Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire

Today’s guest is Stephanie Robel whose debut novel, Darling Rose Gold, is available now. Stephanie joined me today to talk about her research involving Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy in order to write her novel. Also covered, how being a copywriter and having an MFA helped Stephanie transition into the publishing world. Support the Podcast   Read the Transcript   Links for Stephanie   Twitter: https...

Today’s guest is Caroline Zancan author of the novel Local Girls, as well as her latest, We Wish You Luck. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and holds an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars. A Senior Editor at Henry Holt, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their children. Caroline joined me today to talk about unique mix of art and business that is the publishing industry. Aslo cove...

Today's guest is Sarah Jane Stratford. Her first novel, Radio Girls , was based on the early days of the BBC and its pioneering talks producer, Hilda Matheson. Red Letter Days , her newest novel, continues that tradition by similarly highlighting a little known but influential woman in media set during the 19 fifties Red Scare and inspired by the real life TV producer Hannah Weinstein, Red Letter...

Today’s guest is Tom Lutz , editor in chief of the LA Review of Books a nonprofit dedicated to promoting writing about literature, culture and the arts.. He teaches creative writing at the University of California in Riverside and is on a quest to visit every country in the world: 135 down, only 60 to go. Tom has dovetailed his wanderlust and passion for writing into seven nonfiction books—some on...

Today’s guest is Reuben "Tihi" Hayslett who confronts identity politics, racism and homophobia in his debut short story collection "Dark Corners," which has been selected by Kirkus Reviews as  best book of the year  (2019).  Hayslett’s characters, most of them black, brown, and/or queer, have their personal problems complicated by their outsider status, by ominous politics, and by occasional erupt...

Today’s guest is Kiley Reid, a recent graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop where she was the recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Such A Fun Age is her first novel. Kiley joined me today to talk about Such A Fun Age, and how writing two dimensional characters – people who are both good and bad – is how to make them true to life. Also covered, work l...

Today’s guest is Mary Kole, Mary Kole is a freelance editor, author and blogger whose goal is to help writers of children’s literature create compelling stories for young readers. A former California and New York literary agent for the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and Movable Type Literary. Mary has spoken at over 75 writer’s conferences and workshops across the world, has been deeply involved wit...

Today’s guest is Lisa Gardner , a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist and self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide) and has made pe...

Today’s guest is Michael Tougias, the author of many true rescue stories, including THE FINEST HOURS, which was adapted into a Disney film. His latest, INTO THE BLIZZARD has been adapted for middle grade readers from his adult non-fiction book about the Blizzard of 1978. Michael joined me today to talk about the difference between seeking publication with fiction versus non-fiction, and the challe...

Today’s guest is Abbigail N. Rosewood, whose debut, If I Had Two Lives, follows a young girl from her childhood in a military camp in 1990s Vietnam, where her mother is in hiding as a political dissident, to her adulthood as a lonely and disillusioned immigrant in New York, where she must learn what it means to love and be loved, and to reconfigure home in the aftermath of ruins. Abbigail joined m...

Today’s guest is Maram Taibah, a fantasy writer, born in Montreal, Canada. She was raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which, at times, was the most unimaginative place. This pushed her to escape into books at a very early age and from there into the craft of storytelling. Her most recent publication is the children's steampunk book Weathernose . Maram is not only a fiction writer but also a screenwri...

Today’s guest is Rebecca Syme, creator of the Better-Faster Academy , producer of the Quit Cast for Writers , as well as being an author herself. Rebecca joined me today to talk about how knowing your personality strengths can help you be a more productive writer. Also covered: how to deal with burnout – and how to know when you’re in it.   Support the Podcast   Read the Transcript   Links for Reb...

Today’s guest is Shahla Hebets, founder of Think Media and author of What’s Working Now? YOU-Centric Marketing. Shahla joined me today to talk about her philosophy of how to reach consumers using You-Centric marketing and how authors can translate you-centric marketing into their approach.    Support the Podcast Read the Transcript   Links for Shahla:   Website: https://www.thinkmediaconsult.com/...

Today’s guest is Juan Pablo Villalobos, author of The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border. Juan Pablo joined me today to talk about the experiences of young refugees, and his approach to compiling their stories. Also covered: using a narrative within non-fiction. Support the Podcast Read the Transcript   Links for Juan Pablo: Website Twitter   Ad...

Today’s guest is Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With A Pearl Earring . Her tenth novel, A Single Thread , released recently. Tracy joined me today to talk about the the plight of “excess women” in England post World War 1, how writing leads her to hobbies - not the other way around – and how a writer needs something in their lives that isn’t word-based. Also covered: the pressure of an expectant...

Today’s guest is Manuela Velasco, the marketing and publicity director as well as an editor for Tessera Editorial which was founded on the idea that publishing can and should be an accessible industry to all people. Through myriad diverse voices in the profession, Tessera Editorial hopes to open the world of books to as many readers as possible. Manuela joined me today to talk about the services t...

Today’s guest is Kelly Coon, author of the YA Fantasy Gravemaidens which recounts the tale of two sisters: Kammani, a 16-year-old healer's apprentice who wants to save the dying ruler of her city-state and Nanaea, Kammani’s little sister who will be buried alive as the ruler’s bride if he dies. Kelly joined me today to talk about how to make a fantasy stand out in the crowded YA market by making h...

Today’s guest is Debbie Rigaud, author of the YA Rom-com Truly, Madly, Royally. Debbie joined me to day to talk about the rejection journey being similar for scripts, magazine writing and novels, and the importance of community – especially that of women in publishing looking out for one another. Also covered: why a YA rom-com might be exactly what some readers need and co-authoring with activist...

Today's guest is Sherrilyn Kenyon , best-selling US writer of the Dark Hunter series . Sherilyn has published over 80 novels under her own name and also under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor who writes historical fiction with paranormal elements. Support The Podcast Create Beautiful Books With Vellum Read the Transcript      

Today’s guest is Kelly Notaras, founder of KN Literary Arts , an editorial book studio specializing in self-help, personal growth, and spirituality. She joined me to talk about the niche in the marketplace for a how-to book on writing narrative non-fiction and memoir, and how Kelly filled that with her release, The Book You Were Born to Write . Also covered: untangling the baby steps toward creati...

Today's guest on the podcast is Tess Gerritsen , whose books have been bestsellers in the United States and abroad. She has won both the Nero Wolfe award and the Rita award. A Retired medical doctor, Tess joined me today to talk about her newest and first Gothic novel, The Shape of Night. Support the Podcast     Links for Tess:  Website:  http://www.tessgerritsen.com/   Create Beautiful Books With...

Today’s guest is Marie Miranda Cruz, author of Everlasting Nora, an uplifting young reader debut about perseverance against all odds. Marie joined me to day to talk about the difficulty of querying a middle grade novel with complicated and heavy themes. Also covered: writing about tough topics for middle graders as a way to build empathy.   Support the Podcast  Links for Marie: Website:  https://c...

Today’s guest is T. Jefferson Parker, the bestselling author of 13 stand alone noir crime novels, as well as three separate series featuring the characters Merci Rayborn, Charlie Hood and his latest, Roland Ford. He joined me today to talk about knowing when it’s time to create a new character, as well as the bittersweetness of leaving an old one behind. Also covered: the importance of setting in...

Today’s guest is Melissa DeLa Cruz #1 New York Times bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. With her 50th novel The Birthday Girl releasing earlier this month. Melissa joined me to talk about longevity in publishing, retaining the spark of creativity, and how writers need community. Links for Melissa: Website   Ad Links: Vellum

Today’s guest is Jamie Beth Cohen, author of Wasted Pretty . A writer and storyteller who works in higher education, her non-fiction has appeared in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, and Teen Vogue. Jamie joined me today to talk about writing tough topics for teens, getting non-fiction pieces published, and the dangers of embracing the myth of the solitary writer, plus how community can help...