The Write Mindset

Every Book Has to Be a Five-Star Read, Says Author J.D. Barker! Bestselling hybrid author JD Barker returns to talk craft, business, and the realities of publishing at scale. Thomas J. Bellezza and JD dig into his six-step pipeline, what James Patterson taught him about branding and "being there" in a scene, why writing cinematically gets books optioned, review bombing, trigger warnings, and adapt...

Matt Weiss on Fan Series Writing, Improv, and the Hero's Journey! Matt Weiss, Star Trek Cello Guy, creator of Egotastic Trek and Adam's Radio Hour, joins Thomas J. Bellezza for a wide-ranging conversation on writing a Star Trek fan series, building Captain Hardinger's arc from villain to hero, voice acting and cold reads, the hero's journey, and a deep philosophical exchange on faith, language, an...

Author Randee Dawn on Overwriting and Building Worlds! Author Randee Dawn (We Interrupt This Program, Tune in Tomorrow) joins Thomas J. Bellezza on The Write Mindset to talk about her path from music and TV journalism into contemporary fantasy, the magical Tunaverse, why a chapter is an event with its own arc, the cost of overwriting, and what screenplays taught her about word budgets. ▶ RANDEE DA...

Crime vs Thriller: This 20-Book Author Knows the Difference! With Author Danielle Girard! Danielle Girard has written 20 books, 16 police procedurals, and her latest thriller, Pinky Swear. We discuss the real difference between crime and thriller genres, discovering character voice through writing, placing clues that feel earned, and how she used fiction to process betrayal and rebuild trust after...

From Bedtime Stories to Published Sci-Fi with Author Jason Randall Spriggs interview! Join me for a conversation with Randall, author of Star Skimmer, about writing science fiction that balances imagination with realistic science. We discuss his process of turning bedtime stories into published novels, building alien ecosystems inspired by Carl Sagan, creating pronounceable names, and the fine lin...

An interview with Jacqueline Pennewill, author of The Book of Eternity. Actress turned novelist Jacqueline joins The Write Mindset to talk about writing The Book of Eternity, her debut fantasy trilogy born from grief and a hospital room promise to her mother. We explore how acting shapes character work, why behavior matters more than dialogue, finding trusted readers, and the business parallels be...

Writing Culture, History, and Lost Worlds: A Conversation With Deepa Anappara. Thomas J. Bellezza sits down with author Deepa Anappara to explore writing culture, researching history, and how her novel The Last of Earth weaves map making and lost history together. A must-watch for writers drawn to culturally rich, research-driven storytelling. ▶ Deepa Anappara Books: https://amzn.to/40QczTp ▶ The...

Be Willing To Write Poorly: Author Faulkner Hunt on the Journey to Fiction: Screenwriter turned novelist Faulkner Hunt joins Thomas J. Bellezza to talk about outlining, overexplaining, trusting readers to discover the story, and why great writing is rewriting. This is an honest conversation about the real craft journey that every fiction writer needs to hear. ▶ Faulkner Hunt's Books: https://amzn....

Do Writers Have to Read? A Conversation With Poet Jeff Rimland: Do you have to read to be a great writer? Thomas J. Bellezza sits down with published poet Jeff Rimland for an honest conversation about reading as a writer and a deep dive into the craft of poetry, essential listening for any serious writer. ▶ Jeff Rimland's Books: https://amzn.to/46mrqrU

Author Interview: Stefanie Nici on Likable Characters, Voice, And More... Join me for a conversation with author Stefanie Nici about the unique depth writers bring to dialogue, the power of writing from personal interest, and the craft of creating likable characters. We explore how mentors shaped our approaches, why writing what fascinates you connects with readers, and the difference between ever...

I had the pleasure of spending time with one of my childhood heroes, Edo van Belkom, the author of Lord Soth Dragonlance and Death Drives A Semi. Learning about his journey as an author, insight on writing, and the ins and outs of the publishing industry. Edo van Belkom's Books: https://amzn.to/4t2kXMk ▶ The 27 Plot Point Outline: When Plot meets Story https://amzn.to/4r2H1EO ▶ The Foundation For...

Join Thomas J. Bellezza in conversation with bestselling author J.D. Barker (Dracul, The Fourth Monkey, Something I Keep Upstairs) about his writing process, collaborating with James Patterson, hybrid publishing strategies, and how autism profoundly influenced his creative work. Discover practical advice on author branding, coauthoring, and decades of experience building a successful writing caree...

Kitchen Witch Cookbook Author on Writing Nonfiction and Cooking With Intention. Join Thomas J. Bellezza in conversation with published author Dawn Aurora Hunt about writing cookbooks, the differences between nonfiction and fiction writing, and how food influences personal energy. Discover what it takes to become a published cookbook author, cooking with intention as a kitchen witch, and the unique...

Wendy Dale on Dodging Bombs, Guerrilla Soldiers, and Writing Memoirs. In this unforgettable interview, author Wendy Dale joins Thomas J. Bellezza on The Write Mindset to share her incredible journey: from traveling the world and dodging bombs and bullets to partying with guerrilla soldiers and eventually becoming a celebrated memoirist. We dive into her latest release, The Memoir Engineering Syste...

How It Feels to Be a New Author with J.K. Lambo. In this special episode of The Write Mindset, I sit down with J.K. Lambo, a debut author on the rise, to talk about her journey writing her new novel and stepping into the world of authorship. We dive into her creative process, the story she's working on, and what it’s like to navigate the publishing path for the first time. I'm honored to be the on...

Should Authors Be Judged by Their Stories? In this thought-provoking conversation, author Eloise Bahr joins Thomas J. Bellezza to explore a complex question: Is what you write a reflection of who you are? Together, they unpack the debate around whether authors should be judged by the themes they explore, especially controversial ones like slavery, murder, or violence. Is a writer responsible for t...

Succeeding On Your Own Terms: Author Dr. Sheena Howard wrote fiction, non-fiction, film, comics, and graphic novels | Howard University Alum | Eisner Award winner | Featured in Emmy-nominated episode of State of the Arts | Appearances on BCC, ABC, PBS, and more | All types of stories deserve to be told, and I'm here to tell them | Growth happens when you listen to the stories that make you uncomfo...

Jody J. Sperling crafts genre-bending mysteries that blend supernatural elements with hard-boiled detective fiction. His Luke In Time Mystery series follows an unconventional detective duo through cases that challenge both the laws of physics and human nature. Through his podcast 'Becoming A Household Name,' Sperling shares his writing journey and connects with fellow storytellers and readers alik...

Helene Galek is a lifelong passion for dance and NYC, this performer went from Broadway's "soubrette" to a full-time casting director and producer. She has worked on numerous projects, from vintage musicals to feature films, and has even produced successful shows that raised money for charity.

The Power of How Stories Change The World with Ken Atchity—With fifty years’ experience in the publishing world and thirty-five years in entertainment, Dr. Ken Atchity is a self-labeled “Story Merchant” author, professor, producer, career coach, teacher, and literary manager, responsible for launching dozens of books and films.

Living in Greenwich Village, just like the legends of old, inspired this writer's journey from a news production assistant to a successful novelist and TV news writer. After working at Good Morning America and interviewing literary greats like Stephen King, she wrote her debut novel, *The Ghost of Greenwich Village*, which explores the dynamic and storied neighborhood she loves. Now a writer for D...

For over 20 years, Quincy Jackson has been a self-made, multi-published, multi-faceted, professional creative director and creative artist in the industry of comic books, video games, animation, and indie film production, as well as performance arts, photography, music recording, and soundtrack production. Quincy Jackson has gotten the attention of some of the most prolific recording artists, ente...

Kalyx Kai is a horror writer, director, and producer who has been making short films since 2019. She's recently started a horror series called Happy’s Horror Crypt, which is available on her YouTube channel, Jersey Kai Horror, which features a host of horror-related material.

Author JD Estrada joins me for a conversation about writing and the age-old discussion about separation of art from the artist.

Author JM Celi (@authorjmceli) joins us on today's podcast episode, where he talks about his writing process of getting his vampire Urban Fantasy novels written.