156.5K
Downloads
233
Episodes
Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
Episodes
Aug 30, 2021
Aug 30, 2021
30 min
Today's guest is Pam Munter author of Fading Fame: Women of a Certain Age in Hollywood. Pam joined me to talk about the Golden Age of Hollywood, how things have changed since the casting couch was a permanent fixture in studios, and how acting and performance have informed her writing.
Read the Transcript
Support the Podcast
Follow on Facebook
Links for Pam:
Ad Links:
Aug 24, 2020
Aug 24, 2020
24 min
Today's guest is Fiona Davis, historical novelist, national bestseller and library darling. Fiona Joined me today to talk about the 125th anniversary of the New York Public Library, which is the setting for her newest book, The Lions of Fifth Avenue. We talk about writing historical fiction, research methods, the difficulty of writing dual timelines and the difference between writing recent history versus the past.
Read the Transcript
Support the Podcast
Follow on Facebook
Links for Fiona:
Ad Links:
Jul 13, 2020
Jul 13, 2020
56 min
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.”
Read the Transcript
Support the Podcast
Follow on Facebook!
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
Ad Links:
Jun 29, 2020
Jun 29, 2020
39 min
Today's guest is Glenn Dyer, author of the Conor Thorn series, a World War 2 thriller series. Glenn joined us today to talk about the power of word of mouth, how to get reviews as an indie author, and the importance of networking as an indie publisher.
Support the Podcast
Read the Transcript
Links for Glenn:
Ad links:
Mar 30, 2020
Mar 30, 2020
29 min
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 Days reveals the untold story of women who escaped the Hollywood blacklist. Sarah joined me today to talk about the inspiration for Red Letter Days and the research involved in writing about the Red Scare. Also covered - the challenge of basing a fictional character on a real person, and the last repercussions of the Red Scare.
Support the Podcast
Read the Transcript
Links for Sarah:
Site: http://www.sarahjanestratford.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stratfordsj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahJaneStratfordAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjanestratford/
Ad Links:
Personal Revolution Podcast: https://www.himalaya.com/revolution1
Feb 10, 2020
Feb 10, 2020
42 min
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 challenge of adapting his own work for a younger audience. Also covered, research, and the process of interviewing your subjects face to face.
Support the Podcast
Read the Transcript
Links for Michael:
Ad Links:
Dec 2, 2019
Dec 2, 2019
25 min
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 audience, and learning your own rhythms as a writer.
Support the Podcast
Read the Transcript
Links for Tracy
Website: https://www.tchevalier.com/index.php
Ad Links:
When the Truth Unravels by RuthAnne Snow
Jul 1, 2019
Jul 1, 2019
20 min
Today’s guest is Lauren Kate. the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Fallen novels, the Teardrop novels, and The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages. Kate joined me today to talk about the inspiration for her newest adult historical, The Orphan’s Song. Also covered: what differences – if any – there are in writing for the adult vs. the YA market.
Links for Lauren:
Website: http://laurenkatebooks.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenkatebooks
IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkatebooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenKateAuthor/
Ad Links:
Apr 1, 2019
Apr 1, 2019
35 min
Today’s guest is Anne O’Brien Carelli author of Skylark and Wallcreeper, a middle grade story that alternates between Brooklyn in 2012 and the German-occupied town of Brume in 1944. Anne joined me today to talk about writing for children, and the amount of research required to write historical fiction – no matter the age, as well as using incubation and your subconscious to think your way around the sticky spots in your manuscript.
Links for Anne:
Website: https://www.anneobriencarelli.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aobc
IG: https://www.instagram.com/anne.o.carelli/
Ad Links:
Emily Martin Editorial Services: https://www.emilymartinedits.com/
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis amzn.to/2pjEWYh
Oct 8, 2018
Oct 8, 2018
29 min
Today’s guest is Sandra Gulland is an American-born Canadian novelist. She is the author of The Shadow Queen and Mistress of the Sun, novels set in the court of Louis XIV, The Sun King, and a trilogy of novels based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte: as well as The Game of Hope. A YA historical about Josephine’s daughter.
Sandra joined me today to talk about how publishing has changed over time, the differences in the Canadian publishing world vs. the American, and researching for historical novels. Also covered: assigning personalities to people that actually existed, sexism in researching female historical characters, and how to know when to bend the facts in order to keep your fiction interesting.
Support the Podcast on Go Fund Me
Links for Sandra:
Ad Links: