that like "you're good at what you do". I feel like that's where I'm at right now. " Whether you are a romance writer, reader or content creator, Bree knows t…

1
Ep 52 - A Long, Winding Path to Publishing with Megan Tady 44:10

1+ y ago44:10

44:10

"We kinda get hit with these overnight success stories, whether it's a writer or anyone...but what I think we don't hear about as much is the actual real toil and grind and rejection that goes into so many books and to being an author." Author Megan Tady put a lot of editing and querying into her debut, Super Bloom, and has the book to prove it! We…

1
Ep 51 - How Rural Settings Shape Stories with E.F. Dodd 40:06

1+ y ago40:06

40:06

"The city is a beautiful backdrop for (character's) to live their lives in. Whereas in a small town, it's really part of the story." Romance author E.F. Dodd holds a special place in her heart for rural settings and even set her latest book, A Higher Standard, in a small North Carolina town. We chat how specific settings influence your story and to…

1
Ep 50 - Romance versus Erotica and Defining the Genre with Cassandra Rose Clarke 49:44

1+ y ago49:44

49:44

"(For erotica) You have to have an escalation for how the s*x scenes build on each other, in that sense of things getting more and more serious." Cassandra Rose Clarke knows how to play with genres. She teaches writing classes across multiple genres and has written over 70 novels - working with official tie-in books like Star Trek, Halo, etc. We ch…

1
Ep 49 - Foundations of Great Storytelling with Megan Haskell 44:26

1+ y ago44:26

44:26

"If (writers) have a problem...we want to help you target that and take actionable steps. One step at a time (in) chunks so that you can actually move forward right away." Megan Haskell keeps author's stories rolling. Co-host of the Author Wheel podcast and fantasy writer, Megan delves into the importance of structuring writing time and finding the…

1
015 | The Borderland Furies by Oisín Breen 53:08

1+ y ago53:08

53:08

Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, and Mel talk with Oisín Breen about his poem “The Borderland Furies” and about his new book of poetry, Lillies on the Deathbed of Étaín, published by Beir Bua Press. We discuss how to approach reading poems that we don’t understand on a first read, a reader’s interpretation of a poem vs. the author’s intention, …

1
014 | In the Willow Garden by Isabel O’Hara Walsh 1:14:05

1+ y ago1:14:05

1:14:05

Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, Mel, and Cerid talk with Isabel O’Hara Walsh about her short fiction piece “In the Willow Garden”. Content Warning: We discuss victims of trauma and abuse reclaiming their narratives, the process of writing dark and difficult stories, and the need to take care of one’s mental health while doing so. We also discu…

1
Ep 48 - Kissing and Killing: Romance and Murder hand-in-hand with Diane Kelly 58:13

1+ y ago58:13

58:13

"You can have the emotion, the angst, and the personal intimate details of a romance, but you can also have the cerebral part of a mystery and solving clues..." Award-winning author Diane Kelly had a natural progression from romance writer to cozy mystery writer, and she's been mixing genres ever since. She discusses the difference between concocti…

1
Ep 47 - Writing Multiple Subgenres in Romance with Lauren Smith 45:46

1+ y ago45:46

45:46

"Write like a Reader. If you don't wanna read it, don't write it." USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Smith has written 75 books in 8 years - spanning multiple sub-genres in romance. She fully understands the trials and tribulations that come with branding yourself under one author name, as well as using a pen name for a different sub-genre. She t…

1
Ep 46 - Trope Thesaurus Romance Edition with Jennifer Hilt 50:33

1+ y ago50:33

50:33

"You can bend the rules, but you need to know what they are first." USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Hilt loves a good trope. So much so that she's written several books about it! In working with authors as a plotter and concept creator, she created and wrote the Trope Thesaurus, a writing reference book to help identify tropes and strengthen …

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Melissa Perez Podcasts

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