Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this week’s episode, we read chapter six! Join us as Ella’s second day at Laureldale High comes to an abrupt, and vision-plagued, end. After the reading of the chap...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this week’s episode, we read chapter five! Join us as we head back to Laureldale High with Ella for her second day and as we discuss inclusivity at school, the grou...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this week’s episode, we read chapter four! Join us as we explore similarities and differences between this writing process and the writing process for novels 1 thro...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this episode, we read chapter three! Join us as we discuss multiple POVs, how our theatre background bleeds into the writing process, and, of course, flatbread and...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this episode, we read chapter two! We also discuss choosing a voice for your narrator, aetherions vs. other supernaturals, and swearing* in YA novels. Here are the...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA author Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. In this episode, we finish reading the first chapter, discuss our plans for serial publishing and Kickstarter, and explore the similarities between werewolves and musi...

Welcome to Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time. Readers and writers alike are invited to take a look behind the veil as YA Megan O’Russell creates her newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, one episode at a time. Woo Broo is a beer crafted specially for the 2024 Three Rivers Comic Con in Pittsburgh, PA. Read more about the Initiation Well here! Chapter 1 will be published in full once...

Sometimes, life puts you on vocal rest and makes you consider alternative solutions. On this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan's husband Chris is flying solo. Tune in to hear what a day in the life of a writer's spouse is like and how Chris contributes to the business. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

How many names does it take to build a world? In this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan digs into how big a world Ilbrea has become and how the expansive nature of the Ena of Ilbrea series impacts the creation of the upcoming Ilbrean audiobooks. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

2020 taught us never to get cocky in our plans. 2021 seems determined to reinforce this lesson.  In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan digs through her plans for 2021, exposing some...mistakes, and some awesome achievements (can you say more audio?) Great things happen when you learn to accept the gifts the world smashes into your face. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at...

Hiring a narrator for an audiobook means turning over control of your characters. From how your protagonist is portrayed to how that laugh line lands, your audiobook listeners' journey through your story will be dictated by your narrator's performance. In the case of Ena of Ilbrea, her journey through a society that holds onto negative stereotypes of strong women could end in triumph or disaster d...

How many words does it take to complete a character arc with integrity while contributing to the greater narrative? How many miles can a rowboat travel along a coast in one day? How much backstory will your readers need, when do they need it, and what's the most efficient and entertaining way to offer that world building? All of these questions become monumentally important when orchestrating an e...

Planning on making that move through the wardrobe a permanent one? Here's a helpful list of questions to ask before deciding to apply for citizenship in a new fantasy world. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

It's release day for Soul of Glass, book two in the Heart of Smoke series! In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan shares the top four reasons you'll want to escape into this paranormal dystopian with chemically induced vampires...as if chemically induced vampires weren't enough of a reason. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Did you know the love interest dies on page 235? Did you want to know long before you hit the tragedy that destroyed the hero's heart? Whether you like to know the trauma ahead or want to be surprised as you turn the page, spoilers can ruin or (allegedly) improve the reader's experience. Dive into the pros and cons of knowing the plot twist in advance in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream....

From fonts to story formula, branding has a huge impact on how readers perceive authors. Whether an author presents a chipper personality or offers a stark website, every interaction with readers fosters a future relationship. As an author, it's your job to create a consistent brand that clearly tells your readers what to expect. As a reader, you (often subconsciously) interpret these cues to deci...

700 years ago, the Great King of Inisvarden did...a bunch of stuff you won't need to know about until book six, but the author is dumping the information in the first part of book one. If you've ever come across moments like this while reading, you're not alone. If you've ever come across moments like this while writing...you're NOT alone. The good news? There are many ways to avoid these info dum...

To free, or not to free... Offering the first book in your series for free can be a powerful marketing tool, but the method is neither foolproof nor danger-free. From negative stereotypes to being lost in the chaos, this episode of A Book and A Dream will give you a crash course on navigating the free-books waters. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subs...

Reviews can make or break a book, but how does an author capture these illusive unicorns? From searching for help to begging online, there are many mythical paths to reviews. But the way is dangerous.  Take the tale of my woe with you. It's dangerous to go alone! Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Are you beginning to build your writing career? Do you find humor in the unfortunate mistakes others have made? Either way, this episode of A Book and A Dream is right for you.  From learning what advice invites chaos to the importance of building a digital home base, these are the top five things Megan O'Russell wishes she'd know when she was just beginning her journey as an author. Get full acce...

From sacrificial bleaching to rebellious chopping, hair changes have long been a way of outwardly displaying internal transformations. From the sexist to the meaningful, it's time to dive back into a discussion full of tropes and truths. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Nurturing readers from buyers into fans is a long process filled with many perils. But those special fans who become advocates for their favorite books can help keep authors from feeling like they're screaming into the void. From Bookstagramming to creating social proof, dive into how unicorn readers can change an author's outlook and career. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meg...

When travel isn't possible, technology can save the day. From virtual reality to obscure documentaries, there are many possibilities for doing worthwhile research from home and exciting possibilities for readers who want to dive further into their favorite stories. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Legacy. What is a legacy? The words of an author can last long after they are gone, continuing to resonate with readers for generations. Or centuries. The concept can seem surreal. But the passing of an author, reminder of copyright law, and durability of print books can make the question of a legacy panic-inducing and immediate. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.su...

Feeling a little trapped? Staying safe has meant locking ourselves away from the world. But maybe our cages are cocoons.  From publishing new books to learning new skills, in this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell explores the transformations to carry with us as we break back out into the world. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe