Literary Prospects

Author Cynthia Weiner talks with Kelley Vick about her debut novel, A Gorgeous Excitement, her personal connection to the story and the infamous “Preppy Murder” in New York in 1986, how she knew when the short story she was working on was really a novel, finding your voice as an author (it starts with really knowing your narrator), and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other...

Author Tara Dorabji talks with Kelley Vick about her debut novel, Call Her Freedom , how researching her first novel led to an award-winning documentary series on human rights defenders in Kashmir, how her work as an activist and journalist informs her fiction and vice versa, her unique road to publication as the winner of the Simon and Schuster Books Like Us Grand Prize, and much more.      *For...

New York Times bestselling Author Fiona Davis talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, The Stolen Queen , how an international art plot involving Kim Kardashian inspired the story, what draws her to historical fiction, how she found her way to writing fiction later in life, why she believes everyone should change careers every 10 years, and much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and...

Author Jennifer McGaha talks with Kelley Vick about her new essay collection, The Joy Document , the conversation with her grandmother that inspired the project, defining moments of joy, writing as a spiritual practice, how her latest project has changed her, her road to publication, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Pro...

Author Sara Reish Desmond talks with Kelley Vick about her debut story collection, What We Might Become, what fascinates her about liminal spaces, why she loves the short form, publishing with a “teaching press,” her best advice for aspiring authors, and much more.  *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books featured o...

Book publicist Leah Paulos talks with Kelley Vick about her latest project: Book Publicity School, what every author should do as early as possible to lay the groundwork for promotion, the connection between publicity and book sales, what works and what doesn’t for authors on social media, and much more. *Book Publicity School: https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/ *For literary shirts, totes and g...

 Authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson – known together as A.D. Rhine – talk with Kelley Vick about their sophomore novel, Daughters of Bronze, what made the m want to retell the epic story of the Iliad from the Trojan women’s perspective, the real historical figures who inspired the characters, the blurry line between history and mythology, writing as a team (even though they have vastly dif...

Author Sarah Seltzer talks with Kelley Vick about her debut novel, The Singer Sisters , the concert that inspired the story, her journey from draft to publication, what she learned in a low-residency MFA program, her work as Executive Editor of Lilith Magazine, how art intersects with motherhood, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new...

Author and educator Courtney Maum talks with Kelley Vick about creating the indispensable publishing guide, Before and After the Book Deal , what authors should look out for when signing book contracts, the biggest mistake she sees in query letters, her own writing process and road to publication, preserving the joy in making art, and much, much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and oth...

Author Julia Dahl talks with Kelley Vick about her latest crime thriller, I Dreamed of Falling , why she describes the story as a “family drama wrapped in a murder mystery,” the personal experience that inspired the novel, her favorite characters to write, her best advice for aspiring authors, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Li...

Author and Poet Ananda Lima talks with Kelley Vick about her acclaimed fiction debut, Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil, how a self-described “wimp” who’s afraid of scary movies ended up writing horror, what fascinates her about the devil, how her poetry informs her fiction (and vice versa), learning to trust her own instincts as a writer, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts,...

Author Anna Rasche talks with Kelley Vick about her debut novel, The Stone Witch of Florence , how her work as a gemologist and jewelry historian inspired the book, the road to publishing her first novel, learning to sell herself as an author, and much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books featured on the po...

Author Lynda Cohen Loigman talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, the family stories that inspired the novel, her unconventional writing process, writing magical realism, and much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books featured on the podcast and other curated booklists,...

Author and multiple Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin talks with Kelley Vick about his debut novel, Showmance , making the leap from writing for Broadway to writing a novel, the importance of romantic comedies, working with Meryl Streep, his best advice for aspiring authors, and much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop...

Author Kimberly Brock talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, The Fabled Earth, what draws her to writing about southern folklore and ghosts, the sordid history of Cumberland Island that inspired the novel, her cyclical approach to storytelling, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books featured o...

Author Marissa Stapley talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, The Lightning Bottles, what drew her to writing about the 90’s grunge music scene, why we glorify male singers and vilify their female counterparts, making the jump from author to screenwriter, the specific snacks that keep her energy up while working on multiple projects, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and...

Author Iman Hariri-Kia talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, The Most Famous Girl in the World, America’s fascination with anti-heroes, why she thinks this is the story she was always meant to write, balancing writing a novel with a full-time journalism career, what we can all do to help to make sure novels with diverse protagonists make it into the spotlight, and much more.    *For literary...

Author Madeline Martin talks with Kelley Vick about her latest novel, The Booklover’s Library, the real-life English library that inspired the book (and the odd law that had women refusing to get married so they could keep working there!), what draws her to historical fiction, why she felt compelled to explore the stigmas and challenges of single motherhood in this book, how she builds out her cha...

Author Chelsea Bieker talks with Kelley Vick about her latest novel, Madwoman; the personal story that drove her to write about motherhood, domestic violence…and grocery stores;  what she knows now that she wishes she’d known before publishing her first book; and much more.    *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books...

Author Tess Callahan talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel Dawnland, the connection between meditation and art, how constraint breeds creativity, and much more.    *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop . *For books featured on the podcast and other curated booklists, check out our online store at Bookshop.org,  Literary P...

Author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn talks with Kelley Vick about her new novel, Till Death Do Us Part, what draws her to domestic thrillers, how she takes a novel from initial idea to final draft, the excitement and panic of getting a multiple-book deal, what keeps her writing, and much more. *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospects Shop ....

Author Sean Scott talks with Kelley Vick about his new superhero novel, TeleKid Begins; how a passion project created for his son grew into something much bigger; the ways his background as an art gallery owner and musician informs his writing; important things he’s learned in his journey through independent publishing (with specific tips); and much more! You can get your copy of TeleKid Begins at...

Author Sarah Easter Collins talks with Kelley Vick about her debut literary thriller, Things Don’t Break on Their Own, how she plays with the expectations of clued-up thriller readers, the ways in which her work as a painter informs her writing, her inspiring road to publication, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools for writers, check out our new Literary Prospec...

Author Samuel Kolawole talks with Kelley Vick about his critically acclaimed debut novel, The Road to the Salt Sea; why he wants to shed light on the often overlooked problem of trans-Saharan migration; how, as an immersive writer, he conducted research for a book in which his characters go places that he could not; why he likes unusual character names; his decision to pursue a PhD in Creative Wri...

Author Gila Pfeffer talks with Kelley Vick about her debut memoir Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences, becoming the oldest living member of her family at 30, taking control of her health, how she finally acknowledged herself as a writer, building a community of writers, growing a following, and much more.   *For literary shirts, totes and gifts, and other tools fo...