The Florida Writer Podcast

Using few words to say a lot is how suspense/thriller novelist Liz Lazarus writes her kill-scenes. In one novel, it's only 5 words. Enjoy this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast as host Alison Nissen and Liz chat about leaving more to the imagination to build tension, finding mentors to help your writing journey, and using real-life stories to create villains.  Liz Lazarus graduated from T he G...

Before you write your book, ask yourself 2questions:  Who is the ONE person who needs to read this book? Why do they need to read it NOW?  Dr. Cindy Childress and Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen discuss the important questions of audience, book type, and first chapters when writing non-fiction. Using her years of experience, Dr. Cindy helps clients find their voice and rhythm and superpo...

The secret to writing self-help books? Life Experience! Helping people get in touch with their emotions is song-writer turned best-selling course creator and author Mary Joye's passion. On this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and Mary chat about how you can't fake your emotions, but you can avoid burnout by checking your motives. If you are doing too much for too many, you'll risk becom...

Want to give a gift to a writer in your life? Give the gift of a book review. Sweet romance and non-fiction author Kerry Evelyn shares how book reviews and a journal help keep her going when she's struggling to finish that Work-in-Progress in this Florida Writer Podcast conversation with host Alison Nissen .  Kerry Evelyn is the author of  the Crane's Cove series , #sweetresortromance set in Coast...

What happens when someone who is addicted to books decides to write a memoir? He gets naked. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and bestselling author Mark Scarbrough discuss how to make a story compelling for the audience by getting nakedly honest. Mark Scarbrough is the author of more than 30 cookbooks, has made countless national television appearances cooking up a storm and lau...

John Chaplick's fundamental writing principle is that each story should take the reader on an intriguing journey to a new and different place with unique characters facing unexpected obstacles. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and John chat about learning to climb the metaphorical writing mountain and mastering the character arc through perseverance. John Chaplick , BA, MBA CPA,...

Publicist turned author Katie Schnack stops by the Florida Writer Podcast to chat with host Alison Nissen about giving birth to a book and raising it from idea to market.  Katie Schnack is the author of The Gap Decade: When You're Technically An Adult But Really Don't Feel Like it Yet , a quirky and honest chronicle about the awkward realities of living in that gap between adolescence and adulthoo...

Does each of your characters have enough motivation to be the antagonist? Take a tip of mystery novelist Shannon Work , and make sure all the characters can be found guilty...then work backward from there. In this conversation with Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen , Shannon shares her techniques to ensure the audience remains guessing whodunit throughout the entire novel.  Shannon Work gr...

After reaching 350 Amazon Reviews for his Devil's Bookkeeper series, Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen chats with Literary Fiction and Children's author Mark Newhouse about writing about hard things, self-promotion, social media, and the Florida Writers Association Youth group.  Mark Newhouse's journey begins when he was born in Germany after his parents were freed from Auschwitz and Buche...

Writing Non-Fiction is HARD! You are writing your book to share something with the world. Start with what is easy then build that muscle. You can't run a marathon on the first day of training. In this edition of The Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen and non-fiction ghostwriter & book coach Chrissy Das, Alison and Chrissy chat about non-fiction blogging, ghostwriting, and flexing a "wr...

Writers often dive into research. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with Wendy Samford, author of the upcoming book The First Wrinkle about adults who were raised in the foster care system in the United States. Wendy believes there's a whole lot more good than bad in the world and we can find a way to be a part of the change in the hidden epidemic we call abus...

How do you become immortal? Be a student in Ann Brooks's 3rd-grade class. Psychological Thriller author Ann Brooks has branched into the territory of Young Adult Fantasy inspired by her students. When they discovered she was an author, they wanted in--of course, they aren't quite YA readers yet, but in a few short years, they will discover themselves on the page. Listen to the whole story in this...

Mystery writers think differently. When they walk to the beach, they consider multiple ways a body or two might wash up on a beach. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with 2019 RPLA Mystery and Suspense Writer of the Year JC Gatlin . Discover his process for plotting and avoiding writer's block and some lessons on creating your own book tour, the 2021 edition....

Curious about #PitchWars and #PitMad on Twitter? Don't know what it is or want to learn more? In this week's edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen  chats with  Sarah Nicolas about these Twitter events along with Sarah's top 4 things every writer's website needs and how to create spectacular book covers.   Sarah Nicolas is a recovering mechanical engineer, library event planner,...

What do you do when you look at the bookshelves and don't see any books that "speak to you?" You write them! In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with MJ Fievre about her self-empowerment books for black girls and young adults: The Badass Black Girl series. MJ Fievre is the bestselling author of the Badass Black Girl series which addresses issues of concern for B...

Hear an interesting lyric? Have an earworm stuck in your head? Try using CJ Juliao's technique of crafting a story around music. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with CJ about how his characters evolve as he has in both his writing and personal life.  CJ Juliao has always been someone lost in his imagination. Where others around him are usually grounded in re...

E.J. Wenstrom, author of FWA's 2016 Florida Writer Published Book of the Year for MUD is at it again with a new Young Adult dystopian world. In this Florida Writer Podcast episode, host Alison Nissen and E.J. discuss the messiness of world-building and the satisfaction of getting it right by sticking with it, using Beta readers, multiple revisions, and encouraging rejections.   E.J. Wenstrom belie...

Building your platform and gathering reviews are taxing, but often writers find writing the back cover blurb to be the most challenging. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with Silver Grove Publication's Marketing Manager Jennifer Quick about how to get out of your head and think like a consumer.  Jennifer Quick is the Social Media and Marketing Manager for Sil...

Don't be shy! In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast , host Alison Nissen speaks with Vince Warnock, author of Chasing the Insights, on digital marketing, overcoming imposter syndrome, and growing your tribe. As both a marketing expert and published author, Vince helps us discover ways to build a team that will champion our book.  Vince Warnock is an award-winning marketer, author, marketin...

Want to write a screenplay but don't know how to get started? Do you want to be taken seriously as a screenwriter? Should you publish a novel before selling your screenplay? Discover the answers to these questions and more as Florida Writer Podcast Host Alison Nissen chats with screenplay writer and award-winning author Jennie Jarvis about screenwriting and more! Jennie Jarvis is an award-winning...

Jose Pablo Iriarte's short story success lies in his ability to create texture from memories. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with Jose about his new position of Director-at-Large for the Science Fiction Writers of America and how to build layers of quality prose by combining past experiences and today's emotions. José Pablo Iriarte is a Cuban-American write...

In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with poet Andy N about how he used his creativity to overcome dyspraxia by focusing on the benefits of writing poetry and ambient music.   Andy N is the author of five poetry collections, the most recent being Haiku of Life and an ambient musician recording under the name Ocean in a Bottle. He also hosts the podcasts Spoken La...

Jimi Fritz's newest book Confessions of an Ethical drug Dealer is a psychedelic travelogue and memoir that takes creative non-fiction to a whole other level. Jimi's advice: write the stories you want to write and edit along the way.  Jimi Fritz is a filmmaker, musician, writer, entrepreneur, roustabout, and trick cyclist extraordinaire. He's written two feature-length screenplays, numerous article...

Want to write a novel but feel the overpowering weight of its commitment? Consider using Bill Cook's logic of writing the literary equivalent of a bag of potato chips--one more chip, one more chapter.   William J. Cook is the author of The Driftwood Mysteries (3 novels and 1 short story) set on the Oregon coast. The latest in the series, Dungeness and Dragons , was published during the pandemic in...

There's no secret formula to finding agent representation. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with Elle Ire about publishing, strong protagonists, and how she generates fresh ideas. Elle Ire writes science fiction featuring kick-ass women who fall in love with each other. Her first novel, Vicious Circle , released from Torquere Press in November, 2015, and was rereleased in J...