The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

It’s Books with Hooks week on the podcast! This week, CeCe an d Bianca are joined by acquiring editor Elizabeth Hitti Musicant from Dial Press , an imprint of Penguin Random House . As they critique two queries, they break down choosing strong comps, creating specific stakes, trimming an overstuffed query, and making sure your opening pages deliver on your pitch. Plus, they unpack romantasy vs. ro...

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit! This week, Carly and CeCe unpack the latest from the People of Publishing Conference, from shifting reader habits and publishing trends to what’s happening behind the bestseller lists. CeCe shares what she learned about the return of historical fiction, the pressure on authors to promote their ow...

October is starting with a BANG. And this episode delivers. In part one, Bianca sits down with award-winning author Imbolo Mbue , author of the New York Times bestseller Behold the Dreamers , winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her second novel, How Beautiful We Were , was named one of The New York Times’ ten best books of 2021. Now, Imbolo joins the po...

In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Emily St. John Mandel joins Bianca Marais to talk about Exit Party , the interconnected Mandelverse, and her unconventional writing process. She shares why she writes without a plan, treats first drafts as raw material, and relies on meticulous revision to shape the story. They also dig into complex characters, POV, keeping exposition moving, working with...

In this extra-special Books with Hooks, Olivia Haberman joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to workshop her upmarket novel Nobody Panic —and earns some seriously rare praise. They dig into what makes a query impossible to stop reading, writing omniscient POV without falling into head-hopping, creating tension through dramatic irony, and knowing when not to over-explain your choices. Plus, Olivia shares...

Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit. This week they are talking about the unexpected work literary agents do behind the scenes—from tracking book availability and rights reversions to using sales data to advocate for authors. They also dig into Spotify opening AI-powered audiobook narration to all authors and what increasing automation could mean for writers, narrators, readers,...

Bestselling author Isabel Allende joins CeCe Lyra for an incredible interview that touches on storytelling, creativity, and the writing life. From the difference between writing and storytelling to the power of discipline, research, dreams, and solitude, Isabel shares the lessons she's learned over a lifetime of crafting unforgettable novels. They also discuss magical realism, overcoming self-...

Carly and CeCe are back! This week they tackle what’s shifting in the book world—from immersive audiobooks becoming a “movie between your ears” to bookstores proving that reading and community are very much alive. They also discuss the decline of nonfiction, why readers may be turning to other ways to learn, and what it means for authors and publishing. As mentioned on this episode: https://defect...

This week's Books with Hooks welcomes special guest and acquiring editor Kirsiah Depp. Together with CeCe and Bianca, she critiques two fantasy queries, shares what makes a query stand out in today's crowded market, explains why blockbuster comps can hurt your pitch, and dives into opening pages that balance worldbuilding, atmosphere, plot, and emotional momentum. If you're querying fa...

Carly and CeCe are back to Shoot the Shit about the money behind publishing—and why getting published doesn’t mean the hard part is over. They dig into why an author’s second advance might be smaller than their first, the complicated relationship between effort and outcome, and why publishing sits at the messy intersection of art, passion, and business. Then, Carly and CeCe unpack new research on...

Author Elizabeth Urso and her editor Alex Brown of Rising Action Publishing join Bianca Marais to talk about the journey behind Hail Mary , a dark, visceral thriller steeped in family secrets, generational trauma, and Gothic horror. They chat about Elizabeth’s unconventional path to publication, crafting a prologue that immediately grabs—and unsettles—the reader, knowing your genre audience, and w...

In part one this August bonus episode, Bianca connects with bestselling author Ann Garvin to unpack the craft behind her suspense novel, Tell to Friends . They dive into building tension from page one, planting curiosity seeds that keep readers turning pages, writing unforgettable dual POVs, and making every scene work harder. Ann also shares why she shelved this novel for nearly a decade before t...

On this week's Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe , and Bianca discuss two compelling submissions: a queer reality TV romance and a dark psychological thriller. They break down what makes a standout query letter, the importance of differentiating your comps, why your opening pages need the right disruption, and how character dynamics, curiosity, and specificity can make or break a manuscript reques...

Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit, talking about that gut-level feeling that makes an agent know they’ve found something special—and why a great premise still has to deliver all the way through. The literary agents also tackle the latest publishing scams targeting writers, AI watermarking and transparency, and the growing tension around publishers using AI in parts of the busin...

In part one of this week’s packed episode Bianca Marais chats with thriller powerhouse Hank Phillippi Ryan , they unpack the craft behind ‘ Mother, Daughter, Sister, Stranger’ , from writing an unforgettable prologue to building relentless suspense through curiosity, ticking clocks, and emotional stakes. Hank shares why panic is an essential part of her writing process, how reading ambitious novel...

Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit, digging into the latest publishing news—from what’s changing with local author events to encouraging new sales numbers across the industry. They also spotlight editor Whitney Frick and unpack what makes a memoir truly resonate, why fact-checking ultimately falls on the author, and the difference between simply recounting what happened and find...

This week on Books with Hooks, CeCe , Carly , and Bianca critique two submissions: a literary LGBTQ novel centered on the closure of a rural queer bar and the buried trauma tied to its history, and an upmarket dual-timeline novel set within Guadalajara's expat community, where old secrets and unresolved love collide decades later. Along the way, they discuss choosing stronger comp titles, bala...

Carly and CeCe are back to unpack another messy week in publishing, from a headline-making cancelled book auction and growing concerns over AI accusations to the urgent need for clearer industry guidelines around AI use. They dig into who should be responsible for setting those rules, why authors deserve more transparency, and the risks of relying on AI detection tools. Plus, they discuss alternat...

In part one of this week’s episode, Bianca Marais sits down with bestselling author Chris Bohjalian to discuss The Amateur. Don’t miss this incredibly insightful interview that touches on voice, tension, and emotional storytelling. They explore how to create deeply flawed yet unforgettable characters, use specificity to reveal backstory without slowing the narrative, and build suspense through for...

They are back! On this week’s episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe tackle some of the biggest conversations in publishing, from the rise of AI detection controversies to the ethics of literary agent services. They discuss the recent ‘ Atlantic’ article accusing a bestselling author of using AI, why unreliable detection tools can have serious consequences, and what transparency should look...

In this week’s Books with Hooks episode, CeCe , Carly , and Bianca critique two submissions: an upmarket coming-of-age novel about a teen questioning evangelical purity culture and a speculative romance set in a matriarchal future society. The discussion touches on the importance of specificity in query letters, balancing character and plot, choosing the right title, and clearly establishing a pro...

In this month’s bonus episode, Rachel Hochhauser joins CeCe Lyra to discuss her debut, Lady Tremaine , an untelling of Cinderella from the infamous stepmother's perspective. Rachel shares how personal tragedy reignited her writing career, why she believes there are no hard rules in storytelling, and how she blended pantsing with plotting to create a layered, emotionally resonant novel. She als...

In this week’s episode, Bianca Marais interviews, bestselling author Molly Fader, to discuss her latest novel, ‘ Lady X’ , and shares the surprising publishing journey behind it—including parting ways with a longtime agent, refining the perfect logline, and finding representation with a new agent who championed the book. Molly talks about dual timelines, ensemble casts, prologues, and the challeng...

In this week’s episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe are back and here to unpack a thought-provoking article on the future of reading, discussing how declining literacy, AI, and changing media habits are reshaping the publishing world. They talk about the surprising economics of cookbook publishing, why big advances don't always mean big profits, and what authors should know about produ...

This week’s Books with Hooks features two very different manuscripts. Carly, CeCe and Bianca  discuss a dual-timeline second-chance romance that struggles with stakes, emotional depth, and page-one vulnerability, before diving into an upmarket novel about an adopted Nigerian woman searching for her identity. Along the way, they unpack query structure, interiority, curiosity, and why readers need t...