Talking Book Publishing with Kathleen & Adanna

Send us Fan Mail Think publishing your book is the finish line? Think again. Many authors unknowingly make small publishing decisions that lead to poor discoverability, lost sales, rejected bookstore submissions, or even leave their work vulnerable to theft. The good news? Most of these costly mistakes are completely avoidable—if you know what to look for. On this episode of Talking Book Publishin...

Send us Fan Mail What do literary agents look for in a book proposal? Do nonfiction authors need a finished manuscript before approaching publishers? And how important are comp titles and author platforms when it comes to landing a traditional publishing deal? In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty welcome book proposal expert Debra Eckerling to demystify...

Send us Fan Mail AI is one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—tools in publishing right now. In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , we sit down with Julie Trelstad to explore how authors can use AI as a creative partner , not a replacement. From writing workflows to marketing strategy and author rights , this conversation breaks down what’s actually useful—and what to avoid. Julie sh...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the querying process—you’re not alone. In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Patrick McDonald, the creator of QueryTracker—the platform that has become the gold standard for querying literary agents. What started as one writer trying to organize his own submissions has grown into one of the most trusted to...

Send us Fan Mail Are authors about to be replaced by AI — or empowered by it? Publishing technology expert Thad McIlroy joins Talking Book Publishing to explain how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the publishing industry — and why authors who understand these tools now may have a major advantage. Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the publishing industry — from writing and ed...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Naomi Kim Eagleson , writer, editor, and founder of The Artful Editor , for a deep dive into the full editing journey—whether you’re self-publishing or going the traditional route. Naomi takes us through her four-phase editing model and explains why many manuscripts spend too long in “line-edit pu...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna welcome Mary Vensel White, author, editor, publisher, and Orange County president of the California Writers Club. Mary shares her multidimensional expertise in publishing and digs into one of the most elusive topics for authors: book marketing . She brings a refreshingly honest and practical perspect...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with one of the industry’s most respected voices in author publicity and media coaching: Kim Dower. As the founder of Kim-from-L.A. Literary & Media Services, Kim has spent over 40 years helping writers become not just authors, but compelling public speakers. She’s also an award-winning poet and co...

Send us Fan Mail In this jam-packed episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty sit down with book marketing powerhouse Penny Sansevieri for a revealing discussion on how Amazon's evolving landscape affects authors today. Penny, a longtime expert in Amazon optimization, returns to the podcast with timely insights on her latest release, The Amazon Author Form...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty chat with William Ramsey — true crime author, documentary filmmaker, and host of the top-ranked podcast William Ramsey Investigates. With over 1,300 episodes and five books to his name, William knows a thing or two about building a platform. He shares how he turned podcast guest spots into a thriving n...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Ross Rojek, editor and publisher of City Book Review, to explore the inner workings of the book review industry. Ross shares the journey of launching City Book Review in Sacramento in 2008 and evolving it into a network of review sites across eight U.S. cities, plus a special platform...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with memoir expert Wendy Dale to explore the art and architecture of writing memoirs. Wendy introduces her transformative approach to storytelling through her "Memoir Engineering System," which emphasizes writing with structure and clarity from the very first draft. Listeners will discover th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with renowned entertainment attorney Clair Burrill, whose new book Attorney to the Stars offers an inside look into his decades-long career representing some of the biggest names in music, film, and television. From his early days as a musician to becoming a top entertainment lawyer, Clair shares capti...

Send us Fan Mail In this gripping episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Jane Howatt, author of Jigsaw and Jane: 13 Years of Murder and Mayhem with Badge Number One .  Jane shares the incredible story of how a single newspaper article led her into the world of homicide detective John St. John, the LAPD’s legendary investigator known as "Jigsaw John." What s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty sit down with branding and marketing expert Jeniffer Thompson to discuss how authors can build a strong brand, navigate social media, and boost visibility in a crowded marketplace. Jeniffer, the founder of Monkey C Media , shares how to identify your audience, leverage influencers, and create a...

Send us Fan Mail Join Kathleen and Adanna as they chat with the incredible Theasa Tuohy. From her groundbreaking work as one of the early women in journalism to her remarkable journey into fiction writing, Theasa’s story is full of inspiration and adventure. Her novels, including Flying Jenny and Five O’Clock Follies , reflect her rich life experiences, which she masterfully weaves into her fictio...

Send us Fan Mail Kathleen and Adanna welcome award-winning cover designer Eric Labacz to Talking Book Publishing for an engaging discussion on the art and strategy of book cover design. From his beginnings in graphic arts to becoming a trusted designer for publishers and indie authors, Eric shares how his experiences shape his unique approach to every project. This conversation explores why a book...

Send us Fan Mail Hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Victoria Strauss, co-founder of Writer Beware, to uncover the alarming and evolving world of author scams. For over 25 years, Victoria has been critical in exposing fraudulent schemes targeting writers, from fee-charging literary agents and deceptive vanity publishers to dubious marketing offers. In this episode of Talking Book Publishing ,...

Send us Fan Mail Hey friends! In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna sit down with indie author and Amazon ads expert Sonja Dewing. Trust us—you don’t want to miss it! Sonja spills all the details about her journey from traditional publishing roadblocks to thriving as a self-published author. She shares how her first book, Toy of the Gods , overcame early rejection to beco...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , your hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty, both seasoned professionals in the publishing industry, invite you into a fascinating conversation with renowned crime novelist and screenwriter Duane Swierczynski. From his early dreams of writing horror to becoming a celebrated mystery author, Duane shares the emotional rollercoaster of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing , hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Leslie Lehr, an experienced author and writing consultant, to demystify the art of crafting effective query letters. Leslie, a successful author with a diverse career journey, shares her insights and experiences, from novel and screenwriting to becoming a well-known expert in developing compelling...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna engage in a delightful conversation with accomplished author Ilona Joy Saari. Ilona discusses her latest release, The Wrong Station , the third book in the Mystery Chronicles of New York Women series. The story follows the adventures of Lorna, a videographer who finds herself in a precarious situation after acci...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, co-hosts Kathleen and Adanna engage in a captivating conversation with accomplished author Robin Gerber. Robin, renowned for her works on Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Graham, and Ruth Handler, shares her unique journey from writing columns to becoming a published author and renowned speaker. The conversation delves into how Robin's...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna explore the transformative potential of AI in book marketing. Drawing from their experiences and recent client projects, they highlight how tools like ChatGPT can simplify and enhance authors' marketing efforts. They delve into practical applications, such as generating book descriptions, creating social media co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna participate in a fascinating conversation with Lina Hart, the author of “The Spectral Series,” a sci-fi supernatural romance series. Lina's unique journey to becoming an indie author, shaped by her lifelong love for sci-fi, particularly Star Trek, is sure to inspire. She shares insights into the intricacies...