The Writer's Story

Kristin and Meredith discuss the different publishing options for books these days, and then welcome friend and author BettyJoyce Nash to the podcast. BettyJoyce's first novel, Everyone Here is Kin , is out this month.

Kristin and Meredith talk about genre, and then chat with writer and agent Marie Lamba about balancing writing with agenting and how conferences can help you connect to agents and other writers. Marie writes YA and children's books, and is an agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency .

Kathryn Erskine , our very first guest is back with new adventures to share! Celebrated author of many books for young readers (including National Book Award winning Mockingbird), Kathy, a.k.a. S. G. Lindisfarne is striking out incognito-ish with Compounding Solutions , a cozy mystery for adults. Meredith and Kristin were all ears - and questions - about the pen-name, the process of independently...

Kristin and Meredith talk about books as objects. They are joined by Kevin McFadden, poet, letterpress printer, book artist, and member of the creative community at Virginia Center for the Book in Charlottesville. Kevin talks about creating a unique book of pandemic poetry and reads from his collection.

Location, location... schmlocation? Meredith and Kristin talk setting, particularly how the site of a writer's creative work affects her writing. Or doesn't. Enter Trudy Hale, this month's guest - a writer herself, editor-in-chief of Streetlight magazine , and the woman behind the storied Porches Writing Retreat . Trudy tells about her writing journey from L.A. to rural VA and points between, and...

Kristin and Meredith talk about the value of attending literary festivals as a writer (and as a reader) and interview special guest Kalela Williams . Kalela is the new director of the Virginia Center for the Book which oversees the Virginia Festival of the Book , as well as the author of a YA book (coming 2024) The Tangleroot Papers. They discuss upcoming events at the next festival (March 23-26,...

Kristin and Meredith launch the new year with a new podcast angle: topic or theme. This month's is point of view (POV to you writers out there). What is it? How does it affect the story in writing and reading,...? Guest Katharine Herndon joins in the conversation and also shares her experiences with Richmond, VA-based James River Writers, from attending every (!) annual conference as a writer hers...

Kristin and Meredith talk about self-imposed deadlines and celebrating small wins with your writing community. Their guest is Mary Alice Hostetter , author of the memoir PLAIN: A MEMOIR OF A MENNONITE GIRLHOOD. She talks about her life and her path to publication.

Kristin and Meredith talk about using their iPhone to record their writing ideas when they're away from the computer. Fran Hawthorne is their guest this month, and she talks about her writing journey from journalist to novelist. Her latest novel, I MEANT TO TELL YOU, will be out in November.

Kristin and Meredith discuss beta readers and how to select good ones for your manuscript, and then chat with Sibley Johns, a writer and the Executive Director of WriterHouse. WriterHouse is a space in Charlottesville, Virginia dedicated to the craft of writing, and has writing classes (online and in-person), programs, and readings. Meredith teaches occasionally at WriterHouse, and both she and Kr...

Meredith and Kristin recount experiences and lessons learned on their recent writing retreat in the beautiful Goshen Pass. Tune in for tips on organizing and enjoying your own such creative adventure!

The incalculable value of reading suffused this month's conversation with guest Maya Smart , whose new book Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six  reflects her passion for growing literacy as it gives busy parents (and grands and aunts and uncles and) practical tools to help raise happy readers. We talked deep-dive research and the challenge of putting it into the hands o...

Meredith and Kristin talk endings - how do you know you're done?,... enough to start over, revising and all - and other crafty bits. Then Outside mag and National Geographic writer, Stephanie Pearson , joins us to talk about her new 100 Great American Parks book , which can't help but leave readers feeling oh-so-lucky to live in this wonder-ful, beautiful, care-worthy world.

Kristin and Meredith talk about secondary characters in stories, and chat with guest Alma Katsu  about her new book THE FERVOR, historic fiction with supernatural and horror elements. They also talk about her thriller RED WIDOW, based on her career in intelligence, and her recent television deal.

Martien Halvorson-Taylor , professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia joins Meredith and Kristin in conversation about writing and the Bible - writing about the Bible, writing in the Bible, and Martien's Great Courses on Audible course, Writing the Bible . Writing as an act of discovery and angles on translation, it's a conversation that tracks along many levels.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their latest projects, and the pros and cons of using software like Scrivener to write your novel. They're joined by author Ellen Crosby , the author of the Virginia wine country mystery series; who Meredith has known for years. Ellen's newest book BITTER ROOTS is out April 5, 2022.

Virginia Pye, author of two novels and  a collection of short stories The Shelf Life of Happiness, joins Meredith and Kristin in conversation about the hows and whys of community in writing (and surviving snow). She shares encouragement and advice with her inspiring story of "overnight success" following decades of honing her craft and building relationships. 

Kristin and Meredith look back on the books they've read this year that have influenced their writing and thinking about creativity. They also catch listeners up to date on new books for past guests.

Kristin and Meredith discuss revising and writing conferences, and interview Irene Ziegler --writer, actor, and voice-over artist. They talk about her varied body of work and how her acting influences her writing.

Kristin and Meredith talk about revision and deepening the emotion (and upping the stakes) for their characters. They interview Michael Cordell , screenwriter, playwright and novelist, whose legal thriller CONTEMPT came out last year. He has a new paranormal thriller out, OUR TRESPASSES.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their writing projects, puppies and broken arms, and then interview writer and friend Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on her stunning debut "My Monticello." The book is making a splash before its October pub date: It's been covered in the New York Times, is being made into a Netflix movie and has already garnered an award nomination.

Meredith and Kristin talk writing one-handed, and Earl Swift shares his journey from journalism in its heyday to writing page-turning nonfiction on a wide range of topics. His new book, ACROSS THE AIRLESS WILDS: THE LUNAR ROVER AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE FINAL MOON LANDINGS is just out with HarperCollins. 

Kristin and Meredith discuss the pros and cons of writing while you're on vacation, and chat with Mollie Cox Bryan about her cookbooks, mysteries and other writing. They also discuss indie publishing for cozy mysteries, and her latest book Goodnight Moo .

Kristin and Meredith talk gardens, productivity and inspiration this month. They also chat with poet Rebecca Morgan Frank about high school, writing a poem for a collection, her recent book Oh You Robot Saints! and her recent collaborations with composers.

This month Kristin and Meredith talk spring, vaccines, and revising. They chat with Alex Segura , author of novels, comic books, short stories and podcasts, about how he juggles different genres and small children. He also talks about the pros and cons of collaboration, working for hire and keeping a series going forever.