Episodes

Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Today's guest is Jenn Bouchard, author of First Course. Jenn joined me today to talk about working full time while writing, pursuing the short story marketplace to build a platform, and how to use Little Free Libraries as part of your marketing plan.
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Monday Aug 22, 2022
Lorie Langdon On The Long Haul & Hard Grind of A Writing Career
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Today's guest is Lorie Langdon, author of the Happily Never After series from Disney. Lorie joined me today to talk about ups and downs of a career, finding non-traditional routes to income, and how social media creates the illusion of success... even when it's not true.
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Monday Mar 28, 2022
Farah Jasmine Griffin On Race and Politics & How Literature Illuminates Both
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Farah Jasmine Griffin joined me today to talk about her new book from WW Norton, Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature. Also covered - the importance of education, freedom of political thought, book banning and the impact of literature on those whose voices are silenced.
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Monday Oct 25, 2021
Sarah J. Schmitt on Successful School Visits for Authors
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Sarah J. Schmitt joined me today to talk about her new book, Where There's A Whisk. We talked about school visits for authors with teens, how to get their attention, and how to keep it. Also covered - writing in the pandemic, reality television, and the efficacy (or not) of social media
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Monday Mar 23, 2020
Tom Lutz on The Constantly Changing Landscape of Publishing
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
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 travel, one on the history of slackers, another on the history of tears. His first crime novel, Born Slippy, was published in January.
Tom joined me today to talk about some of the monumental changes he’s seen in publishing during this decade, as well as how global trade and politics affects every day artists, as well as his first crime novel, Born Slippy, and tackling the topic of toxic masculinity.
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Links for Tom:
Site: https://www.tomlutzwriter.com/
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Hi-Fi Candles: https://hificandlestudio.com/
Use Code PANTS for 20% off at checkout!

Monday Dec 30, 2019
Rebecca Syme On Using Your Strengths to Write Better, Faster
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
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.
Links for Rebecca:
Website: https://betterfasteracademy.com/
QuitCast Podcast: https://betterfasteracademy.com/podcast/
Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast: https://www.rlsyme.com/category/podcasts/
Writing as R.L Syme & Becca Boyd: https://www.rlsyme.com/
Clifton Strengths Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx
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A Map For Wild Hearts by Andrea Hannah

Monday Jul 08, 2019
Making Art Even When You're Lost with Andrea Hannah
Monday Jul 08, 2019
Monday Jul 08, 2019
Today’s guest is Andrea Hannah, an award-winning author, essayist, and workshop leader. She teaches on living a healthy creative life at her Wild Heart Retreats and writes about making art on Twitter and Instagram (@andeehannah). Andrea joined me today to talk using the same process whether she’s writing fiction or non-fiction, and the constant hustle of being a successful freelancer, how her upcoming release A Map for Wild Hearts, is designed to help creatives find their way through the obstacles blocking their artistic goals, and writing through chronic pain, illness, and depression.
Links for Andrea:
Website: http://www.andreahannah.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndeeHannah
IG: https://www.instagram.com/andeehannah/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.hannah
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Tuesday May 14, 2019
Tuesday May 14, 2019
Today brings a special guest to the show. Number one internationally bestselling author Jeffery Deaver dropped by to talk about his newest release - The Never Game - which introduces a new series character, Colter Shaw. Also covered: character as setting, blending the world of survivalism with gaming, and writing a message without hitting your audience over the head with it.

Monday Oct 22, 2018
How to Capture Middle Grade Voice With Tara Gilboy
Monday Oct 22, 2018
Monday Oct 22, 2018
Today’s guest is Tara Gilboy who holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, where she specialized in writing for children and young adults. Her middle grade novel, Unwritten, was published by Jolly Fish Press just this month. She teaches creative writing in San Diego Community College’s Continuing Education Program and for the PEN Writers in Prisons Program.
Tara joined me today to talk about selling her book without an agent, and how to process criticism from critique partners. Also Covered: exercises to help you capture middle grade voice, and how to find critique partners both online and in real life. And, can writing be taught or is it intuitive?
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Monday Feb 19, 2018
Rachele Alpine: Know What You Want In A Literary Agent
Monday Feb 19, 2018
Monday Feb 19, 2018
Today’s guest is Rachele Alpine, author of both YA and middle grade titles, as well as being a full-time English teacher, wife and mom. Rachele joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the importance of knowing what you want in an agent – and what questions to ask – before you begin querying, how having a teacher guide made for your book can crack the classroom market, as well as time management and how Rachele maximizes every minute in order to be a full time teacher, wife, mother, and writer.
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