The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

This week, Carly and CeCe dive into major shifts in publishing—from quiet updates to the ‘ New York Times’ bestseller list to growing concerns about editors using AI behind the scenes. Carly and CeCe unpack what these changes signal about industry trends, including the rise of audiobooks and the decline of mass market paperbacks. They also tackle the controversy around manuscripts being fed into A...

This week on Books with Hooks, Bianca , CeCe and Carly break down two query letters—and pull no punches. From missing plot lines to overstuffed author bios, they highlight the biggest mistakes writers make when pitching their work. They dig into why subplots don’t belong in queries, how vague “vibes” kill momentum, and why your protagonist must think on the page—not just act. Plus: the danger of p...

It’s chaos in publishing—and Carly and CeCe are breaking it all down. From the AI controversy behind Shy Girl to growing fears around trust, authorship, and what readers actually want. They get real and talk about layoffs, imprint closures, and what it means for writers navigating an already tough landscape. Plus: the reality of editor turnover, the flood of self-published books, and why literary...

A double author interview you don’t want to miss! Bestselling author Beth O’Leary breaks down her signature approach to writing high-concept, emotionally grounded romance—starting with a compelling “what if” hook and building outward into layered characters, structure, and setting. She shares how ‘ The Name Game’ evolved from a simple premise into a complex, multi-POV narrative with intentional us...

March’s bonus episode is jam packed. We start off with an engaging conversation, Bianca speaks with author Kerry Clare about her latest novel, 'Definitely Thriving.' They explore the inspirations behind the book, including the influence of Barbara Pym and Rebecca Solnit , and discuss the complexities of writing, character development, and the importance of community and female empowerment...

This week’s Books with Hooks gets real. The hosts dissect two query letters — one with a jaw-dropping horror premise and another that sparks big conversations about comps, pacing, and giving away too much too soon. From believable character choices to the difference between strong writing vs strong storytelling, this episode is packed with blunt, actionable feedback emerging writers need to hear....

Publishing isn’t broken… or is it? This week, Carly and CeCe unpack the explosive reaction to last episode—burnout, disillusionment, and the uncomfortable truths no one wants to say out loud. Plus: a stat that proves a tiny group of readers is carrying the entire industry (yikes). They also call out London Book Fair myths, Instagram fatigue, and why long-form thinking is making a comeback. Note: C...

In this week’s episode, bestselling author J.R. Ward —creator of the wildly popular ‘ Black Dagger Brotherhood’ series—joins the show to talk about her new romantasy novel ‘ Crown of War and Shadow’ and the evolution of fantasy romance. J.R. and Bianca explore the difference between paranormal romance and romantasy, why collectible book editions are booming, and how immersive worlds help readers e...

In this week’s Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe bounce from industry gossip to big philosophical questions about publishing. They announce an exciting live podcast recording at the ' When Words Collide 2026’ conference in Calgary and share what’s buzzing around the London Book Fair—from politics and AI to the state of nonfiction. The conversation gets deeper when they unpack a viral Reddit po...

In this week’s episode of Books with Hooks, Bianca , Carly , and CeCe critique two very different query letters—and what makes (or breaks) them on the page. First, they workshop an upmarket literary novel about an accountant heading to the brutal Mongol Derby, questioning stakes, starting point, and whether the pitch is selling the story or simply summarizing it. Then, they pivot to a 1970s dual-P...

This week, Carly and CeCe are covering a little bit of everything—from surprising publishing mishaps to the realities of author blurbs and the strange psychology of the slush pile. They unpack what happens when an offer lands in an agent’s inbox… with the author’s name spelled wrong, why blurbs still matter (even when authors are overwhelmed by requests), and the unspoken etiquette of returning th...

Bestselling thriller author Lisa Unger joins the show to talk about longevity, creativity, and the craft behind writing dark, layered stories. From surviving industry shifts to protecting your creative “deep work,” Lisa shares what it really takes to build a long writing career — and why the only constant is showing up at the page. Bianca and Lisa dive into writing multiple first-person POVs, crea...

Carly and CeCe are back! This week they chat about audiobook double-dipping stats, the behind-the-scenes “fires” agents constantly put out (covers, contracts, timelines, leverage), and whether traditional media still moves the needle—or just feeds our very human need for validation. They also dive into buzzy memoirs, literary-agent characters in fiction, and why AI submissions are getting spotted...

In this episode of Books with Hooks, Bianca , CeCe , and Carly workshop two anonymous submissions—a YA dystopian and an adult thriller—breaking down what’s working, what’s missing, and how to level both projects up for the slush pile. First up: a YA dystopian about a society built on “modification,” where failure means servitude—and survival may depend on a dangerous twin-swap. Then they turn to a...

February’s bonus episode is packed with oodles of amazing writing tips from incredible authors. In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca, connects with bestselling thriller author Robyn Harding and breaks down how she builds slow-burn suspense in ‘ Strangers in the Villa’ —from sneaky prologues and curiosity seeds to power imbalances, inciting incidents, and structuring twists that keep r...

In this week’s episode, Bianca connects with rising women’s-fiction author Mara Williams. Mara shares her winding road to publication, the Books with Hooks → beta reader → agent pipeline, and why community matters. They dig into writing emotionally charged openings, handling buried secrets, balancing romance with women’s fiction, and learning which feedback to take—and which to trust yourself to i...

This week’s Shooting the Shit is pure publishing chaos — in the best way. CeCe and Carly swap hilariously relatable publishing pet peeves (reply-all disasters, missing phone numbers, email thread nightmares), answer listener DMs about agent offers, beauty contests, and what to do when your “yes” doesn’t feel right, and dive into real talk about author marketing budgets and industry expectations. T...

In this special Books with Hooks segment, the team sits down with author Sarah Miller-Adams to workshop her query letter for Bilateral Breathing , an upmarket, literary-leaning novel about three mid-career women in medicine on the brink of personal and professional collapse. They break down what’s working (a striking voice, emotional depth, and powerful themes) and what needs sharpening—especially...

Carly and CeCe are Shooting the Sh*t About what’s driving them crazy (and cracking them up) in publishing this week — from “quiet quitting” on option books and editors who ghost, to why a brilliant nonfiction expert ultimately chose not to write a book. They unpack a refreshingly transparent breakdown of what authors really make (and spend), defend why authors deserve to promote their work without...

In part one of this week’s double author interview, Bianca sits down with executive by day and dark-fiction writer by night, Marisa Walz. They talk about her chilling debut novel ‘ Good Intentions’ and the long, emotional road it took to get there. They dive into books dying on submission, leaving agents, trusting your instincts, and what it really means to keep going after heartbreak. Marisa shar...

On this week’s segment of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe talk about publishing layoffs, surprising Canadian bestseller stats, and a viral article questioning the state of publishing. They break down how auctions actually work, what “private” submissions really mean, and how writers can navigate paid resources without getting burned. Plus: vacation reads, TV obsessions, and why authors love sign...

In this week’s author interview, Bianca chats with debut novelist Leodora Darlington about ‘ The Exes’ , a sharp, dark psychological thriller that asks how far the past can reach into the present. Leodora shares her unconventional (and accidental!) path to publication, what it’s like querying agents while working in publishing, and why choosing the right agent matters more than choosing the first...

In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca sits down with longtime collaborators and best friends Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke to talk about ‘ The Naysayers’ , a sharp, funny, and insightful satire about negative self-talk, toxic positivity, and the stories we tell ourselves. They open up about the realities of a long publishing career—success, setbacks, agent changes, and constant pivots—...

This week on Books with Hooks, Bianca , Carly , and CeCe break down two standout queries—and what they get right (and wrong). First up: a UK-set enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a disgraced chef, a fallen influencer, and a double-booked garden plot. The hosts talk about query length, POV clarity, influencer culture on the page, and whether surface-level charm is enough to sustain romantic tensi...

In this week’s episode, Carly and CeCe chat a little bit about everything from unreliable memories and heated hockey romance TV shows to what they’d actually change if they had a magic wand over the publishing industry. They dive into big, bold industry wishes—higher pay across publishing, transparency around marketing budgets, no taxes on books, better royalties, fact-checking nonfiction, escrow...