Best amquerying Podcasts (2024)

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

1d 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

4d 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

4d 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

8d 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

11d 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

15d 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

18d 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

22d 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

25d 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

29d 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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, …

1
Balancing Curiosity Seeds and Tension Without Making the Reader Feel Cheated 1:01:36

4M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the need for external pressure in your major dramatic question; the three sets of questions that create tension at the beginning of a story; surprising your reader in your first five pages; the accuracy of third party manuscript wishlists; the need for world-building in a fantasy query; b…

1
#162 - Anna Stephens 35:12

4M ago35:12

35:12

Epic fantasy, horror and superhero writer, Anna Stephens is here to tell us about the final book in her second trilogy as well as a fascinating chat about working with Marvel Comics and the Black Library to create tie in fiction for IP universes. Listen to extended episodes, early and ad-free on Patreon! Support the show on Patreon, chat with Jamie…

1
Insights from Acquisitions Editors & Working on Author Collaborations 1:10:59

4M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by two acquisitions editors at Atria Books, Elizabeth Hitti and Melanie Iglesias. Melanie is a senior editor at Atria Books and has worked on various bestselling titles, including It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover. Elizabeth joined Atria in 2022 and has worked on various best…

1
#161 - Nuala Ellwood a.k.a. Iris Costello 29:11

4M ago29:11

29:11

Best-selling thriller author Nuala Ellwood a.k.a. historical fiction writer Iris Costello is on the podcast talking about her latest historical novel, her experiences with writing and publishing over the years and the differences between writing thrillers and historical fiction! Photo by Betina La Plante. Listen to the extended episodes early and a…

1
Episode 12 - #AMQUERYING! 1:01:41

4M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Surprise! I’m back! In this episode, I talk about my still-ongoing querying journey, how hard it is, but also the lessons I’ve learned during the worst months of my life, health-wise, that are helping me get through querying with more peace. I had a major realization while recording the episode that I think will also help you tremendously on your q…

1
Being Intentional With Your Novel's Timeline 1:01:14

4M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss the importance of specifying between awards for published and unpublished manuscripts; the difficulty with trying to sell a book whose main character’s race and culture differs from the author’s lived experience; the need for a main character’s interiority to accurately reflect the…

1
#160 - Emily-Jane Clark 25:36

4M ago25:36

25:36

Children's author and comedy writer, Emily-Jane Clark joins us to talk about "The Beasts of Knobbly Bottom", switching between children's adult writing and how she makes a similar process work across both. Listen to the extended episodes early and ad-free on Patreon! Support the show on Patreon, chat with Jamie and other guests on the Discord serve…

1
Bumper February Bonus Episode 2:15:24

4M ago2:15:24

2:15:24

In today's Bumper February Bonus Episode, Bianca kicks it off by interviewing interviews tech anthropologist and author, Nikki Payne. They discuss her latest novel, Sex, Lies, and Sensibility, a retelling of the classic, Sense and Sensibility; how Nikki approached writing her retelling, one which specifically centred diversity; decentering whitenes…

1
How Some Stories Need You to Become a Better Writer Before Telling Them 1:02:32

4M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by emerging author, Sarah. They discuss ways to make a novel sound less quiet in a query; the necessity of a hook; when it's acceptable to comp to a hugely successful novel; how to convey a longer timeline; how to share pivotal plot points in a query without spoiling the novel;…

1
#159 - Jodie Matthews 31:05

4M ago31:05

31:05

Literary fiction author and poet, Jodie Matthews drops by the podcast to chat about her folklore inspired debut novel, ‘Meet Me At the Surface’ as well as the first manuscripts that she didn’t finish, her unusual writing process and how in her ideal world she would be able to keep editing until the end of time! Listen to the extended episodes early…

1
Torturing Your Characters in the Second Act 1:07:03

4M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly discuss small tweaks for an overall 'fantastic' query; a good example of framing and planting curiosity seeds; starting a novel with a scene where the protagonist is waking up; being careful about word choice in a query; being mindful of when you're being vague vs specific; and the importance of …

1
#158 - Molly McGhee 31:20

5M ago31:20

31:20

Literary speculative fiction author, Molly McGhee joins the podcast this week to talk about her debut novel 'Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind', teaching writing at Columbia and how her previous work in editorial helped hone her writing process. (Photo by Pete Perry) Listen early and ad-free on Patreon! Support the show on Patreon, chat with Jamie an…

1
How Writing Contests Can Help Launch Your Career 57:04

5M ago57:04

57:04

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly critique an upmarket/southern-gothic query and a book club romance. They discuss a "perfect" first query paragraph; the importance of accurate framing in a query; when a content warning is necessary; tips for elevating your line level writing along with examples of sophisticated writing; writing …

1
#157 - Araminta Hall 30:50

5M ago30:50

30:50

Thriller writer, Araminta Hall joins Jamie this week to chat about her latest novel “One of the Good Guys”, the impact that working in journalism had on her stories and how her writing process has evolved over six published books. Listen early and ad-free on Patreon! Support the show on Patreon, chat with Jamie and other guests on the Discord serve…

1
Insights from NYT Bestselling Authors, Ali Hazelwood and Kiley Reid 1:33:42

5M ago1:33:42

1:33:42

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the need for specificity with regard to plot details when you have a more psychological book/concept; avoiding too much backstory in the opening pages; the need for your first chapter to be as strong as your prologue (if you have one); being as specific about your genre as possible; and h…

1
#156 - Aube Rey Lescure 26:46

5M ago26:46

26:46

Historical and contemporary fiction author, Aube Rey Lescure is here to chat about her debut novel, “River East, River West”. She is also an essayist and Deputy Editor at ‘Off Assignment’ and has co-authored, translated and published books on economics and politics in China. Listen early and ad-free on Patreon! Support the show on Patreon, chat wit…

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Amquerying Podcasts

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