Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire

Today's guest is actress and author Melanie Smith , whose book Unfinished Business deals with trauma, grief, heartbreak and loss. Melanie joined me to talk about small and complex traumas, trauma reactions, and the shame that creatives are often made to feel in a capitalistic society. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: DevKenya  

Maria Riegger of Law School Heretic joined me today to talk about the most important legal considerations for new authors, particularly self-published authors. Covered here is copyright - your own, and others - as well as how to protect your personal assets by forming an LLC, and the dangers of defamation. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: DevKenya Gone But Nev...

Today's guest is Alexandra Bracken author of Silver in the Bone. Alex joined me today to talk about the difficulty of separating the artist from the art, and how a brush with a fascinating piece of family history inspired her newest novel - but took almost ten years to come together.  Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: GLOW Hormone Little Miss Recap

Today's guest is Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty . Ling Ling joined me today to talk about writing body horror, and how the clean beauty industry leant itself so well to the topic. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: GLOW Hormone Little Miss Recap

Today's guest is Nicholas Erik, a leading marketer and promotion strategist and consultant in the indie publishing world. He joined me today to talk about the one must-have marketing element, what writers can do to gain more exposure, and also debunks some of the myths that still linger (like needing 50 reviews on Amazon!)   Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: Ve...

Today's guest is Lynn Forney, author of Choosing Survival . Lynn joined me to talk about the brutal knife attack she suffered as a young woman, the pushback from people who didn't believe her story, and how she healed as an adult using different techniques, and ultimately, writing about it.   Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook

Today's guest is Brad Andalman, one of the two founders of Vellum, the formatting software that's making the lives of indie and self-published authors much, much easier. This episode is co-hosted with Kate Karyus Quinn. We talk about Vellum's ease of use, the many new updates, and what's on the horizon.   Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Ad Links: Vellum

Today's guest is Caroline Kepnes, author of the YOU series, which has been adapted into a hit Netflix series. Caroline joined me today to talk about identifying with her main character, writing a series, and how it feels when other works get left behind. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Caroline's Links: Instagram Twitter   Ad Links: PubSite  

Today's guest is Marin McGinnis, a romance author who also offers editorial services such as editing, proofreading, and copyediting. Marin joined me to talk about the most common mistakes she sees in manuscripts, especially the ones authors can't spot themselves. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Marin's Links: Site   Ad Links: Vellum

Today's guest is Laurell K. Hamilton, whose new release, Smolder is the 29th in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Laurell joined me today to talk about keeping her own interest in her characters by allowing them to be real people, and writing sex - some people think it's not enough, some people think it's too much, and you can't please everyone. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow...

Today's guest is Lynn Ng Quezon , author of Mattie and the Machine. Lynn joined me to talk about the extreme usefulness of good critique partners, knowing how much of your research to include in historical fiction, and the pressures of doing author school visits. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Lynn's Links: Instagram Site   Ad Links: PubSite Why Do We Say That? RT Boo...

Today's guest is Natasha Preston, author of The Island, who joined me today to talk about her electric jump start to success from Wattpad, research, writing a larger cast with her new release, and the time suck of social media in an author's life. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Natasha's Links: Twitter Instagram Facebook   Ad Links: Vellum

Today's guest is Melissa Landers, author of Lumara . Melissa joined me today to talk about a dry spell with no releases, career hiccups, handling mental health while trying to be creative, and the hit or miss of writing the sci-fi genre. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Melisa's Links: Twitter Instagram Facebook   Ad Links: PubSite

Today's guest is NYT Bestselling author Beth Revis, who has made a career in both the YA trad world, self-publishing, serial writing, and through running a successful Patreon. Beth joined me today to talk about the endless hustle of the freelance life, diversification, and endless work - and rewards - of making a career as a creator. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Bet...

Today's guest is Kathryn Holmes, who has written, YA, MG and chapter books. Kathryn joined me to talk about the difference in writing for these age categories, the payout for shorter books, submission slumps, and co-authoring. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Kathryn's Links: Site Twitter Instagram   Ad Links: PubSite Ganso

Today's guest is Alex Lidell, who began her career in traditional YA  publishing, and switched paths (and genres), moving on to become a successful indie romance author. Alex joined me today to talk about the different aspects of finding success in the indie world, particularly when it comes to knowing trends and covers. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Alex's Links: Si...

Today's guest is Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses. Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, a shattering novel about a young woman caught between allegiance to community and a dangerous passion. Louise joined me to talk about how her own life informed the novel. Also covered: Coming to writing later in life, and short stories vs. novel writing. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follo...

Today's guest is Jenn Bouchard , author of First Course. Jenn joined me today to talk about working full time while writing, pursuing the short story marketplace to build a platform, and how to use Little Free Libraries as part of your marketing plan. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Jenn's Links: Site Facebook Instagram   Ad Links: PubSite Ganso

Today's guest is Isabel Sterling , author of The Coldest Touch and host of the Author Burnout Coach Podcast . Isabel joined me today to talk about her path to publication, changing agents, writing under a pen name, how to know you're in burnout, and what to do about it. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Isabels's Links: Site Podcast Instagram   Ad Links: PubSite Lostoria...

Today's guests are Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson, co-author's of The Agatha's. Kathleen and Liz joined me today to talk about secret projects, writing for the joy of it, co-authoring, and plotting a mystery while still leaving room for flexibility. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Kathleen's Links: Site Instagram TikTok Twitter   Liz's Links: Site Instagram TikTok Twi...

Today's guest is Mary Robinette Kowal , author of The Spare Man , the Lady Astronaut series and historical fantasy novels, The Glamourist Histories series and Ghost Talkers . Mary Robinette joined me today to talk about what to do when your book marketing plan falls apart, how to pivot in promo emergencies, and best practices for writing diversely. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on...

Today's guest is Stacy Ennis, a number-one best-selling author and book coach, as well as founder of  Nonfiction Book School . Stacy joined me today to talk about how being a writer doesn't necessarily mean you have to follow the path of a starving artist, how to merge the fear of selling out with the possibility of success, and how to take small steps to begin building the foundations of your fre...

Today's guest are Jessi Honard and Marie Parks, co-authors of Unrelenting , a fantasy novel that is paced like a thriller, and features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters. The authors joined me today to talk about bringing a business mindset to the publishing journey, writing inclusively, and the process of co-authoring. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Jessi's Links:...

Today's guest is Karen McManus, NYT Bestselling author of multiple YA murder mysteries, including her newest release, Nothing More to Tell. Karen joined me to talk about pacing, plot and motive in murder mysteries, as well as knowing when social media isn't helping you anymore. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   Karen's Links: Site Instagram Twitter   Ad Links: In the Wil...

Today's guest is David Crow , author The Pale-Faced Lie , the story of his childhood with a violent felon as a father, and a mentally ill mother. David joined me today to talk about catharsis, forgiving yourself, and keeping your writing honest, even when it's painful. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook   David's Links: Site   Ad Links: In the Wild Podcast Intuitive Reading...