How the Arts Were Won

Send us Fan Mail All about memoirs with author Melissa Duge Spiers ( Holy Disobedience ). How screenwriting helps tell a personal story, and the intensity of penning a story about [redacted]. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Creating imaginary management companies as a kid, making huge spec sales, and pivoting in the industry for survival. An in-depth chat with screenwriter Ian Shorr, writer of Splinter , Infinite , and the upcoming Keanu Reeves movie Shiver . With surely more one-word film titles to come.  Complete with tips for emerging screenwriters—and a few reminders of what not to do …  Follow u...

Send us Fan Mail Supporting new authors, the state of publishing, brain surgery from boxing ... This one has it all, because Rea Frey seemingly does it all. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Writers Jamie Napoli and Joshua Paul Johnson on the new film Untitled Home Invasion Romance , now streaming wherever streamings is sold. The script was a Script Pipeline Screenwriting winner and marks the directorial debut of Jason Biggs. A mere 9-year odyssey in getting a film made, but sometimes all you need is a big director (or a Biggs director*) to move things along.  *this w...

Send us Fan Mail Wildfires, “clown perverts,” the meth epidemic, and the monetary necessities of becoming an author… A shockingly expansive convo with author Alex Kenna. Learn more about her novels, What Meets the Eye and Burn This Night . Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Once you get past the football references, a no-nonsense talk with author Adam Plantinga ( The Ascent , Hard Town ), who breaks down his POV on un-meat-heading your writing, characters as “angry monks,” and navigating the elusive, often-mysterious Taco Bell wifi.  Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail “This is the most intimate I’ve ever been on a podcast.” Buckle up. A fast-paced convo with writer Bree Barton ( Heart of Thorns , Zia Erases the World ) on mental health, reading old notes from 9th grade, and reinventing yourself.  Follow Bree on The Gram (they call it The Gram now, really) and check out some posts related to this ep. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X |...

Send us Fan Mail All things PR in publishing with book publicist Julia Borcherts. Being a good “literary citizen,” some juicy secrets on author branding, the fun epiphanies of discovering why you wrote the story you wrote, and how to reclaim the power back from A.I. More about Julia here . Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Author of several thriller novels, former supervisory special agent Jeffrey James Higgins (The Havana Syndrome) talks about writing, conferences, and the very normal and chill job of wrestling suicide bombers... ⁠Learn more about Jeffrey. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail An open chat on poetry-to-fiction, the immigrant experience, the glory of nature, and some brief musings on the Buffalo, NY food scene with author Maria Kelson. Her debut novel “Not the Killing Kind” (Crooked Lane) is now available. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Nebula Award nominated author Yaroslav Barsukov ( Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory ) on defying genre expectations, the punishment of originality, writing “between the notes,” and always leaving the “to” field empty until you’re done with the email. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail She's sold shows to Fox (Everyday Insanity) and [redacted streamer] (redacted name of show), and now, writer Laura Bensick is entering the foray of the publishing industry as she shops her first novel. A wide-ranging chat from TV to writing books to the glory of Austin, TX. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail A career consultant for film and TV writers, Lee Jessup discusses the perils and pitfalls in this new Golden Era of Hollywood (really stretching on that “Golden” moniker…it’s an era at least!). Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail In another rare solo-hosted episode, author A.M. Adair sheds some light on hybrid publishing, her Elle Anderson book series, where grey hair might come from, and absolutely nothing about her top secret affairs as a Warrant Officer (though we asked, so you can’t blame us for trying). Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail A chat with author KT Nguyen, whose debut novel You Know What You Did released in 2024. Lots of things covered here, but the big, bold takeaway quote: “Write to discover, write to escape.” (brb, gonna trademark that) Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Michelle Daniel, solo and sans co-host (you’re welcome or we’re sorry), chats with veteran video game designer Andrew Augustin, a former Forbes “30 Under 30” pick and, if we do say, a fantastic conversationalist. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail What options are there when you hit dead ends with a TV pilot? “Produce it yourself and send the VHS tape to a network!” … yes, let us know how that goes. Meanwhile, writer Alex Blumberg will continue to transform his, the period drama “Back Fires,” into a killer podcast series. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail The multi-talented Madison Hatfield—actress (er, actor (?), we discuss that …), writer, filmmaker, champion of the ATL indie film scene, luminous person—talks shop on most things short film related, as well as her upcoming project from Walden Media, an adaptation of Robbie Couch’s bestselling novel “The Sky Blues.” Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail The marvelous storytelling oddity of writer/director Michael Felker, whose debut feature “Things Will be Different“ debuted in 2024 @ SXSW. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Co-creator of DC’s comic series “Primer,” writer of many animated TV shows, man with a difficult last name to pronounce just right, perfect beard … Tom Krajewski has it all. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Author of the espionage thriller “Landslide,” his debut novel, Adam Sikes talks shop on writing inspiration, current politics, and some rad stories only briefly interrupted by our co-host. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Why Bouchercon—for the crime/mystery (and thriller) writer crowd—is one of the best conferences of the year, from the humble perspective of HTAWW co-host Matt Joseph Misetich (sadly, Michelle couldn’t attend Bouchercon, even though she’s the one who actually, y’know, writes in this genre…). Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Self-publishing vs. trad publishing and more—including some brief notes on sushi in mountainous states—with author Puja Guha ( Sirens of Memory ; The Ahriman Legacy series). Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail Is every story a thriller? Is self-censorship still censorship? Is discourse dead? Will any of these questions be answered in a frank and compelling discussion with author/screenwriter Lee Matthew Goldberg? Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB

Send us Fan Mail A “quietly intense” chat about TV storytelling + a bts glimpse into being staffed on a series, with writer Sean Collins-Smith (Chicago PD). BONUS CONTENT, YOU’RE WELCOME: a brief exploration of Peggy from Mad Men. Follow us on: X And Pipeline Artists on: X | IG | FB