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Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
Episodes
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Monday Oct 21, 2019
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 Alyssa Milano.
Links for Debbie
Website: https://debbierigaud.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/debbierigaud
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/froandabow/
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Monday Oct 14, 2019
Monday Oct 14, 2019
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.
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Monday Oct 07, 2019
Monday Oct 07, 2019
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 creating your author platform.
Links for Kelly:
Website: https://knliterary.com/
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The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey.
Monday Sep 02, 2019
Monday Sep 02, 2019
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 fiction, and how to create a place readers want to return to, what has changed in publishing over time, and how to stay invigorated as a writer.
Links for T. Jefferson Parker:
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Monday Aug 26, 2019
Monday Aug 26, 2019
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.
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Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Today’s guest is Chelsea Bobulski who graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in history. As a writer, she has a soft spot for characters with broken pasts, strange talents, and obstacles they must overcome for a brighter future. Her debut young adult novel, THE WOOD is available now. Her next release REMEMBER ME releases August 6th.
Chelsea joined me today to talk about querying for five years, the stress of breaking up with her first agent, and the importance of maintaining a polite, professional attitude while in the query trenches, learning how to balance writing the next book against the time investment of marketing your backlist and the key to writing horror, especially for younger audiences.
Links for Chelsea
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Wasted Pretty by Jamie Beth Cohen
All the Walls of Belfast by Sarah Carlson
A Map for Wild Hearts: How to Make Art Even When You Are Lost by Andrea Hannah
Monday Jul 22, 2019
Monday Jul 22, 2019
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.
Links for Kelly:
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Wasted Pretty by Jamie Beth Cohen
The Sin Soldiers by Tracy Auerbach
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Today’s guest is Lauren Mechling, who has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, The New Yorker online, and Vogue, where she writes a regular book column. She's worked as a crime reporter and metro columnist for The New York Sun, a young adult novelist, and a features editor at The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Harvard College, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.
Lauren joined me today to talk about how her own experiences in print media helped form the world of her new novel, How Could She, the complexities of female friendships as a storytelling concept, and how podcasts figure into Lauren’s new novel.
Links for Lauren:
Website: https://www.laurenmechling.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenmechling
IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurenomics/
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A Map for Wild Hearts: How to Make Art Even When You're Lost by Andrea Hannah