Margs & Manuscripts

A conversation about publishing quickly turned into something bigger. After discussing author scams, we sat down with Bitty Balducci to talk about indie publishing, traditional publishing, BookTok, gatekeeping, and why so many authors feel like they're navigating the industry completely alone. We discuss:  Why Bitty chose indie publishing   Querying frustrations   Long traditional publishing...

What happens when the scam emails stop looking like scams? This week we're joined by author Bitty Balducci to talk about the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting indie authors. From fake HarperCollins editors and fraudulent book clubs to AI-generated audiobook narrators and manuscript theft, the stories are far more convincing than most authors realize. Bitty shares scams she personally...

What happens when your characters know the story before you do? This week, we sit down with romance author Lauren Okie to talk about discovery writing, outlining, second drafts, and learning to trust your creative instincts. From writing Tropesick while querying her debut novel to protecting the creative spark in a publishing industry full of distractions, Lauren shares an honest look at the reali...

What happens when a five-year situationship finally ends and leaves you wondering what comes next? For author Alissa DeRogatis, the answer was writing the book she couldn't find on the shelf. In this episode, we chat with Alissa about turning heartbreak into storytelling, self-publishing Call It What You Want , selling tens of thousands of copies, signing with Sourcebooks, and building a care...

Episode Summary What started as an Instagram friendship turned into a podcast, a publishing journey, and now a live book launch celebration. In this special first-ever live recording of Margs & Manuscripts , Jenna sits down with co-host Cait Waynelovich to celebrate the release of her debut novel, Places We'll Go . Together, they look back on the unexpected path that brought them here—fro...

Romance author Sara Ney joins us for one of the funniest and most unfiltered conversations we’ve had on the podcast yet. From writing 50+ romance novels and navigating BookTok-driven publishing trends to hockey romance, favorite tropes, spicy scenes, and rapid-release writing schedules, Sara pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to build a long-term career in romance publishing. We...

Mom influencers. Midwest family dynamics. Wisconsin supper clubs. Postpartum anxiety. Parenting pressure. Somehow, Claire Swinarski wrapped all of it into one of the most emotionally honest books we’ve read this year. In this episode, we sit down with bestselling author Claire Swinarski to talk about her newest novel, The Supper Club Saints — a story about a young mother returning home to Wisconsi...

What if the story we’ve been told about the American Revolution is only half the picture? In this episode, we sit down with bestselling authors Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray—the powerhouse duo behind America’s First Daughter , My Dear Hamilton , and their newest release, A Founding Mother . Known for bringing history’s most overlooked women to life, they’ve built a career on telling the stories...

What happens when a group chat turns into a published fantasy series? This week, we’re joined by E.B. Asher—aka Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka—the trio behind one of the most fun, chaotic, and genuinely entertaining cozy romantasy series out right now. We get into how their books This Will Be Fun and This Will Be Interesting were born out of a years-long group chat,...

AI in publishing is getting loud—and not always helpful Everyone has an opinion about AI right now, especially in the publishing and writing world. But instead of thoughtful conversations, what we’re seeing is a lot of noise, fear-based takes, and people rushing to pick a side. In this episode, we’re not here to give a definitive answer on AI. We’re here to talk about what’s actually bothering us...

Let’s just say it: writing sex scenes is weird… until it’s not. In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts , we sit down with author Susan Ferber to talk about how to write sex scenes , why they matter in storytelling, and what separates a good scene from one that completely pulls the reader out. This isn’t a “how spicy should your book be” conversation. It’s about craft —how intimacy functions in...

What happens when you finally finish your book… and then immediately spiral? In this episode, we sit down with Meg Rosenthal to talk about the very real anxiety that comes with putting your work into the world. From 2am panic spirals to the vulnerability of “bleeding on the page,” we unpack the emotional weight of publishing, the fear of critique, and the unexpected mental load that no one warns y...

What happens when a nightmare turns into a full-blown thriller novel? This week on Margs & Manuscripts , we’re joined by Calvin Naraghi, indie author of House Rules , to talk all things thriller writing, horror inspiration, and the very unhinged ways authors come up with ideas. From waking up in a cold sweat with a fully formed plot to building stories around music and cinematic moments, Calvi...

In Part 2 of our conversation with author Jourdana Webber, we go deeper into the reality of building an author career from the ground up—no gatekeeping, no shortcuts, just figuring it out as you go. We talk about what it actually looks like to put yourself out there (spoiler: it’s uncomfortable), how Jourdana landed her book in Times Square, and why asking the right questions can change everything...

In this episode, we’re raising a glass (literally) to indie author success with bestselling author Jourdana Webber , whose debut novel Unconventionally, Elle has taken the indie publishing world by storm. Jourdana joins us to talk about her journey from corporate life to writing swoony, heartfelt contemporary romance, and how she built her author career by learning the business side of publishing....

What is it actually like to be a literary agent? In this special collaboration episode, we’re joined by Tali and Lauren from The Prose Pros for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about agenting, publishing, querying, and what authors often misunderstand about the industry. This is not an episode about how to get a literary agent. It’s a candid look at what literary agents do, what their inb...

In this engaging conversation, Jess Taylor shares her journey of opening an online bookstore dedicated to young adult literature and her role as a literary agent. The discussion explores the evolution of YA fiction, the importance of addressing banned books, and the unique challenges of running a bookstore in a digital age. Jess emphasizes the joy of connecting with readers and authors alike, high...

In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts, we’re joined by Alyssa K. Burns—journalist, author, MBA, elder emo, and one of the most supportive humans in the writing community. Alyssa’s debut novel releases April 1, and she’s sharing the real story behind how she got here… including the moment she decided she was done waiting for permission and went all-in on indie publishing. We talk through the d...

We got put in Instagram jail… then spiraled into a Galentine’s deep dive on FMCs: agency, tropes, and ACOTAR takes. We got put in Instagram jail (for extremely writer reasons)… and then pivoted into a Galentine’s Day episode about female main characters (FMCs): why so many female protagonists feel frustrating in fantasy romance, romantasy, and contemporary romance, and what actually makes a great...

Four authors sit down to say the quiet part out loud: marketing yourself as an author is exhausting. We talk social media pressure, algorithm burnout, batching content, comparison spirals, and how to promote your book when you don’t even have a product yet. No gatekeeping—just honest writer chaos, big feelings, and a reminder that community is the point. With special guests, friends of the pod, an...

This week, we’re not airing our scheduled episode. We couldn’t. In this unfiltered, off-schedule conversation, we talk honestly about why continuing as normal felt wrong and how writing, reading, and storytelling have always existed as responses to power, fear, and collapse. We discuss: why silence isn’t neutral for creators writing during rage, grief, and political overwhelm books as resistance (...

Getting a literary agent is supposed to feel like the moment—but no one really talks about what it’s actually like when it finally happens. In this bonus episode, we sit down with Crystal to talk through her real querying journey: nearly 90 queries, revise & resubmits, unexpected phone calls, multiple agent offers, and the emotional whiplash that comes with all of it. We talk about the envy no...

Romance Novels Are the #1 Bestselling Genre—Here's Why | Heated Rivalry Review, Book Recs & Publishing Trends How did romance become the bestselling fiction genre? From bodice rippers to contemporary romance to romantasy—romance novels have evolved alongside feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and what readers want from love stories. In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts, we talk with Crystal L...

Traditional publishing vs indie publishing, how do you choose as a writer when you’re burned out, mid-edits, or stuck in the querying spiral? In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts, we talk honestly about querying agents, full requests, developmental editors, self-publishing, creative control, money, and the emotional whiplash of publishing decisions. We’re not experts...we’re writers in the m...

Imposter syndrome: the uninvited co-author on every writing project. In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts , we’re digging into what it really means to feel like a fraud as a writer, no matter where you are in the process. We’re joined by Lindsey Goldstein, author of the upcoming novel Gap Year (out February 3), for an honest conversation about self-doubt, comparison, confidence, and why publ...