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Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
Episodes
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Today’s guest is Maram Taibah, a fantasy writer, born in Montreal, Canada. She was raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which, at times, was the most unimaginative place. This pushed her to escape into books at a very early age and from there into the craft of storytelling. Her most recent publication is the children's steampunk book Weathernose. Maram is not only a fiction writer but also a screenwriter and filmmaker. In 2014 she made her first short film Munkeer and in 2016, Don’t Go Too Far, both of which were screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner. Maram joined me today to talk about how screenwriting can help you become a more concise novelist, as well as her three tips for world building.
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Links for Maram:
Website: https://www.maram-taibah.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maram.taibah.author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maramtaibah
Newsletter: https://www.maram-taibah.com/subscribe-1
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Kelly DeVos Day Zero: https://amzn.to/2NkkL9j
Andrea Hannah A Map for Wilds Hearts: https://amzn.to/3a6ZXMi
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
Wednesday Dec 18, 2019
Wednesday Dec 18, 2019
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.
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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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Monday Dec 09, 2019
Monday Dec 09, 2019
Today’s guest is Juan Pablo Villalobos, author of The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border. Juan Pablo joined me today to talk about the experiences of young refugees, and his approach to compiling their stories. Also covered: using a narrative within non-fiction.
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Links for Juan Pablo:
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Monday Dec 02, 2019
Monday Dec 02, 2019
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.
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Links for Tracy
Website: https://www.tchevalier.com/index.php
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When the Truth Unravels by RuthAnne Snow
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Today’s guest is Manuela Velasco, the marketing and publicity director as well as an editor for Tessera Editorial which was founded on the idea that publishing can and should be an accessible industry to all people. Through myriad diverse voices in the profession, Tessera Editorial hopes to open the world of books to as many readers as possible. Manuela joined me today to talk about the services that Tessera offers, as well as why getting people of color into all aspects of publishing – not just authors – is important for true diversity and inclusivity in the industry. Also covered: what a sensitivity read is – and what it isn’t. And diversity as a hot topic in publishing – is it a double edged sword?
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Links for Tessera Editorial:
Website: https://www.tesseraeditorial.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TesseraEdits
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/tesseraeditorial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tesseraeditorial/
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Monday Nov 04, 2019
Monday Nov 04, 2019
Today’s guest is Kelly Coon, author of the YA Fantasy Gravemaidens which recounts the tale of two sisters: Kammani, a 16-year-old healer's apprentice who wants to save the dying ruler of her city-state and Nanaea, Kammani’s little sister who will be buried alive as the ruler’s bride if he dies. Kelly joined me today to talk about how to make a fantasy stand out in the crowded YA market by making her female main character have understated strength. Also covered:how editing and being an ACT test prep writer helped Kelly in her fiction and marketing on your own, the constant hustle, and the benefits of having a street team.
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Links for Kelly:
Website: https://www.kellycoon.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyCoon106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellycoon106
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellycoon106/
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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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Create Beautiful Books With Vellum
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.