Episode 234 / Liz Shipton is a freelance writer, hybrid author, and full-time, off-grid, liveaboard sailor. She shares how changing her lifestyle to become a digital nomad created more time for writing and how she uses Tik Tok to market her books. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episodes, the…

Episode 233 / Ever wished you had some writing hacks to make your drafting and editing go more smoothly? (And who hasn’t?) Then this episode with cozy author Barbara Emodi is for you! Barbara is a developmental editor for emerging writers and has great insights. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast and get access to the backlist of exclusive suppo…

Episode 232 / Jessie Kwak writes supernatural thrillers and sci-fi crime as well as nonfiction productivity books including, From Chaos to Creativity and From Big Idea to Book. Topics: Trusting your own process, reassessing expectations, and enjoying the writing process How Jessie blends sci-fi and crime genres and found her second series easier to…

Episode 231 / Dr. Nick Courtright of Atmosphere Press, a literary hybrid publisher dedicated to author rights, joins us to discuss different publishing options, letting go of the mindset that you must have an agent, and the importance of a personal brand. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episo…

Subscriber-only episode In this supporter-exclusive chat, we broke down the Enemies to Lovers trope–and it’s not just for romance novels! From Pride and Prejudice to You've Got Mail, we've got tons of insights and examples that show how friction and chemistry can turn rivalry into romance. Why readers love this trope The need to maintain the core c…

Episode 230 / A.B. Herron blends elements of fantasy and romance in her fiction. She shares about balancing a full-time job while diving headfirst into the world of writing, the joy of connecting with readers at book fairs, and the critical role a supportive community plays in overcoming challenges, especially for authors with dyslexia. 💙 🎙 Become …

Episode 229 / Learn about the four basic types of relationship arcs from freelance developmental editor and writing writing instructor, September C. Fawkes. Discover how mapping arcs can define the direction and evolution of your characters' relationships and create a dynamic, zigzag narrative. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to t…

Episode 228 / Kemper Donovan is the host of the All About Agatha podcast and author of The Busy Body, a USA Today bestseller on launch earlier this year. Kemper shares tips for querying and how podcasting about Agatha Christie helped him connect with mystery authors and also provided a built-in audience for his book. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the p…

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! From "giggle water" to "the bee's knees," I explore the unique expressions that defined a generation in this episode. Hear how I incorporated this snazzy lingo into my High Society Lady Detective series, including Murder at Archly Manor. Discover the differences between American and British slang of the …

Episode 227 / Liz Long shares her journey of embracing her own uniqueness, particularly in relation to ADHD and finding peace and growth after personal loss. Quick note: the language in this episode isn’t as family-friendly as our usual G/PG episodes, so just be aware of that. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exc…

Episode 226 / Author, musician, and marketer, Paul Indigo shares insights on seeking validation, embracing our voice, and the unconventional use of an Excel spreadsheet for writing and marketing. If you’ve tried all the writing software and haven’t found one that works for you, perhaps your answer is a spreadsheet! 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the pod…

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! High Society Hijinks: Discover the elaborate jokes that shocked and amused the London elite! From fake art exhibits to outrageous social stunts, the Bright Young People of the era knew how to make a statement. 😎 We'll take a closer look at the infamous Bruno Hat hoax, where a group of pranksters fooled t…

Episode 225 / Megan Vernon, author of over 40 romance novels, joins us to talk about starting over after a difficult experience of being publicly criticized. We talk about the need to give ourselves grace and the importance of a supportive community for navigating the ups and downs of a writing career. Megan shares about her creation of the Mojo Do…

Episode 224 / Kate Johnson is the co-founder of Zory, an interactive reading app that merges the depth found in fiction with the choose-your-path-style plotlines of narrative video games. Kate shares details about Zory and craft tips about GMC as well as the All Is Lost moment. Plus we talk about trends in genre blending, and what Kate sees coming …

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Step into the world of luxurious London living and intriguing mystery 🏢 These upscale apartments offered a new level of comfort and convenience for the affluent, with amenities like maid service, meal delivery, and even squash courts! 🎾 Discover the real-life inspiration behind fictional service flats li…

Episode 223 / Do you like to discover the plot as you write? Do you get bored if you know where the story is going? Then a skeleton draft might be what you need. Paranormal and gothic romance author Steffanie Holmes joins us to talk about how discovery writers can use a skeleton draft to get their ideas down on paper and avoid writer’s block. We al…

Subscriber-only episode Ever wondered how to add a twist of mystery to your narrative? Find out exactly what mystery elements are, how to sprinkle them into your narrative, and why they keep readers turning the pages. Whether you're writing romance, sci-fi, or fantasy, a mystery can add layers of intrigue and depth to your story. I'll be sharing so…

Episode 222 / Jessica Renwich, who writes fantasy and horror for kids ages 9-12, joined us to share her experience as an indie middle grade author. She has terrific insights on approaching schools for author visits and the impact of creating whimsical and fun content to appeal to young readers. In addition to discussing how marketing middle grade b…

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Ring! Ring! Join me this episode for a look at the history of the red telephone box, a quintessential symbol of British culture. I’ll trace the evolution of this iconic kiosk and delve into the controversies surrounding the telephone box's appearance, the public's reaction to proposed changes, and the in…

Episode 221 / Looking to grow a community around your books? Romance author Amy Pine shares how she and her co-hosts created a podcast and built a vibrant community around Korean dramas. We also dive into craft book recommendations, beat sheets, and combining tropes in unexpected ways. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give yo…

Episode 220 / KimBoo York joins us to share how to embrace flexibility and spontaneity in your writing process through discovery writing. Whether you thrive on outlining or prefer a more free-flowing approach, there are different techniques to suit your writing style. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a …

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Step back in time and explore the fascinating world of forensic investigation during the Golden Age of detective fiction. I’ll dive into the real-life CSI methods used by detectives in the 1920s and how they compare to the techniques employed by fictional sleuths like Sherlock Holmes. I’ll also take a cl…

Episode 219 / Martha Carr is a journalist who now writes escapist fiction in the urban fantasy genre with a lot of magic, some action and adventure, and a little romance. Martha shares about beating health challenges, changing her business model, and dealing with the ups and downs of publishing. We also talk about leaving regret behind, her Kicksta…

Episode 218 / Julie Duffy has long been involved in the publishing industry, but she found herself not actually writing fiction due to the demands of school and work. This realization led her to challenge herself with a "story a day" project in order to get back to writing and creating fictional stories. Julia joins us to talk about A Story A Day i…

Suggest a book for the podcast or say hello! Servant Life: it wasn’t all elegance and extravagance in the 1920s Join me for a deep dive into life "downstairs” in a country house. From the servant hierarchy to the grueling work to the lack of personal freedom, the staff had a completely different experience from those “upstairs.” We also take a litt…

Episode 217 / Writing under two pen names, Celeste Barclay has penned over 50 books in historical and mafia romance. She shares insights on the writing process, the challenges of juggling multiple book brands, the importance of flexibility, and why universal themes resonate across genres. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give…

Episode 216 / Mystery author Abigail Keam shares how she embraced the digital landscape and incorporated direct sales into her business model. From historical accuracy to adapting to technology, she shares her lessons-learned. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwrit…

Episode 215 / When it comes to your author business, a bargain sometimes costs money in the long run, but other times it pays to splurge instead of scrimp. Join us as we discuss tips for saving money as well as when we’re willing to pay more. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wi…