Ready to navigate the publishing landscape and want some practical advice? Mary Kole is joined by writing expert John Matthew Fox to chat about his work helping authors and founding his company, Bookfox. Conversation topics include the different publishing paths available to writers, the benefits and drawbacks of traditional vs. self-publishing, th…

Despite the challenges of balancing writing with a day job and parenting, middle grade and YA author Tracy Badua keeps churning out adventurous contemporary fantasy stories. Tracy’s books, all featuring Filipino-American characters, explore themes of cultural identity and family expectations, even drawing inspiration from Filipino superstitions she…

Young adult author Farrah Penn (Twelve Steps to Normal & Cancelled) details her publishing journey, from striking out on submission to her newest novel. Listen in to this conversation for thoughts on the young adult genre, using tropes, crafting stakes and curveballs for your characters, and how screenwriting may help when writing a novel. Farrah P…

Going viral on TikTok can’t be your entire book marketing strategy. So how do new authors go about finding their ideal readers? Jenn Hanson-dePaula guides you through the steps of elevating your book promo! Tune in to hear her take on what marketing is and isn’t, tips for building your social media platform (including valuable advice on what to pos…

Mary is joined by NYT bestselling author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka to chat about his experience in children's publishing. He shares the challenges and gratifications of reaching across different age categories and the importance of illustrations in storytelling. Listen to hear his tips on writing within established franchises (like Star Wars…

Danielle Marietta joins the podcast to discuss her publishing company, Books & Things Publishing, the children’s book sphere, and the importance of promoting diverse authors. Tune in to learn more about Danielle’s writing journey, and her tips on self-publishing, social media marketing, and connecting with your target audience. Danielle Marietta We…

Romance author Allison Speka joins the pod to discuss her journey into writing and self-publishing. She talks about her love for the romance genre, and shares her experience with self-publishing, including tips on cover design, book marketing, and the value of learning from other indie authors. Allison Speka: Website: https://www.allisonspeka.com/ …

Editor and writing coach Katie Wolf joins the pod for an inspiring conversation about getting started in publishing, work-life balance, and writing to market. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health and why self-awareness is key in developing your writing craft. Katie Wolf: Website: https://www.thekatiewolf.com/ Podcast-- Bl…

Thriller vs. Suspense... what's the difference? Heather Dixon, whose debut novel Burlington hits shelves this week, chats with Mary Kole about getting published and the appeal of suspenseful women's fiction. She also discusses plotting high stakes, developing character arcs, and writing "quiet stories." Heather Dixon: Website: https://www.heatherdi…

Rob Kent, author and host of the Middle Grade Ninja podcast, joins Mary Kole to talk about his illustrious publishing career and provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring writers. He discusses the importance of managing expectations and success in your writing career, as well as writing for your own personal happiness. Rob Kent: Websi…

You want to write a book? Listen to this and you'll be all set. Dark YA novelist Gretchen McNeil joins Mary Kole in an episode all about recognizing and executing a good story idea. They discuss the shifting young adult book market and embracing diversity, mastering storytelling structure and the importance of shaping the reader's experience, and t…

How does a new author start gaining traction? Can you stay authentic while "selling yourself" as a writer? Book Marketer and PR Coach Emily Enger joins Mary to talk about some of the aspects of the writing process that might leave a yucky taste in our mouths. Tune in for actionable tips and insights into a publicist and marketer's side of the publi…

Join Mary Kole and Sara Zarr as they talk about the complex realities surrounding publishing and becoming a career author within a rapidly shifting young adult and middle grade marketplace. Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain Y…

Tune in for a chat with Mary Kole's long-time friend in the children's publishing space, YA Author J.C. Geiger. He tells all about how he made an epic mixtape with music no one's heard before (and met his heroes in the process), writing young adult characters, the future of post-pandemic fiction, and—of course—the power of music. Website: https://j…

Lisa Stringfellow, award-winning author and middle school teacher, discusses her debut novel about mermaids and mythology set in the Caribbean, “A Comb of Wishes.” She talks through her long journey from draft to finished book—plus plans for Book 2—and shares craft and industry tips she’s learned along the way. Website: https://lisastringfellow.com…

Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer. Website: https://benjaminroesch.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbroesch Good Story Company: If you h…

CEO of independent publisher Girl Friday Productions Leslie Miller, aka "LAM" joins the Good Story Podcast to talk all things publishing, marketing, and building your platform as an author. Having worn all the different hats, she discusses the differences between traditional publishing, self-publishing, indie publishing, and hybrid publishing, and …

Award-winning children’s book writer Ronald L. Smith, author of Black Panther: The Young Prince and Spellbound, joins the Good Story Podcast. We talk about writing dark and unconventional stories for middle grade, his writing routine, and marketing yourself as an author. And, of course, he tells all about what it’s like to write in collaboration wi…

Writer, writing teacher, ghost writer, and general literary icon Roz Morris joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. They dive into the mechanics of storytelling and discuss how to connect with your audience—whether you're writing someone else's story or you're telling your own. Website: https://rozmorris.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/Roz_Morr…

New York Times Bestselling children's book author Tami Charles joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about experimenting with verse, amplifying the stories of girls of color, and writing what you feel. Website: https://tamiwrites.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamiWritesStuff Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help…

Author and former assistant professor of creative writing Leslie C. Youngblood joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. She shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing? Website: https://www.le…

Mindy McGinnis, mystery, suspense, thriller author and dog haver, joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about her upcoming work with James Patterson, shit-shoveling, book snobbery, and showing characters' humanity. Website: https://www.mindymcginnis.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindyMcGinnis Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, …

In a special spooky episode of the Good Story Podcast, NYT Bestselling young adult and middle-grade author Jonathan Auxier joins Mary Kole to discuss visual writing, worldbuilding, and how different media use dialogue to create action. \Website: https://www.thescop.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonathanAuxier Good Story Company: If you have a st…

Ghostwriter Kelly Madrone joins us to talk about writing as someone else, modulating a professional potty mouth, and creating a story arc in memoir. Website: https://kellymadrone.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/madronekelly Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of a…

Gabriela Pereira discusses her journey to founding DIY MFA, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing, while living with bipolar disorder. Along the way, she shares tips about unconventional learning styles, finding a writing community in your backyard, and using storytelling to effectively market your work. Website: https://diy…

Decades-long agent, Rachel Orr, talks about real life clients as she shares what agents and editors are looking for, what to include in your query letter, and how to challenge the status quo. About Rachel Orr: https://portfolio.prospectagency.com/2017/03/21/536/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelprospect Good Story Company: If you have a story in …

Insights from industry veteran Chuck Sambuchino on how to become a well-informed writer, build a platform, and get published. Website: https://chucksambuchino.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/chucksambuchino Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all…

A conversation about "The Emotion Thesaurus" as well as writing tools in general and whether human input can ever be replaced by tools. The Emotion Thesaurus: https://amzn.to/3ygaeDx Marlowe AI: https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/08/marlowe-a-i-for-novels-does-it-measure-up-to-its-namesakes/ Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, w…

On this month's episode, children's author Anna Staniszewski chats about her path to publication, writing for different age groups, and what it takes to make it as a full-time author. Website: https://www.annastan.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/annastanisz Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out int…

A conversation with YA fantasy author Laura Sebastian (ASH PRINCESS, out now from Delacorte) all about worldbuilding. Website: https://laurasebastianwrites.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebastian_lk Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genr…

A conversation with Cidney Swanson, sci-fi author and recipient of the 2020 Good Story Grant. Website: https://cidneyswanson.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/cidneyswanson Good Story Grant: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/grant Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers o…

A conversation with debut YA author Rebecca Coffindaffer (CROWNCHASERS, out now from HarperTeen) all about worldbuilding. Website: https://www.rebeccacoffindaffer.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/callmebecks Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all…

An uplifting conversation with author Wendelin Van Draanen, where we discuss the therapeutic nature of writing and the silver lining in a difficult path to publication. Website: http://www.wendelinvand.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wendelinvand Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the worl…

A conversation with John Cusick, literary agent and MG/YA author. We delve into writing for MG and YA readers, what agents are looking for, and breaking writing rules. Submission guidelines: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/JohnC/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnmcusick Upswell Media: https://www.upswellmedia.com Good Story Company: I…

An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience. Website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinentrada Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill …

Debut picture book author Brittany Thurman discusses writing about complex issues for a young audience, bias in the publishing industry, and supporting Black writers. Website: https://www.brittanythurman.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/janeebrittany Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the wo…

A conversation with romance author Kilby Blades about changes the traditional publishing industry needs to make in order to be an inclusive space for writers of color. Website: http://www.kilbyblades.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kilbyblades Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world…

Writing teachers Jeff Lyons and Mary Kole in conversation about craft, from the big picture to the nitty gritty. Website: https://storygeeks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/storygeeks Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all catego…

An interview with author and writing teacher Jessica Brody, where we discuss what makes a compelling story, how to apply story structure whether you're a plotter or pantser, and tackling large-scale revisions without ripping your hair out. Website: https://www.jessicabrody.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicabrody Crafting Dynamic Characters On…

Historical and fantasy author Gail Carson Levine shares thoughts on the writing process, world-building, and her latest book. Website: www.gailcarsonlevine.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailcarsonlevine Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill set…

A podcast interview with middle grade author Jake Burt, all about writing diversity from a place of privilege. Website: https://www.jburtbooks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBurtBooks Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all cate…

A podcast interview with ghostwriter Laura Elliott, all about deep research, finding inspiration from various sources, and telling stories … even other people’s. Website: https://www.lauraelliotauthor.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Elliot_Laura Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world.…

An enlightening discussion about creativity, picture book writing, illustration, inspiration, and making mistakes ... in a good way! Peter H. Reynolds: Website: https://www.peterhreynolds.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/peterhreynolds Good Story Company: Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/members…

A podcast all about nonfiction book proposals, nonfiction article pitching, and strategically growing your writing career, including a ton of tips for that ever-intimidating concept of marketing yourself and your writing. Website: http://www.ryangvancleave.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryangvancleave Good Story Company: If you have a story in yo…

An interview with NaNoWriMo founder and writing teacher Chris Baty, where we discuss plot, pantsing, not nipping good ideas in the bud, celebrating a hot pile of garbage, and the cult of busyness. NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisbaty Good Story Company: If you h…