Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
Today's guest is Richard Osman, British television personality and author of the best-selling new release, The Thursday Murder Club, featuring septuagenarian crime solvers living in a retirement community.
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Today's guest is David Gaughran, author of the historical adventures Liberty Boy, Mercenary & A Storm Hits Valparaiso, and has helped thousands of authors to self-publish their work via his workshops, blog, and books such as Let’s Get Digital, Let’s Get Visible, Amazon Decoded, Strangers to Superfans, BookBub Ads Expert, and Following. He has been featured in the Telegraph, the Irish Times, the Guardian, the Irish Examiner, the Sunday Times, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Forbes, Mashable, New York Observer, Newsweek Polska, il Giornale, The Star Malaysia, and a smattering of Wanted posters.
In May 2020, he was one of the recipients of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award along with John Picacio. SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal said, “David Gaughran has been doing yeoman’s work for years, alerting indie writers about predatory schemes and warning them about changes in independent publishing. His work makes the science-fiction and fantasy landscape safer for writers.”
Links for David:
Site: https://davidgaughran.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidGaughran
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidGaughranWriter/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/david-gaughran
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Now & Then by Sara Bennett Wealer
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.
Links for Shahla:
Website: https://www.thinkmediaconsult.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkMedia16
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkmediaconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkmediaconsulting/
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Every Stolen Breath by Kimberley Gabriel
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.
Links for Tess:
Website: http://www.tessgerritsen.com/
Create Beautiful Books With Vellum
Today’s guest is Kelly DeVos whose work on body positivity has been featured in the New York Times as well as on Vulture, Salon, Bustle and SheKnows. Her debut novel, Fat Girl on a Plane, named one of the “50 Best Summer Reads of All Time” by Reader’s Digest magazine, is available now from HarperCollins. Her second book, Day Zero, is coming in 2019 from Inkyard Press/HarperCollins.
Kelly joined me today to talk about the sophomore experience in publishing, the importance of networking, and how NOT to market yourself. Also covered: jumping genres but still remaining true to your author brand.
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Wasted Pretty by Jamie Beth Cohen
The Sin Soldiers by Tracy Auerbach
Today’s guest is Aileen Erin, who is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd—from Star Wars to Star Trek, she geeks out on Tolkien’s linguistics, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles.
Aileen joined me today to talk about maintain readers interest – and her own – while writing an eight book series. Also covered, how urban fantasy is dead… in traditional publishing. But a smart indie writer can make a decent living at it, the indie experience at BookCon, and how to market without big publisher push behind you.
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Jagger Jones and the Mummy's Ankh by Malayna Evans
We Rule The Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett
Today’s guest is Megan Shepherd, author of THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER trilogy, THE CAGE Trilogy, THE SECRET HORSES OF BRIAR HILL and THE GRIM LOVELIES. Megan joined me to talk about her process, and how the spark of an idea can sometimes get lost during the execution. Also covered: writing trilogies versus standalones, and why dark stories appeal to us.
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Today’s guest is Jessica Verdi, author of the YA contemporary novels My Life After Now, The Summer I Wasn’t Me, What You Left Behind, as well as And She Was. Jess received her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and is a freelance editor of romance, women’s fiction, chick lit, YA, and kid lit
Jessica joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about querying a first novel, landing her agent, and breaking out of writing only one genre. Also covered: how Jessica handles hot button issues in her books, and the pushback that can come from writing about such topics, as well as the pros and cons of getting an MFA and why everyone needs an editor.
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See All The Stars by Kit Frick
Today’s guest is Lori Rader Day, winner of both the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Anthony Award. Lori joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the work that goes into a novel before you ever query it, the benefits of joining professional writing organizations, as well as the moving rung of what we deem success after being published. Also covered: how genre writing can be looked down upon, and how genre tags can build walls between readers and books they might enjoy.
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Become a Patron to Listen Ad-Free for Just $2.00 A Month
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Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood
Today’s guest is Abigail Johnson, author of the YA contemporary titles EVEN IF I FALL, THE FIRST TO KNOW and IF I FIX YOU. She became a tetraplegic after breaking her neck in a car accident when she was seventeen, but hasn’t let that stop her from bodysurfing in Mexico, and becoming a published author. Abigail speaks with host Mindy McGinnis about the process of getting an agent, how branding can limit your writing in some ways once you have a career, the ease of world building when writing contemporary – not to be confused with the idea that writing YA is easy - and how Abigail’s accident shapes her unique perspective of life and people, and where to find her online.
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Your Destination Is On The Left by Lauren Spieller
