Thriving Writers Podcast

Join Mary Kole and Sara Zarr as they talk about the complex realities surrounding publishing and becoming a career author within a rapidly shifting young adult and middle grade marketplace. Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain YA genres and how that affects YA authors who speci...

Tune in for a chat with Mary Kole's long-time friend in the children's publishing space, YA Author J.C. Geiger. He tells all about how he made an epic mixtape with music no one's heard before (and met his heroes in the process), writing young adult characters, the future of post-pandemic fiction, and—of course—the power of music. Website: https://jcgeiger.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jcgeiger...

Lisa Stringfellow, award-winning author and middle school teacher, discusses her debut novel about mermaids and mythology set in the Caribbean, “A Comb of Wishes.” She talks through her long journey from draft to finished book—plus plans for Book 2—and shares craft and industry tips she’s learned along the way. Website: https://lisastringfellow.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/EngageReaders   Good...

Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer. Website: https://benjaminroesch.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbroesch   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you...

CEO of independent publisher Girl Friday Productions Leslie Miller, aka "LAM" joins the Good Story Podcast to talk all things publishing, marketing, and building your platform as an author. Having worn all the different hats, she discusses the differences between traditional publishing, self-publishing, indie publishing, and hybrid publishing, and how to know which option is right for your project...

Award-winning children’s book writer Ronald L. Smith, author of Black Panther: The Young Prince and Spellbound, joins the Good Story Podcast. We talk about writing dark and unconventional stories for middle grade, his writing routine, and marketing yourself as an author. And, of course, he tells all about what it’s like to write in collaboration with Marvel. Website: https://www.strangeblackflower...

Writer, writing teacher, ghost writer, and general literary icon Roz Morris joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. They dive into the mechanics of storytelling and discuss how to connect with your audience—whether you're writing someone else's story or you're telling your own. Website: https://rozmorris.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/Roz_Morris   Good Story Company: If you have a story in yo...

New York Times Bestselling children's book author Tami Charles joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about experimenting with verse, amplifying the stories of girls of color, and writing what you feel. Website: https://tamiwrites.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamiWritesStuff   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers...

Author and former assistant professor of creative writing Leslie C. Youngblood joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. She shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing? Website: https://www.lesliecyoungblood.com/ Instagram: https://www.instag...

Mindy McGinnis, mystery, suspense, thriller author and dog haver, joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about her upcoming work with James Patterson, shit-shoveling, book snobbery, and showing characters' humanity. Website: https://www.mindymcginnis.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindyMcGinnis   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world...

In a special spooky episode of the Good Story Podcast, NYT Bestselling young adult and middle-grade author Jonathan Auxier joins Mary Kole to discuss visual writing, worldbuilding, and how different media use dialogue to create action. \Website: https://www.thescop.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonathanAuxier   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it...

Ghostwriter Kelly Madrone joins us to talk about writing as someone else, modulating a professional potty mouth, and creating a story arc in memoir. Website: https://kellymadrone.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/madronekelly   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, a...

Gabriela Pereira discusses her journey to founding DIY MFA, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing, while living with bipolar disorder. Along the way, she shares tips about unconventional learning styles, finding a writing community in your backyard, and using storytelling to effectively market your work. Website: https://diymfa.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DIYMFA   Good...

Decades-long agent, Rachel Orr, talks about real life clients as she shares what agents and editors are looking for, what to include in your query letter, and how to challenge the status quo. About Rachel Orr: https://portfolio.prospectagency.com/2017/03/21/536/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelprospect   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out int...

Insights from industry veteran Chuck Sambuchino on how to become a well-informed writer, build a platform, and get published. Website: https://chucksambuchino.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/chucksambuchino   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of th...

A conversation about "The Emotion Thesaurus" as well as writing tools in general and whether human input can ever be replaced by tools. The Emotion Thesaurus: https://amzn.to/3ygaeDx Marlowe AI: https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/08/marlowe-a-i-for-novels-does-it-measure-up-to-its-namesakes/   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world....

On this month's episode, children's author Anna Staniszewski chats about her path to publication, writing for different age groups, and what it takes to make it as a full-time author. Website: https://www.annastan.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/annastanisz   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets,...

A conversation with YA fantasy author Laura Sebastian (ASH PRINCESS, out now from Delacorte) all about worldbuilding.  Website: https://laurasebastianwrites.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebastian_lk   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the wr...

A conversation with Cidney Swanson, sci-fi author and recipient of the 2020 Good Story Grant. Website: https://cidneyswanson.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/cidneyswanson Good Story Grant: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/grant   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories...

A conversation with debut YA author Rebecca Coffindaffer (CROWNCHASERS, out now from HarperTeen) all about worldbuilding. Website: https://www.rebeccacoffindaffer.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/callmebecks   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of th...

An uplifting conversation with author Wendelin Van Draanen, where we discuss the therapeutic nature of writing and the silver lining in a difficult path to publication.  Website: http://www.wendelinvand.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wendelinvand   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genre...

A conversation with John Cusick, literary agent and MG/YA author. We delve into writing for MG and YA readers, what agents are looking for, and breaking writing rules.  Submission guidelines: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/JohnC/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnmcusick Upswell Media: https://www.upswellmedia.com   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to...

An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience.  Website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinentrada   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all st...

Debut picture book author Brittany Thurman discusses writing about complex issues for a young audience, bias in the publishing industry, and supporting Black writers.  Website: https://www.brittanythurman.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/janeebrittany   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all gen...

A conversation with romance author Kilby Blades about changes the traditional publishing industry needs to make in order to be an inclusive space for writers of color. Website: http://www.kilbyblades.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kilbyblades   Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres,...