In The Writers Chair

Welcome to "In the Writer's Chair," where host Lana McAra sits down with USA Today, Amazon, and New York Times bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan to tackle one of the toughest challenges of the writing life: handling criticism. Joanna is a powerhouse in the publishing world, boasting over 80 published books across fiction and nonfiction, alongside contributions to the original...

In this episode of In the Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with John Winn Miller, an award-winning investigative reporter, Pulitzer finalist, foreign correspondent, and screenwriter turned historical novelist.  John discusses his unconventional journey into writing fiction and the release of his latest book, Miriam in the Shadows , the third standalone thriller in his Peggy C. serie...

In this episode of In the Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with Joseph Muller , a historical novelist who has recently expanded his repertoire into children's literature with his new book, Pirates of Adventure Island . Joseph holds a BA in history and the classics, as well as a master's in architecture, backgrounds that inform both his historical fiction and the technical...

If you have spent months or years writing your book, why would you settle for anything less than a professional package? In this episode of In the Writer’s Chair , Lana McAra sits down with Michele DeFilippo, owner of 1106 Design and a publishing industry veteran since 1972. Together, they explore the "earthquake" of Amazon and how the ease of self-publishing has led to an avalanche of p...

What does it really take to become a published author? In this special roundtable edition of In The Writer’s Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with three Vendela Publishing authors for a candid conversation about writing, perseverance, publishing, rejection, inspiration, and the importance of finding the right creative community. Lana is the author and ghostwriter of more than 50 published titles,...

Are you tired of your brilliant book gathering digital dust? Host Lana McAra opens this episode with a hard truth: if your readers can't find you, you can't help them. Before diving into the interview, Lana invites listeners to the "Visibility Experiment," a tactical training designed to move your work off the Amazon shelf and into the hands of those who need it. In today'...

In this compelling episode of In the Writer’s Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with retired Army officer turned author Darrell Berry . Darrell shares his journey from a 22-year military career to writing his gripping mystery novel, Early This Morning , which explores the complexities of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era. Darrell discusses how he transitioned from an avid reader...

What happens when you mix real-world environmental science, historic landmarks, and chilling native folklore? You get the spine-tingling world of author Benjamin A Coward ! In this episode of In the Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with Ben to discuss his journey from environmental scientist to fiction author. They dive deep into his latest supernatural horror thriller, Wendigo Knig...

In this gripping episode of In the Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra welcomes Rand R. Timmerman , a retired attorney and Marine combat veteran who began his prolific second act as an author at age 70. Rand shares the fascinating inspiration behind his latest book, The Syracuse Hit Man Versus a Shoe Repairman , a story of violence, redemption, and spiritual transformation based on a real-life g...

What happens when you combine the high-stakes adventure of Dungeons & Dragons with the emotional power of Broadway? You get The Reality Shaper , a groundbreaking musical podcast. In this episode of In the Writer’s Chair , host Lana McAra sits down with New York City-based musical theater writer and performer Sair Kaufman to discuss the "different beast" of writing for the ear rather...

How to Sell Your Book Before You Even Write a Single Word – With Rodney Washington Are you locking yourself away for months to finish your book, only to realize no one knows it exists? In this episode of In the Writer’s Chair , host Lana McAra welcomes Rodney Washington , founder of Published and Thriving , to explain why waiting until your book is on Amazon to start marketing is a "Simba mom...

Welcome to In the Writer's Chair with host Lana McAra! Today, we pull up a chair with veteran journalist and author Eliot Kleinberg. After a 33-and-a-half-year career at the Palm Beach Post where he wrote roughly 14,000 stories, Eliot transitioned into writing captivating historical fiction.  As the creator of the original Weird Florida books—first published in 1998 before the "Florida M...

What does a Navy journalist in Vietnam have in common with a corporate communications strategist for global brands? If you're Fred Yager , the answer is a lifetime of storytelling that spans war zones, Hollywood screening rooms, and the deep, silent forests of the mind. This week on In The Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra welcomes the award-winning writer and TV executive to discuss his...

80,000 Words in 3 Weeks: Johan Raubel on AI, Dictation, and Literary Restraint Can technology actually make your writing more human? In this episode of The Writer's Chair, Lana McAra sits down with author Johan Raubel to discuss his character-driven novel, Hannah , and his unique approach to the "interior life" of fiction. Johan shares how he broke free from the "exhausting&quo...

The Power of the Series - Building Worlds with Julie Robitaille What’s the secret to keeping readers hooked for seven novels? According to Julie Robitaille , it’s all about creating a world so vibrant that it feels like home. This week on In The Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra welcomes the prolific author and former English professor to discuss the strategic and creative benefits of writing...

What happens when a writer throws out ALL the punctuation and capitalization — and it works? In this episode of the Fiction Writers Podcast, In The Writers Chair, host Lana McAra sits down with Robert Kamarowski, a retired computer programmer turned author whose debut novella Wind Dancing breaks virtually every rule of conventional writing — and does it beautifully. Robert shares the fascinating s...

The Face of Faith: A Seat with Thomas Tilson What does it mean to "face yourself" when you were born with one of the most severe facial deformities in history? This week on In The Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra pulls up a chair with Thomas Tilson , a man whose life began with a medical death sentence and evolved into a 74-year testament to resilience, music, and divine interventio...

From Hook to Hallmark: Networking Your Way to Hollywood with Jaimie Engle Ever wonder how a novelist breaks into the world of DreamWorks or Hallmark? According to award-winning author and screenwriter Jaimie Engle , the secret isn't a secret at all—it’s LinkedIn . This week on In The Writer's Chair , host Lana McAra pulls back the curtain on the "business" side of show business...