Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, fiction author and marketing veteran Kae Wagner joins us to share how indie authors can approach publishing with a more strategic mindset. Drawing from her success with the Frankie Girl series, Kae explains how treating fiction as both art and product can lead to stronger sales, deeper reader engagement, and long-term growth. She offers a wealth of practical...

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, we're exploring how adding historical context into storytelling can enrich fiction across all genres. Joining the discussion is skilled historical novelist and former archaeologist N.L. Holmes, who shares insights on how incorporating history into your writing can deepen narratives, foster empathy, and illuminate meaningful parallels between past events and...

This week on Fully Booked, we explore the lighter side of science fiction with guest Ray Tabler, an engineer-turned-author who believes the future doesn't have to be bleak to be compelling. In a genre often dominated by dystopias and dark futures, Ray offers an alternative approach rooted in humor, optimism, and human complexity. He shares how a love of history, a dash of engineering know-how, and...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the art of crafting unforgettable characters with award-winning author, playwright, and clinical psychologist Patricia Black-Gould. Drawing on her rich background in theater and psychology, Patricia shares how deep character work and improvisational techniques from the stage can empower writers to create emotionally resonant, distinctive personali...

On today's episode of Fully Booked, returning guest KimBoo York guides Craig and Roland through the rich and vibrant world of fanfiction. Having recently published a book on the subject, KimBoo is uniquely suited to unpack what fanfiction is, how it’s written, and why so many writers find it a rewarding creative outlet. From the early days of Sherlock Holmes pastiches to today’s thriving online fa...

In this eye-opening episode of Fully Booked, returning guest Ariel Anderssen shares her firsthand account of the collapse of Unbound Publishing. After successfully crowdfunding her debut memoir through the hybrid publisher, Ariel soon encountered missed royalty payments, a lack of transparency around sales data, and growing frustration. It was only through threatened legal action that she recovere...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re exploring the essential role that community plays in a writer’s journey, particularly in genres that thrive on collaboration and shared passion. Our guest is Clay Vermulm, a dark fiction author and podcaster who shares how he transitioned from a background in wrestling and film to a full-time writing career, and how creative communities helped guide and sustain tha...

How do you write fiction that readers can truly see? In today's episode of Fully Booked, we speak with author Gary Smith about crafting vivid, immersive stories by drawing on real-life experience, strong character instincts, and a deep sense of place. From his free-flowing, scene-by-scene writing method to his use of real locations and photography, Gary shows how authenticity and visual clarity wo...

In this episode of Fully Booked, we talk with Dr. Ravi Iyer, a physician, TEDx speaker, and nonfiction author who knows how to turn big concepts into books that truly connect. Dr. Ravi shares how writing a book is a lot like giving a great talk. It’s all about knowing your message, understanding your audience, and delivering your ideas with clarity and emotion. Drawing on insights from cognitive s...

This week, Craig and Roland welcome Lauren Carter Reilly to the podcast—a trailblazing author who’s rewriting the rules of self-publishing by steering clear of Amazon entirely when it comes to finding readers for her Gothic horror series The Wonderful Lady B and her upcoming romantic comedy In This Fair Chase. Lauren’s writing career has roots in her background as a classically trained actress, a...

What does it take to write a full-length novel every week for months on end? In this episode of Fully Booked, we talk with author Alison McBain about her ambitious goal to write 52 books in a year, and how her first attempt led to 34 completed novels in 34 weeks, spanning a wide range of genres. While she didn’t hit her full target, writing over a million words in a focused sprint gave her the too...

On this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the idea of writing with intentional ambiguity, a technique that involves leaving certain details unsaid to encourage deeper reader engagement. By strategically withholding information, authors allow readers to draw their own conclusions, imagine unwritten backstories, and interpret character motivations in different ways. Swedish author Karl Hörn...

After a decade of running an ARC service, we’re very familiar with getting reviews and how important they are to making your book stand out from the crowd. But attracting attention is just one way that reviews can help drive sales. This week, Fully Booked is joined by Roxanne Burkey and Charles Breakfield, co-authors who have built an entire strategy around using reader feedback to amplify their b...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re joined by romance author Elle Christopher, whose debut novel is rooted in profound personal loss and emotional transformation. After the sudden death of her husband, Elle turned to writing as a coping mechanism for both herself and her five children. What started as a private act of healing eventually evolved into an immersive love story that has already struck a c...

In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we’re exploring how to build momentum in your fiction and make sure readers have a hard time putting your book down. Author and workshop leader Natasha Blandford, who writes as N.L. Blandford, joins Craig and Roland to discuss how to write compelling hooks and cliffhangers that keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. Drawing on her experience writi...

You don’t have to be a comedian to bring humor into your writing, and just because your book isn’t a comedy doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from a few well-placed laughs. As veteran comedian, keynote speaker, and author Jan McInnis explains in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, humor is a powerful way to connect with your audience and make your message more memorable. Together, we explore what mak...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re joined by military thriller author and former U.S. Air Force special agent Derrick M. Jackson to discuss how real-life experiences can be used to shape compelling fiction. Rather than writing a memoir about his time in the military, Derrick crafted a high-stakes thriller infused with emotional authenticity pulled directly from the most intense moments of his career...

This week, we’re welcoming back a familiar face in both the self-publishing world and on this podcast. Dave Chesson, the creative force behind industry-leading tools like Publisher Rocket, returns to discuss one of his other major successes—Atticus. After more than two years on the market and continuous user-driven improvements, Atticus has steadily evolved and built a large, dedicated following....

Besides a great book, what is it that makes readers remember you and keep coming back for more? According to award-winning brand strategist and personal brand navigator Lauren Clemett, an author’s success is directly tied to their branding. With years of experience helping authors amplify their visibility worldwide, Lauren reveals how the science of neurobranding shapes the way readers connect wit...

One of the most crucial aspects of writing is understanding your audience so that the stories you tell truly resonate. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore this concept with author and speaker Randi-Lee Bowslaugh, who connects with her readers by sharing her personal experiences with mental health and autism. By blending storytelling with an engaging, accessible style, Randi ensures her...

Writing a book is one thing—getting it published and into readers’ hands is another challenge entirely. For first-time authors, the process can feel overwhelming, but today’s guest, business consultant and author Jennifer Musser, shares a strategy to make it manageable. By breaking the writing and publishing process into smaller components—outlining, drafting, cover design, formatting, marketing,...

From visiting unfamiliar locations to speaking directly with locals, nothing beats experiencing key elements of your story firsthand. When possible, this kind of immersive research can make the difference between a good book and one that truly transports readers. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with award-winning author Dr. Randy Overbeck to explore how direct, on-the...

Can writing a book transform your career? In this episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with author and technologist R.D.D. Smith to explore how professionals can use writing as a powerful tool to build credibility and open new opportunities. Drawing from personal experience, Roger shares how writing books helped him gain industry recognition, secure career-changing roles, and even land a prestigio...

Conflict drives every great story, but what truly makes a hero compelling? And why are villains often the most captivating characters on the page? In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we delve into the intricate "hero-villain dance" with novelist and former educator Lori Paul Johnson. By exploring the moral complexity of antagonists and the archetypal struggles of heroes, Lori breaks down storytell...

While some self-published authors are keen to embrace tools that leverage artificial intelligence, others continue to have concerns about AI erasing the importance of a writer’s work, and degrading the publishing industry as a whole - concerns addressed by this week’s guest, Dan Curran. Dan is the co-founder of Chapters.io , a company that provides a structured approach to content creation by capt...