Writers With Wrinkles

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to dive into the enchanting world of children's literature with Heather Macht and Lynne Marie, the creative minds behind the hit platform, ' Seasons of Kidlit '. Discover how their shared passion for festive holidays, especially the allure of Halloween, transformed into a thriving platform promoting children's books. This episode offers a deep dive in...

Send us Fan Mail Can you use AI to augment and amplify your creative endeavors? Can you use it to do stuff you don’t want to? Yes!! Tune in to hear about an experiment in creating a mini-marketing effort around holiday sales of Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls trilogy using AI to create content and produce a list of independent bookstores.  (to go deeper, visit the You CAN Write a Book! Substack...

Send us Fan Mail Erika Lewis has written novels, comics and graphic novels. She has deep experience collaborating with other creators.  What we talked about: how her childhood riding dirt bikes and roller skates shape the adventurous world of Kelcie Murphy how her books  like "Game of Shadows" and "The Color of Dragons"  compare to the Kelcie Murphy series the nuts and bolts of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another Top Five Deep Dive episode!  Today, we dive deep into creating a strong opening for your novel. Key takeaways:  Start with Action or Intrigue Introduce a Relatable Character Pose Questions or Create Conflict Use Vivid Description and Sensory Detail Craft an Engaging First Line (listen for our examples)  Listen for all the important details! Whether you're j...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever dreamed of writing a book with a friend or an author you admire? How do you make it work? What are the most important elements of the relationship? Today we peek inside a successful collaborative writing partnership of acclaimed authors E.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller. We'll take you through their extraordinary partnership, from their initial meeti...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to unlock the full potential of Substack?  We're here to answer WHAT, WHY and HOW of this platform, where independent publishing meets community building. Discover the  features offered, including content creation and promotion, subscription models, monetization, and more. We're going to help you answer a critical question – is Substack the right fit for you? Remem...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how an idea evolves into a complete picture book? Tune into our conversation with the New York Times bestselling author Ame Dyckman as she pulls back the curtain on the magical world of picture book writing.  Ame shares her  process and offers priceless tips on story development, the art of collaboration and the importance of knowing the marketplace.  Ame also unders...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another Top Five Deep Dive episode! (who doesn't love a top five list?!?!) Today, we delve deep into the captivating world of writing voice . Key takeaways will help you refine your writing voice and elevate your storytelling to new heights. Whether you're just starting your writing journey or are a seasoned author, there's something here for everyone. Re...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on a captivating adventure with renowned author Elizabeth Eulberg, whose latest middle grade book Scared Silly #2: Zombie Wedding Crashers, is out NOW! Elizabeth generously shares her journey, from securing her Global Talent Visa, to the deep inspiration she draws from the city in her work. We do a deep dive into what makes a series work and how to handle reviews. Whether...

Send us Fan Mail Do the words 'book marketing' make you cry?  Yeah, we get that. On today's episode, we start to navigate that terrifying world, but we're doing it together and it's going to be fun! Once a month, we'll go deep into a marketing topic and figure out the ways you can implement it into your overall strategy without becoming overwhelmed and paralyzed. Join...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to be enchanted as we chat with Eric Geron , a masterful storyteller and New York Times bestselling author.  In this candid conversation, Eric takes you on his  journey of becoming an author, while shedding light on the often mysterious process of creating a graphic novel. Even if you're not an illustrator, Eric's insights on the genre and crafting his debut grap...

Send us Fan Mail Want to hear  the secret sauce for writing compelling dialogue? We've got the recipe! This episode is your golden ticket to mastering the art of authentic and engaging dialogue that rings true for your characters. We delve into how written dialogue differs from everyday conversation, and how to ensure that each line uttered by your characters enhances your narrative. We talk...

Send us Fan Mail Are you wondering how to navigate the tricky waters of querying agents with your fabulous new manuscript? Imagine the insight you could gain from picking the brain of a senior agent from a top literary agency. That's exactly what we've done in this episode. Jennifer March-Soloway from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, answers questions like: when is your manuscript ready...

Send us Fan Mail Books on Botox is back! This week we take a look at Yours Truly, a contemporary romance by Abby Jimenez as an example of how to succeed with dual Points Of View. And why  Jake Burt' s novel The Tornado is a dazzling example of how to write authentically about bullying in middle school. Don't miss it! Support the show  Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writ...

Send us Fan Mail Are you stuck trying to figure out whether your work in progress is middle grade or young adult fiction? Are you stressed out that you don't know where your book fits on the shelf? This episode with industry-savvy editor Sangeeta Mehta, tackles the rules to follow about where a book fits, from character ages and topics discussed, to book length and protagonist's voice. W...

Send us Fan Mail Writing a series is no joke! It's hard enough to write one novel, but 2 or 4 or 8? You're going to want to listen to this list of tips critical to creating a sustainable series. 1.     Pick your genre carefully 2.     Consider type  3.     Setting is crucial. 4.     Have a plan  5.     Use secondary characters Bonus: Know when to say peace out and move on! Make sure to t...

Send us Fan Mail Are book covers important for an author? How about platform building? Are school visits a viable author side hustle? How do you make that a success? On Episode 40, we dig into these questions, and so many more, with award winning author Lindsay Currie. Don't miss it! Visit Lindsay (and see the cover for It Found Us!) at www.lindsaycurrie.com Pre-order a signed copy of Lindsay...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Writers With Wrinkles Books on Botox we look at the critical ingredient to making a series succeed. And how humor in the first person can keep a reader turning pages.  Don't miss it! Books discussed: The Bullet That Missed , by Richard Osman The Polter-Ghost Problem , by Betsy Uhrig PS: we are moving most of our activity to Instagram, so please visit us there! @W...

Send us Fan Mail Have you been wondering why horror is so popular right now? Do you want to know what is selling in YA and why? How about ways to make your story stand out to acquiring editors in a crowded field? Or maybe you want insight into why an agent passed on your manuscript?  On episode 38, we get into the details with agent and author Eric Smith and answer these questions.  We also look a...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we test drive a new format! Our NEW Top Five Deep Dive is a list of writing tips you will want to keep handy as you journey through your manuscript (believe us, it IS a journey!) This week, we talk about spooky middle grade, a very hot segment of book sales right now.  Tips include: 1. Start with a great hook - attention spans are limited! 2. Keep the pace fast. Buildin...

Send us Fan Mail What we are talking about: how to write authentically about neurodivergent characters and foster understanding among readers; how to tackle difficult subjects in your writing how a setting inspired  The Fire, The Water and Maudi McGinn , (out 7/11!!) About Sally J. Pla Sally’s books have been translated into many languages, garnered starred reviews, appeared on many ‘best book’ an...

Send us Fan Mail Books on Botox is BACK!!  This week we look at ways to find writing inspiration and killer plots right in your own backyard. And how flipping the script on a conventional plot can give you a new perspective, and possibly a best selling novel. Books reviewed: Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, by Lindsey Currie. Support the show  Vis...

Send us Fan Mail What we are talking about: what to do and how to practice if you are switching genres as an author foolproof ways to make your pace lightning fast and, do you still need to do your homework if your idea is super original?? (hint: yes) About Misa Sugiura Misa's ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind is her f...

Send us Fan Mail A head’s up that we are changing the show format by splitting Books on Botox and the Hot Writing Tips into separate episodes. This lets us spend more time on both without ending up with a show that is just too freaking long. We hope it works for you and please share your feedback with us because that helps a lot.   Today we are talking about unreliable narrators.  Definition: A na...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a conversation with nonfiction author Rebecca Barone (Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica; Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code; Mountain of Fire (coming Spring 2024). Approximately 3.5 million non fiction books are published each year, a full 88percent of all books published.  So how do you write non fiction that is as thril...