Pencils&Lipstick podcast

In this episode I'm chatting with Stacia Lowe about how she built an author career by combining her passions for storytelling, knitting, and financial literacy while raising four sons. She discusses writing middle grade novels inspired by her family, growing a loyal readership through her newsletter, and why embracing the "slow and steady" approach has helped her build a sustainable writing busine...

Neil and Kat discuss Neil's journey from traditionally published author to successful indie novelist, exploring why he writes across mystery and romance without using multiple pen names and how publishing has evolved over the past two decades. They also dive into the ethical use of AI for editing, marketing, cover design, and book translations, sharing practical ways authors can use new technology...

Get ready for Summer! I have a bunch of interviews lined up for you! To start things off, we have Shimrit Hanes. She spent most of her life as a professional musician but has taken to writing now. Check out more about her (and get her books) at https://shimrithanes.com/ Sign up for Becky's newsletter at https://www.beckythebookcoach.com/ Sign up for the Book Finisher's Summit here : http://bit.ly/...

Be sure to check out Becky's website at https://www.beckythebookcoach.com/ . Get on her newsletter and check out her free resources. Today we are talking about the things that you can do this summer to practice or start your marketing. Please tag Becky (@ beckythebookcoach ) and me ( @author_katcaldwell) if you are trying social media this summer! We would love to support you! Here are some things...

Matty Dalrymple (DAL-rim-ple) is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. ​Matty also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as  The Indy Author , and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of...

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has started, managed, and owned multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management. He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books, articles, and blogs to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain. Find...

Laura Cheever writes fantasy novels with strong Christian themes and an emphasis on romance within seasoned marriages. She is the author of Chosen of the Tapestry, Lost King of the Pattern, Mending and Madness, and A Hoard of Tales. She lives in rural Wyoming with her husband, Andrew, and their four children, the legendary makers of mischief and shenanigans. Find out more...

This week on Craft&Connect we continue our chat about Ideal Readers, this time focusing on where to find them If you missed the worksheet from last marketing episode, you can find that here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kBQ9FpRY0EztvNELzTCqFb0q7N3AuMIf/copy The worksheet for this week is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pDpNfIl08-IZUyKXakWhBq6zCM6jWq9f/copy Check out Bookfunnel.com...

You can find Henry on his Virtual Pulp website ( https://www.virtualpulppress.com ) and on Amazon.com . His comic Threat Quotient is live on Kickstarter right now. Check it out here. And he writes on Substack as Machine Trooper ( https://substack.com/@machinetrooper ) and on Twitter as MachineTrooper. Find Next, Love on www.amazon.com/Next-Love-Kat-Caldwell-ebook/dp/B0D95Y6G56/ or add it to your T...

Every quarter we need to reevaluate what we can and CANNOT accomplish as writers. This episode is that episode. Get my latest book! https://www.amazon.com/Next-Love-Kat-Caldwell-ebook/dp/B0D95Y6G56 Grab the free chapter one from HIS pov (book starts with her pov) here: http://www.katcaldwell.com/jameson-pov Check out Sara Cannon: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartBreathings Get 2k to 10k: https://www....

In this episode I'm talking about how unpredictable this whole indie author journey is, how you can put in a ton of effort and still not get the results you expected, and how so much of it is out of your control. I keep coming back to the idea that you often just don’t know  why something works or doesn’t. So instead of spiraling or reacting out of frustration, let's focus on the stuff we can...

Figuring out your ideal reader is key to running your book business. It's key to marketing! Today Becky and I discuss Ideal Readers, how to figure out who they are and why it is necessary to take some time to really define them. If you're looking for the worksheet to help you, you can grab it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kBQ9FpRY0EztvNELzTCqFb0q7N3AuMIf/copy Be sure to make some strid...

Let's talk about Reader Magnets. Because they're on my mind as I try to come up with some for my next novel, Next, Love. Everyone always says to slap together a short story or offer "deleted" scenes... but can't we get a little more creative than that? And what kind of short story should we come up with? I have some ideas today just for you. And if you want the pdf, you can sign up for my newslett...

This week I'm talking with Molly Arbuthnott about writing picture books, working with illustrators and creative ways to get our books in front of the reader (including traveling...!) You can find more about Molly here: https://www.mollyarbuthnott.co.uk/about/ and you can find her books here (audios as well) https://oscartheferrycat.co.uk/product-category/books/ Y0u can listen to one of her books h...

Today I am talking with Matt Stone from 100covers.com . We chat about how to find the right cover, how an author should approach cover art, how to work with a graphic artist and more. 100covers.com has grown in the past few years. They are a large group of graphic artists ready to create a masterpiece for you book. Check out heir portfolio at 100covers.com . Be sure to use code KAT to get 50% off....

Maite Dalila is a Squarespace website designer who works exclusively with authors. She has built 20+ author websites for debut novelists, querying writers, and self-publishing authors across fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. Before specializing in author websites, Maite spent 12 years designing for brands like Walt Disney, Nike, and Samsung. She brings that same strategy, story structure,...

This week Becky and I talk about the Core Marketing Values, why they're important and how to choose them. I'm the guinea pig this week. Let's see how I do! Every third Monday of every month, Becky Grogan ( https://www.beckythebookcoach.com/ ) will be joining me to talk about book marketing. Sign up for the first Craft&Connect live here: https://tidycal.com/writeyourlife/craft-and-connect-live-marc...

Jessica Snyder started out editing for the traditional romance publishers. She had since moved into independent editing and has created the HEA club where Romance Writers can connect and learn about their craft. She has worked with authors like Lucy Score and Carly Bloom as well as many indie romance authors. Be sure to check out her HEA Club here: https://heaauthorservices.com/services/the-hea-cl...

Nidhi Kona is a versatile professional who wears many hats and offers a refreshing perspective on topics that matter the most. As a molecular biologist, she brings her scientific expertise to the table. As a scientific writer, she crafts compelling content that breaks complex research into simple, inspiring insights. And as the author of the nonfiction personal transformation book 'Unshakeable You...

In this episode of  Pencils and Lipstick , I sat down with Jake Lynch to talk about his unexpected journey into writing Christian fiction. He shared how a moment in Isaiah prompted him to write his first novel and how he now builds stories around intentional themes—taking characters from problem to solution. We dove into crafting meaningful character arcs, writing with the reader in mind, and...

Welcome to the first episode of Craft and Connect, the marketing show on Pencils&Lipstick with Becky Grogan and Kat Caldwell! Today we are talking about the pillars of marketing that will construct the foundation of any other marketing you will do as an author. This is a very important step to NOT skip! We have several resources (as promised) for you below: https://katcaldwell.com/author-brand-wor...

Today I'm speaking with Melanie Anagnos about being a police procedural author. Melanie received an MFA from Sarah Lawrence, and although she started writing a literary novel, she ended up in the crime genre. We talk all about MFAs, genre fiction, how to do research and more on this week's Pencils&Lipstick. Find out more about Melanie: https://melanieanagnos.com/author/ Melanie's Substack https://...

Welcome to the Pencils&Lipstick Book Marketing Hour! We will be here every month...and we will be working on that title... Every third Monday of every month, Becky Grogan ( https://www.beckythebookcoach.com/ ) will be joining me to talk about book marketing. In this episode we go through what we will be handling, we you can expect and when as well as the dates for the LIVE marketing Q&As that we w...

Here are the links for the books, websites and classes I mention in the episode. LiveWriteThrive.com has a LOT of great courses on writing. Reedsy.com/learning is also a great source. Get on their newsletter! My character development courses: https://katcaldwell.com/character-masterclass and https://katcaldwell.com/Whats-a-character My scene development courses: https://writeyourstory.thrivecart.c...

Once you type The End on your manuscript, the real work begins: editing. But editing is not just re-reading and tweaking a few words here and there. Editing involves some deep work. So let's get into the top five tips I have for writer, indie or traditional, for polishing their book to the best potential. Be sure to check out CS Lakin at LiveWriteThrive.com and find my masterclass Building a Story...