The Way We Word

Inspired by a recent New York Times article showing the decline of recreational reading, this week's episode is a deep dive into reading for fun and the distractions pulling us away from this beloved passtime.  A study from 2004-2023 shows a 40% decline in recreational reading. We take a look at why this might be happening, our own habits as readers, and the need to hold on to necessary skills. Wh...

A big welcome back to one of our favorite guests! Melissa Grace celebrates the release of her latest book and a big event at Reading Rock Books. Marjorie and me is Melissa's 6th book with the most delightful and unique premise. Follow Kat as she finds herself in the adventure of a lifetime after she unexpectedly purchases an urn at a local thrift store that brings with it more than she bargained f...

Write for perfection or write first and edit later? On this week's episode Angela and Sarah take a look at that messy first draft and whether or not we should polish before completion. Can a first draft be polished and ready? Do all stories have a place? How many eyes need to be on a manuscript before it's published? How well do you know your characters? How well do you know your story? Join the c...

June was audiobook month and Angela and Sarah had the opportunity to talk with award-winning voiceover artist, Charlotte Ann. Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite audiobook or how the narrator makes their voice convey so many emotions that pull you farther into the story? Charlotte Ann talks all things voice work and how she uses her vocals to touch the hearts and minds of l...

June has flown by, but these new releases are hot off the presses and ready for readers to dive right in. Angela and Sarah discuss what's new, what they're looking forward to reading, and authors that should be on everyone's radar. What are you reading this summer? Let us know and join the conversation! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Or send us an email to: thewaywewordpodcast@gmail....

We're back! This week we dive into titles and why choosing the right title for a book is important. From trends, genre, story details, publisher and author choices, what we call a story can have a huge impact on sales, reader appeal, and even our own judgment (don't judge a book by its title?) Angela and Sarah discuss confusing titles, controversial titles, and advice on choosing the right title f...

Welcome back, Everyone! This week author Art Bell joins the show to introduce his latest book What She's Hiding, discuss the transition from writing memoir to thrillers, and share how his time at Comedy Central and Court TV informed and shaped his writing. Art is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for readers, writers, and storytellers across the board. Art Bell  is a former television executiv...

Welcome back! This week Angela and Sarah take on the elephant in the room. Should authors use artificial intelligence to write their books? Should publishers cut overhead costs by having AI write contracts, design covers, and write copy, etc? Is there a difference between using AI as a tool to aid performance vs letting it do the bulk of the work for you? We tackle everything in this episode about...

In honor of National Poetry Month, Cameron Mitchell is on the show this week to talk about the power of poetry and how it connects us to our humanity and our communities, and how it shapes our perspective on the world around us. Why is poetry important? Do we fully appreciate poetry? Is the right emphasis being placed on poetry in schools? Join the conversation as we dive into verse, spoken word,...

This week Angela and Sarah welcome author Melissa Grace to discuss the journey of storytelling and what it means to be an "extraordinary" person. Learn how each of us got our start, how we met, and what propels us on the road to storytelling today. Melissa offers a beautiful take on how grief inspires stories and how writing can be used as a powerful tool for processing grief. Melissa's latest boo...

What informs your decision to buy a book vs just borrowing it? Does it matter how successful an author is as to whether or not you purchase? This week we are diving into what it means to be a good literary citizen based on a clip from the Pen Pals podcast with hosts Kelton Wright and Krisserin Canary. How should we profile our buying choices? Is it important to purchase books? How do sales impact...

Ever wondered how books get assigned to the shelves at your favorite bookstore? In this week's episode Angela gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Reading Rock Books and how they curate the titles on their shelves. Is it a simple task? How much influence do employees and community members have? Can the same book sit on multiple shelves? Angela and Sarah discuss all of this and more. Do you have a...

Have you heard the buzz about Sarah Wynn-Williams' new memoir Careless People? This week we are taking a look at the case that's making headlines. To print or not to print? That's the question being posed in this high-profile case. Sarah Wynn-Williams is the former director of public policy for Facebook. In her new memoir Careless People, published by Flatiron Books, Wynn-Williams exposes what she...

Welcome back! This week Angela and Sarah chat with Pacific and Court publicist Kourtney Jason about what goes on behind the scenes in the months leading up to a book's release. What is the job of a publicist? Do authors need one? What expectations should authors have when partnering with a publicist? Kourtney dives into these questions and more as she sheds light on what it takes to create a succe...

Angela recently attended the Books, Authors, and Publishers Fair in Nashville where she hosted a workshop on how to build a relationship with a bookseller. In this week's epsiode we dive into why this is vitally important, not just building a relationship, but a healthy one and what that looks like. Angela and Sarah discuss shifting the focus of books toward readers and the Reading Rock Books miss...

Welcome back to another episode! This week Angela and Sarah talk with Melissa Collings, author of The False Flat. Melissa is an incredible human with a keen insight into the written word. Exploring themes in multiple genres, Angela, Sarah, and Melissa discuss the power of connectivity in the written word, growth and happiness through dark times, and how fiction can make us more aware of the world...

The month of love is still in bloom as we continue our genre series this week with a look at romance and women's fiction. What's the difference? Which one is trending? What are our favorites? If you're a fan of either genre, grab some coffee and hang out with Angela and Sarah as they explore what makes both genres unique and why we benefit from exploring deeper, more emotional topics and not just...

Happy February! We are feeling the love vibes this month. Continuing our genre series, this week is all about romance and author Lauren Kung Jessen is here to discuss her latest novel Yin Yang Love Song, along with Jennifer Sellers from Southern Festival of Books. Jennifer is an avid reader and supporter of the romance genre and her story of how these books literally changed her life is both heart...

This week we are tackling plagiarism. Sparked by the buzz of a recent court case where an author has accused her former agent of stealing her manuscript, Angela and Sarah discuss whether or not plagiarism can be proven and the ramifications on all sides.  Let us know your thoughts and opinions on this. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Or send us an email to: thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.c...

Adam Rosenbaum joins the show this week to talk about his book The Ghost Rules and how middle grade books teach us empathy and bridge the gap between children and parents. Adam Rosenbaum has operated a sawmill in Kentucky, stocked groceries in Los Angeles, and was a student draftsman at his local power company growing up in the suburbs of Nashville, where he currently lives with his wife and kids....

This week it's all about getting more eyes on your work. Angela and Sarah dive into the differences between alpha and beta readers, why we need them, and the value that multiple eyes and voices bring to our writing. We also talk about how to know which feedback to keep and how to trust your gut. Have you used alpha or beta readers? We want to know your experiences! Getting feedback can be difficul...

Continuing the genre series, Angela and Sarah discuss audiobooks and their place in our world. Are there pros and cons to listening vs actually reading? What are the benefits of audiobooks? Join us for a deep dive into audio reading and hear some of our favorites to listen to. Do you prefer audio, paper, or digital? Let us know on the socials or send us an email: thewaywewordpodcast@gmail.com  

Happy New Year! We are so excited to be diving into a fresh new year of reading, writing, and bookselling. We hope 2025 is off to a fantastic start for all of you. In this episode we talk about what we've read, what we plan to read, and reading goals. What are you reading goals for this year? How do they compare from last year's? No matter where you are or how many books you're reading, we are thr...

This week we continue our genre series with a look at middle grade fiction. Guest Heather Giese joins us to talk about the beautifully written and thought-provoking books she's been reading and why people of all ages will love them. We discuss trends in this genre, concerns, and some of our favorite books both past and present. Enjoy this podcast? Let us know! Find us on Instagram and Facebook or...

Happy holidays, everyone! Angela and Sarah are back from a Thanksgiving hiatus to catch up with a cozy chat and discuss the future of books in our every-changing world. Angela shares what's going on at the bookstore and Sarah talks about her current writing projects. We are so happy to have you all with us as we navigate the world of storytelling and its impact on the world. We'd love to hear from...