AM I WRITE?: Recent Episodes
Sheridan Sharp
A podcast by writers, for writers. Host Sheridan Sharp is on a quest to connect word wizards by featuring authors and editors on the show each week. Take part in the mission to create a community around the show and gain free advice from every episode on how to elevate YOUR manuscript.
Host Sheridan Sharp is joined by bestselling author Jeff Zentner, known for his resonate and lyrical writing. Learn how he writes in small pockets of time, how to trust your creative instincts, and why filling your “creative well” matters just as much as drafting.
If you’re looking for advice on craft, glean wisdom about Jeff’s character-driven process, thoughts on voice and first chapters, and practical advice for navigating publishing without chasing trends. If you’re looking to grow with intention and confidence as a writer–because you will grow–this is the episode for you!
Resources
www.jeffzentnerbooks.com
@jeffzentner (Instagram and Threads)
Jeff Zentner - Author on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/jeffzentnerauthor/
Works By Jeff: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01CIKMRJ6
About Jeff
Jeff Zentner is the author of The Serpent King, which Kirkus Reviews named one of the best books of the 21st Century, as well as In the Wild Light, Goodbye Days, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, Colton Gentry's Third Act, and Sunrise Nights, coauthored with Brittany Cavallaro. He has two books—Wayfarers and Love, Like Apples—forthcoming in 2026
Among other honors, he has won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the Muriel Becker Award, the International Literacy Association Award, been longlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal, and is a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist.
His books have been translated into fifteen languages and been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and in Vanity Fair and People Magazine. Before becoming a writer, he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He lives in Nashville.
In this episode of Am I Write?, Guest Marah Rutherford takes listeners inside her creative process and shares how travel, culture, and everyday life influence her fantasy worlds. She explains how small “story kernels” grow into full novels, and what helps her create vivid settings and believable characters.
She also reflects on building a sustainable creative life while juggling family, deadlines, & constant change, and talks honestly about burnout, productivity, and learning to focus on what she can control. Find balance and stay grounded in this unpredictable industry!
Resources
Mara’s Website: https://www.mararutherford.com
Mara’s Books: https://www.mararutherford.com/all
The Night and the Moths by Rachel Gillig: https://a.co/d/0gsWdAMH
Bear our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bury-our-bones-in-the-midnight-soil-v-e-schwab/1145782127
James by Percival Everett: https://a.co/d/03YSncIY
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry: https://a.co/d/0ab1aK3l
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mararutherfordwrites/
About Mara
Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London. Her favorite days involve books, tea, and Mishka (a small red muppet often mistaken for a dog). She is the author of YA fantasy novels including the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology, Luminous, The Poison Season, and A Multitude of Dreams (Inkyard Press). Her next book, A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC, releases Fall ‘25 from Wednesday Books.
Multi-published author Becky Dean joins host Sheridan Sharp to talk about the real process behind becoming a stronger writer: the practice books that build your skills, the rejections that teach resilience, and the everyday moments that shape your stories (like those magic moments in the shower). She shares simple, actionable insights for writers who want to understand the craft beyond the page.
If you’re looking for clarity and encouragement in your own writing journey, this episode is for you!
About Becky
Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. She writes young adult contemporary romance books full of travel and banter, and as B.L. Dean, writes science fiction books full of travel and banter in space. When she's not writing, she can be found drinking iced tea, watching science fiction shows, planning travel adventures, or spending time with her family.
Resources
Love Unmasked, Becky's Latest Book!
Website: https://beckydeanwrites.com/
Substack: https://beckydean.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckydeanwrites/
In this episode of Am I Write?, debut romance author Amy Buchanan joins Sheridan to talk about the winding, emotional, and ultimately inspiring path to publication. Amy opens up about writing her first draft in secret, finding clarity through mentorship, navigating the querying trenches, and learning to trust her creative instincts. She also shares the importance of community, how small acts of support can make a big difference for authors, and why writing dreams are never out of reach—even when life is chaotic. Whether you're drafting your first chapter or preparing to query, this conversation offers encouragement, honesty, and the reminder that your story deserves to be told.
About Amy
Amy Buchanan’s affair with romance and books started at three, when she watched Beauty and the Beast and couldn’t decide if she was more obsessed with the prince or the library (Obviously, the library). After decades of devouring love stories written by others, she finally decided to share the ones pinging around in her brain. She writes fun and spicy contemporary romances with relatable heroines, swoonworthy heroes, and loving found families. Her debut, Let's Call a Truce, released in January 2025.
She lives in Central Florida with her three littles, two pups, and one husband. On top of writing, she uses her Masters in Higher Education Administration to run a scholarship foundation for first-generation college students. When not working, she trolls travel sites for luxury rentals outside of her travel budget and–poorly–trains for half-marathons.
Resources
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amybuchananbooks/
Substack: https://amybuchananbooks.substack.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amybuchananbooks
Website: https://www.amybuchananbooks.com/
Let’s Call a Truceby Amy Buchanan
The New Romantics Bookstore
What happens when a medieval scholar trades academic papers for storytelling?
In this episode, Am I Write? Host Sheridan Sharp sits down with Amy S. Kaufman to talk about her bold leap from teaching medieval history to writing fiction. Amy shares how her background shaped her reimagining of Robin Hood—and why no word you write is ever wasted. If you’ve ever felt like it’s too late to chase your dream or worried your first draft isn’t “the one,” this episode will remind you: every story, sentence, and struggle matters.
Resources
Amy’s Official Website: amyskaufman.com
Substack Newsletter: Amy S. Kaufman on Substack
Instagram: @as_kaufman
Bluesky: @askaufman.bsky.social
About Amy
Amy S. Kaufman is the author of THE TRAITOR OF SHERWOOD FOREST, a Robin Hood retelling based on the medieval ballads (Penguin Books, 2025). Amy holds a PhD in medieval literature and has written about the Middle Ages for both academic journals and popular venues, including The Washington Post. She is co-author of The Devil’s Historians: How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past (University of Toronto Press, 2020).
Multi-published author K.C. Harper joins host Sheridan Sharp on Am I Write? to talk about character purpose, emotional depth, and the one thing every story needs—GMC. Plus, gain inspiration to keep writing and wisdom from both an author AND professional editor on where you can start.
Connect with K.C. Harper
Website
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Linktree
K.C.’s Goodreads
Shadowed Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #1) by K.C. Harper
Shattered Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #2) by K.C. Harper
Scattered Moonlight (The Moonlight Series #3) by K.C. Harper
Rear View by K.C. Harper
Other Resources
Fantasma series by Kalie Smith:
Phantasma (Wicked Games #1)
Enchantra(Wicked Games #2)
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
About K.C. Harper
K.C. Harper is a romance and romantasy author represented by Helen Lane at the Ki Literary Agency. She is the author of The Moonlight Series, a romantasy collection published by Hodderscape (Hachette). The first two installments, Shadowed Moonlight and Shattered Moonlight, are available now, with the third book in the series scheduled for release later this year. Shadowed Moonlight was featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine as one of the “Best Romantasys to Read If You Loved Onyx Storm.”
In addition to her fantasy work, Harper is expanding into contemporary romance with her recent novel, Rear View, published by Harlequin (HarperCollins) in 2025. Beyond her writing, she also works as a developmental editor, helping other authors refine their craft and bring their stories to life.
What does it really mean to “put your creative self first” when life, work, and algorithms keep getting in the way?
In this episode of Am I Write?, author Paula Chase gets honest about what 18 years in publishing have taught her about creative balance, writing through burnout, and redefining success on your own terms. She shares how she’s learned to protect her creativity from the noise of social media, why showing up to the page matters more than going viral, and how to keep writing even when the world feels too busy to care. For new and aspiring writers, this conversation is both a grounding reminder and a gentle push: your effort is the art, and your consistency is the true success.
Resources
paulachasebooks.com
thebrownbookshelf.com
TikTok: paula.chaseauthor
IG: thatpaulachase
Link Paula's latest book: Balancing Act
Guest Belinda Kroll discusses her writing journey, starting from childhood and evolving into a balance between a day job and her passion for writing. She shares insights on the entrepreneurial spirit inherited from her family, the impact of hustle culture, and her decision to keep writing as a joyful side endeavor rather than a full-time career.
Tune in to hear about her approach to writing and marketing as well as the importance of understanding how you want your readers to feel and why she enjoys genre-blending. Belinda also touches on her creative process, the challenges and changes in the publishing industry, and offers practical advice for aspiring writers.
Resources
Find Belinda’s Hesitant Mediums series on her website, worderella.com!
Instagram: @wordella
Mr.Darcy’s Enchantment by Abigail Reynolds
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Scales and Sensibility by Stephanie Burgis
Manners and Monstersby Tilly Wallace
About Belinda
Belinda Kroll is an award-winning author of cozy stories with Jane Austen vocabulary and modern sass. She writes and illustrates the Hesitant Mediums series, where women can speak with ghosts and wish they couldn't, and the sweet men who love them. Belinda is the mind behind the Bright Bird Press all-in-one novel planner and other forgiving stationery for discovery writers.
Host Sheridan Sharp is joined by author Jaclyn Goldis for a compelling discussion on the intersection of travel, writing, and manifestation.
Jaclyn reveals how her adventures around the world have breathed life into the captivating settings of her books. Hear why she made the bold decision to stop working on old projects and move into the realm of suspense. Plus, discover new ways to find ease in your writing journey through the transformative power of manifestation.
Resources
Preorder Jaclyn’s new book, The Main Character, or check out her website
Jaclyn’s Instagram
Other books by Jaclyn
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Bad, Bad Seymour Brown by Susan Isaacs
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourselfby Joe Dispensa
Get on the waiting list for Jaclyn’s new manifestation course by signing up for her newsletter!
About Jaclyn
Jaclyn Goldis has a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a JD from NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling in Tel Aviv, where she can often be found writing from cafés by the beach.
Whether you're an aspiring writer seeking guidance or simply curious about the realities of the writing journey, join host Sheridan Sharp on Am I Write? for a conversation with award-winning author Rosalyn Eves. In this episode, they delve into the nuanced challenges faced by writers, from the relentless pressure to publish quickly to the intricacies of polishing manuscripts.
Eves shares candid reflections on what she wishes she had known earlier in her publishing career, offering invaluable insights for writers at any stage. Discover practical tips for navigating the demands of a writing career while juggling life's responsibilities and explore the concept of the objective correlative in storytelling.
Whether you're looking for inspiration or practical advice, this episode promises to provide a deeper understanding of the writing process. Tune in to gain valuable insights and perspective on the journey of writing!
Resources
Books by Rosalyn
Rosalyn’s Website
Rosalyn’s Instagram
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl Klein
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Watch the Storymakers Guild Conference where Rosalyn will be teaching! (Virtual copies release after recording date)
Query Shark by Janet Reid
About Rosalyn
Rosalyn Eves is an author, English professor, and mother of 3. She has a PhD from Penn State, and has written the YA historical fantasy trilogy Blood Rose Rebellion, an award-winning YA historical, Beyond the Mapped Stars, and the Regency companion books An Improbable Season and an Unlikely Proposition.
Not everyone’s querying journey is a handful of years! Many authors have experiences like Rita’s: a 14-year span of trial, error, and a whole lot of persistence. Join host Sheridan Sharp as guest Rita Feinstein talks publishing, poetry, connecting in a post-truth world.
Resources
Rita’s Debut: Meet Me in the Fourth Dimension
Sylvia Path
Anne Sexton
The Quiet Damage by Jesselyn Cook
Website: https://ritafeinstein.com/
Twitter/X: @RitaFeinstein
Instagram: @longlostdragonprincess
Support your local indie bookstore
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride
Jeannine Hall Gailey
About Rita
Rita Feinstein is the author of the poetry collections Life on Dodge and Everything is Real, both from Brain Mill Press, and the young adult novel-in-verse Meet Me in the Fourth Dimension (Page Street 2024). Her stories and poems have appeared in Permafrost, The Normal School, and Willow Springs, among other publications, and have been nominated for Best of the Net and Best New Poets. She is also the Regional Manager of Writopia Lab DC, a nonprofit that runs creative writing workshops for children and teens. She lives with her husband, who is a lawyer, and her dog, who is not.
From integrating culture to the pros of magical realism and around to how she landed her agent, the content in this episode with guest María Alejandra Barrios Vélez pulls from a well of experience and offers firsthand advice to new and aspiring writers everywhere. Also talk about María's debut book, scheduled just weeks out from this episode air date on Am I Write!
Resources
Read THE WAVES TAKE YOU HOME
Website: https://mariaalejandrabarriosvelez.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariaalebvelezwrites/
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
The House of the Spiritsby Isabel Allende
About María
María Alejandra Barrios Vélez is a writer born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She has an MA in creative writing from the University of Manchester and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and scruffy dog, Gus.
She was the 2020 SmokeLong Flash Fiction Fellow, and her stories have been published in Shenandoah Literary, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, El Malpensante, Fractured Lit, SmokeLong Quarterly, The Offing, and more. Her work has been supported by organizations such as Vermont Studio Center, Kweli, Caldera Arts, and the New Orleans Writers’ Residency.
The Waves Take You Home is María’s debut, inspired by the resilience and strength of the women in her family and the Caribbean city she spent most of her life in.
Patchree Jones stars on this episode of Am I Write? Podcast to talk about the impact of the middle grade book genre and why she left the corporate world for it. Also discuss the pros of being an unagented, small press author and consider how you can build a marketable author brand naturally.
Resources
Website: patchreejones.com
Twitter/X: https://x.com/PointsTangent?s=20
BlueSky: @patchreejones.bsky.social
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patchreejones?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patchreejones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patchreejones/?hl=en
Discord: patchreejones
WriteHive for Indie Authors
About Patchree
PATCHREE JONES is Thai-American author and currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and one lazy dog.
As a girl, she grew up watching Thai dramas with her mom and dreamt of being a playwright as a teen. While life took her on a different path, her love of stories never faltered. It takes a fighter to share their vision with the world, and Patchree hopes to blaze the trail for all children to go after their dreams unapologetically.
Her forthcoming middle-grade novel, SKYLIGHT, will be her debut work of fiction and is slated for publication on June 25, 2024 with Sorra Books.
Literary Journals: Do they really help you get your manuscript published?
If you've wondered about this, guest Christine Ma-Kellams is here to share her experience as an author AND writer with multiple online publications. Also, take a look at how she builds dimensional characters by ensuring there's enough to root for--and against--on this episode of Am I Write?Resources
THE BAND
Website: christinema-kellams.com
@makellams (Twitter/Tiktok)
@choppstixz (Instagram)
About Christine
Christine Ma-Kellams a college professor, Harvard-trained cultural psychologist and writer whose fiction and essays have appeared in Prairie Schooner, the Kenyon Review, ZYZZYVA, the Rumpus, Catapult, Southern Humanities Review, Saturday Evening Post, the Rupture/the Collagist, the Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today and elsewhere. Two of her short stories were also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her empirical studies on culture and relationships have also been widely covered in GQ (Australia), Esquire (Middle East), Boston Globe, Vice News, Elle Magazine (UK), Yahoo News, MSN News, Fox News, New York Post, and Daily Mail. Her debut novel from Atria, The Band (April 2024), follows a cancelled Kpop boy bander who escapes by hiding in the McMansion of an unhappily married therapist with a Savior complex. In its indicting portrayal of mental health/public obsession/fandom/cancel culture, The Band considers how old tribal allegiances disrupt modern celebrity.
The age old question: how much of getting published is just luck and how much of it is skill?
"Rebel Author" Barry Lyga joins host Sheridan Sharp to talk about his 27-novel track record (and counting). Instead of getting distraught over the timing of it all, focus on what you CAN control on this episode of Am I Write? Podcast.
About Barry
Called a "YA Rebel Author" by Kirkus, Barry Lyga has published 27 novels in a 17-year-career, running the gamut from award-winning literary novels like Bang and Boy Toy to thrillers like the New York Times bestselling I Hunt Killers to astonishing super-hero adventures such as the Flash and Thanos. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages around the globe and he has been named a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky for his contribution to writing. His latest work is the duology EDITED/UNEDITED, a two-book dyad that has never been attempted before in publishing, releasing both the original unedited manuscript and the cut-down version the publisher wanted. He lives outside New York City with his wife, the novelist Morgan Baden and their children.
Resources
Website: barrylyga.com
Bluesky: @barrylyga.com
Mastodon: @barrylyga@mstdn.party
TikTok: @barrylyga
Twitter (if you must): @barrylyga
EDITED
UNEDITEDGeneration Wonder: The New Age of Heroes Skyjacked by Paul Griffin
Replay by Ken Grimwood
Podcast: Writing in Real Life
Swati Hegde opens up about her writing experience spending years in the query trenches. She explains the role destiny played in both her upcoming publication and her current career as a writing coach. Gain hope and inspiration from her for your writing journey on this episode of Am I Write?.
Resources
Website: swatihegde.com (Pre-order MATCH ME IF YOU CANnow!)
Instagram: @swatihegdeauthor
Twitter: @swatihwrites
About Swati
Swati Hegde is the author of MATCH ME IF YOU CAN, a desi friends-to-lovers romance releasing June 4, 2024 from Penguin Random House. She is a freelance editor, mindset coach, and self-proclaimed coffee shop enthusiast who lives in Bangalore, India, and can often be found at the nearest café with a hot mug of tea. She looks forward to a long career bringing Indian stories and voices to light.
About MATCH ME IF YOU CANConfident fashionista Jia Deshpande spends her days writing cliché-ridden listicles for Mimosa, Mumbai’s top women’s magazine. When she can, Jia dishes about the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog, attends her family’s weekly game nights, and ignores her true feelings for her childhood friend. If that wasn’t enough, Jia needs to successfully set up a coworker with her perfect match to get the green light for her new matchmaking column. Thankfully, organizing meet-cutes has never been difficult for her.
Local pub owner and cocktail genius Jaiman Patil can’t help but be enamored with Jia and her meddling spirit. He’s always been an honorary part of her family, but even more so since his own moved to America. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it’s also more loving than anything he experienced growing up, and he wouldn’t risk losing that for the world. It feels manageable—until his pub begins to struggle and his long-hidden feelings for Jia grow deeper.
When Jia’s attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia Deshpande realizes that love may be a lot more complicated than she thought. Luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.
Join guest Kathryn Lang alongside host Sheridan Sharp to discuss how giving tribute to your uniqueness will give you power to write boldly and with purpose. Unlock the elements of your voice and be relentlessly helpful along the way on this episode of Am I Write? .
Resources
Website: https://www.kathrynlang.com/books
Write Your Book in 8 Weeks: https://pecuproductions.com/courses/8-weeks-to-write-your-book/
Facebook:TheKathrynCLang
Twitter: KathrynCLang
LinkedIn: Kathryn Lang
Kathryn’s Books and eBooks
About Kathryn
“Have fun. Make friends. Be relentlessly helpful. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.”
I believe it is simple, but we invest a lot of our resources piling up on that simplicity to see how complicated we can make it.
As a homeschool mom of three boys (18 years, graduated two with the third back after a three-year break), I know that life will be full of interesting moments, so there is no need to make it more complicated than it has to be.
With a focus on hope and encouragement through words, I’ve kept going even when a tornado dropped on our house. Words make a difference, and I put words to work to change the world – or just to change my attitude for the day (which is changing the world one attitude at a time).
The power of words drives me to find more ways to share words. I put my words to work in a full-time freelance career in 2004. I have expanded my platform using words by penning books and eBooks. I invest with words in others by speaking at events, on podcasts, and through live streaming into others because it is all about relationships.
Landing the agent isn’t the end of your journey—for many, it’s the beginning.
Elizabeth Sumner Wafler joins today to enlighten us with her experience, nailing a hopeful agent match and then managing a contrasting struggle with market trends. Learn how she pressed forward with captivating prose, succeeding through hybrid publishing and now scheduled to launch a fifth publication!
Resources
Website: elizabethsumnerwafler.com
Instagram: elizabeth_sumner_wafler
Four Eyes Editorial: https://elizabethsumnerwafler.com/editorial-services/
Save the Cat! Books
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Erica Bauermeister, Author
About Elizabeth
The author of four novels--and another on the way--Elizabeth writes evocative women’s fiction and romance fiction. She is an active member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association where she formerly served as Director of Craft Education. She enjoys working with other writers through her editorial side hustle Four Eyes Editorial.
Elizabeth resides with her husband in South Carolina. She can be found reading, working at her blue desk, at a farmers market, poking through a bookstore, or enjoying a pretty cocktail on her back porch.
Aneesa Marufu joins host Sheridan Sharp to talk about her fresh-off-the-press book and her experience as an internationally-published author. Hear the unique story of how she found her agent, why she writes for young adults, and what she does to handle the pressure of deadlines on this episode of Am I Write.
Resources
https://aneesamarufu.com/
https://www.instagram.com/aneesa.marufu/?hl=en-gb
Annesa's new release, An Emerald Sky: https://amzn.eu/d/01828Nf
About Aneesa
Aneesa Marufu lives in Manchester and was the winner of the Kimberley Chambers Kickstart Prize for underrepresented writers in 2019. Her debut novel, The Balloon Thief, is inspired by her South Asian heritage and her obsession with hot air balloons, though she is yet to fly in one!
An Emerald Sky, the stunning sequel to The Balloon Thief will hit shelves on November 9th 2023!
Debut author of a Jane Austen meets To All The Boys I've Loved Before tale, Priyanka Taslim joins us on Am I Write to talk about beloved retellings, keeping them fresh, and how she conquered those dark nights of doubt. Get some great resources and look forward to her upcoming projects!
Resources
priyankataslim.com
https://linktr.ee/priyankataslim
https://twitter.com/bhootbabe
https://www.instagram.com/bhootbabe
About Priyanka
Priyanka Taslim is a writer, educator, and lifelong New Jersey resident. Having grown up in a bustling Bangladeshi diaspora community, surrounded by her mother’s entire clan and many aunties of no relation, her writing often features families, communities, and all the drama therein.
Priyanka tells all kinds of stories about Bangladeshi characters. Her writing usually stars spunky Bengali heroines finding their place in the world...and a little swoony romance, too. THE LOVE MATCH, out now from Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is her debut YA novel and has been praised in mediums such as Teen Vogue, USA Today, Pop Culturalist and more. It was a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection and one of Amazon’s best young adult novels of January 2023. Her adult debut, FROM MUMBAI, WITH LOVE, will be published by St. Martin’s Griffin in 2025, and she has future novels in the works with both publishers.
What is a beta reader?
How can I determine I'm ready to give my manuscript to them?
Should I consider family for beta readers?
How can I prepare them to give good feedback?
What should I expect from a batch of beta-reading?
Having any of these questions or just want some new ideas for your next beta reading sesh? Host Sheridan Sharp is here with some resources and ideas!
ResourcesAm I Write Episode with Annalisa Summea: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/13796507
Am I Write Episode with Laura Pence Atencio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/13384043
You've been tirelessly working on your writing, pouring your heart and soul into your stories, but when it comes to getting published, you're hitting a brick wall. You've been told to simply keep submitting your work, but the rejections keep piling up, leaving you frustrated and demoralized. Guest, Annalisa Summea reveals the her individualized program to help you accomplish your writing goals. Get some freebees straight from the publishers and more on this episode of Am I Write!
Resources
https://datewiththemuse.com/freeagentguide/
www.StorytellingForPantsers.com
www.DateWithTheMuse.com
www.writing-gym.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnalisaCParent/
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1767454483477408/
Twitter @annalisaparent
Stage Whispers, by Annalisa: https://a.co/d/8mNNlFY
Across the Universe Series by Beth Revis: https://www.goodreads.com/series/56124-across-the-universe
About Annalisa
Annalisa Summea helps writers to finish novels, publish traditionally and live the author lifestyle. She writes for many local, national, and international publications, has written and produced sketches for a Telly-Award winning CBS television show. She and her work have been featured on Huffington Post Live, PBS, The New York Times, and The Associated Press, as well as many podcasts, radio and television programs.
Her book Storytelling for Pantsers: How to Outline and Revise your Novel without an Outline is a recipient of a CIPA EVVY Silver award for Best Business Book, and a finalist in the humor category. Her newest title is Stage Whispers: A Living History, Retold.
Annalisa has taught writing around the world, spoken at writing conferences in New York, London, Paris, Boston, and beyond. When she’s not writing, you can find her walking her dog, camping with her Girl Scout troop, or volunteering with the Rotary Club.
Monica Miller returns to the show to share how to captivate readers and build a loyal following through the power of personal connection and storytelling. Monica emphasizes the importance of weaving your gold thread by starting in the middle of your story. Make a lasting impact with personal experiences and perspectives in both your books and marketing efforts.
Resources
www.monicawrites.com/Calendar
https://www.facebook.com/monika.lynn17
www.monicawrites.com
www.monicawrites.com/Lab
www.monicawrites.com/Templates
https://www.subscribepage.com/savvyauthor
The first episode with Monica: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/13205165
About MonicaMonica Miller helps authors market their books and receive more visibility by being Your Content Guide. Monica inspires authors through her monthly membership participants to share themselves, their stories, and their works with the world through marketing. She is a four-time published author, International Speaker, and Writer, and she owns her business, Monica Writes while living life in Northern Indiana with her husband and two boys where she spends her days homeschooling her oldest son, drinking coffee, reading fantasy, going on walks, and keeping up with her boys.
I have an idea, but I don't know if it will stand the test of time. How do I know it's good?
Should I share my work with others? What if I'm really excited about it?
Does it need to be outlined before I dive in?
If you're looking for answers to these questions, let's have a candid conversation and see if we can get you somewhere today on Am I Write! Plus, tune in for some resources and quotes from famous authors that might get you back into the zone.
Resources
Watch for upcoming episode on coaching/mentorship, querying, and storytelling for PANTSERS: Annalisa Summeya!
Episode ONE [!] with Author Josh Allen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/11150970
SURRENDER your control over everything and just write: Brent Perkins
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/13484118
A writing community, accountability, and coaching: Monica Miller
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/13205165
Entering the writing scene WITHOUTOUT a background/the query/publishing journey reality: Kiana Krystle
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/12773653
Writing solo versus writing collaboratively (and advice for newbies): Gina Buonaguro
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/12156817
Face Rejection, Be Persistent, and Don’t Fear the Pivot: Heather Carter
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/11827662
Getting to know YOURSELF as a writer & when to push through the hardships for the story: Lilian Horn
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/11707249
Gut instincts and taking yourself seriously as a writer: Maggie Giles
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/11658064
Disaster Characters, Disaster Queries, and Disaster Drafts: You Need Them ALL: JC Peterson
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2031789/11611125
A single offhand remark from a loved one ignited something in her soul; join bestselling author Sarah M. Eden as she reveals tips from her unexpected journey into authorship that has grown into a many years - and many books - strong career. Stay tuned until the end for her EPIC announcement, newly released!
Key Takeaways:
- Find plot inspiration from history and personal experiences.
- Learn to effectively manage the leap from manuscript to published work while protecting reader and publisher interests.
- The necessity of treating writing as a regular job amalgamating both creative and business aspects.
Resources
www.SarahMEden.com
Instagram.com/sarah_m_eden
Facebook.com/SarahMEden
https://www.youtube.com/@betweenthelinespodcast1415
About Sarah
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2020’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, "Forget Me Not," and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, "Healing Hearts." She is a three-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.
Sarah is represented by Pam Pho at Steven Literary Agency.
Let go of control and surrender to the transformative power of writing as guest Brent Perkins shares his journey from a corporate career to embracing his passion, inspiring aspiring writers to find fulfillment in the unpredictable world of publishing.
"Just be happy with the fulfillment that you get from [writing]." - Brent Perkins
Resources
www.3xBold.com
www.PapercutsSuck.com
No More Mister Nice Guy by Robert Glover
The Kin of ATA are Waiting For You by Dorothy Bryant
About Brent
"I spent the first half of life building a career around achievement, reaching C-Suite status, traveling the world, speaking, launching new technologies, and building businesses. After a 7 year journey that led through some dark places, plant medicine journeys, and eye-opening realizations, it became evident that nothing external was ever going to fill the void. As the reality of divorce after 18 years of marriage sunk in, I began to see the grind for what it truly was, bringing clarity to what really matters in life. Beginning with a divine 'tap on the shoulder', I stepped out of corporate America, put everything else on hold, and wrote my first book.
'Papercuts: The Art of Self Delusion,' set to launch in the summer of 2023, paves the road for others to break free from victimhood and embrace a life of integrity. It has allowed me to bring my passion for a life well-lived, and well-traveled, to help others integrate and build healthy rituals around being bold in body, mind, and spirit. My home base is in Phoenix, AZ, I am the father of two amazing teenage daughters and am an active member of Front Row Dads - a mastermind and charitable community that prioritizes a family first, business second mindset."
Get ready to supercharge your content creation process with the help of AI. Guest Laura Pence Atencio, a digital marketing expert and founder of Social Savvy Geek, understands the frustrations and challenges writers face when it comes to idea development. With AI by your side, you can organize your thoughts, generate content ideas, and save precious time in the process (no more staring at a blank page).
Resources
Website: https://linktr.ee/socialsavvygeek
About Laura
This year, Laura Pence Atencio has made a bold decision to go all-in on authors. 📚 After taking a deep look back at her work over the past 13 years of working with clients, she found a pattern among her favorite clients - nearly all of them had written books. In fact, her favorite projects were book promotion and funnels built around books.
With this realization, Laura is now focusing her expertise on working with coaches who are launching a book or using their book to open doors to get on stages, do podcast tours, or simply to bring more qualified clients into their business. As a leading authority on digital marketing and business growth, Laura is excited to help authors achieve their goals and reach their target audience through her proven strategies and customer journey expertise. So if you're an author looking to make a big impact this year, Laura Pence Atencio is the expert you need on your team.
Guest Monica Miller shares her writing story that began in her teens, where she curated engaging stories which later traversed the publishing world, journalism, and even the college lecture halls. Today, she integrates her robust experience and her discovered enthusiasm for marketing to guide budding authors. Her forte lies in leveraging fun, transparency, and creativity to extend a writer's reach while preserving the essence of their brand and their love for writing.
Resources
Website: www.monicawrites.com
Profile: https://www.facebook.com/monika.lynn17
Page: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaWrites4You/
Instagram: instagram.com/yourcontentguide
High Performing Storytelling Content Templates for $7: www.monicawrites.com/Templates
About Monica
Monica Miller is Your Content Guide where she takes the stories from your heart, the expertise from your head, and creates a meaningful marketing message so that your audience is captivated and converted into raving clients. Monica helps you be seen, heard, and felt with every word you write so that you can build an audience that is ready to learn and buy from you. She is a three-time published author, International Speaker and Writer, and owns her business, Monica Writes, while raising her two little boys in northern Indiana along with her husband.
Get new book suggestions from a fellow writer and bookie whose spoken with many of the authors in real time and reads YA books by the hundreds - and counting! Join host Sheridan Sharp for short clips where she spiels how their plots, common themes, and important characterizations recommend them (without the spoilers) on YouTube. Most of all, tune in to kick back with a book and have a good time!
Resources
Book Spiels with Sheridan Playlist (stay tuned for new upcoming releases!):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWEB1WvIm3OhmwRSxnL8qBn1GlTzmNG8k
Sheridan's GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/sheridansharp
Samantha shares her insights on how to develop the skills required for copywriting, including researching, understanding the target audience, and effective communication. Drawing from her experience as a creative writer and copywriter, she highlights how copywriting can be an exciting AND fulfilling career path. Tune in today to learn actionable insights on how to improve your writing skills and translate them into a successful career. Don't let your uncertainty hold you back!
Resources
Website: cultofpersonality.co
Instagram: cultofpersonality.co
Medium
Email: sam@cultofpersonlaity.co
About Samantha
Samantha Pollack is a Creative Director & Humanist Copywriter who creates powerful brand identities and compelling marketing copy for founders, visionaries, service providers, and activists.
Sam’s clients include high-profile thought leaders, ethical clothing companies, intersectional therapists, and the company that makes those RBG action figures. She developed the creative direction, messaging, and sitewide copy for an inclusive athleisure company that ended up on Oprah’s Favorite Things(!).
Ready to learn the key to unlocking greater productivity and creativity? Guest Kathy Davis has the solution for achieving optimal writing performance through prioritizing self-care.
Learn to master self-care techniques to boost your productivity and unlock your creative potential. Discover how the right food choices can elevate your cognitive performance and overall well-being. And learn valuable insights into crafting compelling narratives across various formats.
Unlock your full potential as a writer by taking care of yourself, starting with today’s episode on Am I Write.
Resources
Instagram: @veginspired (Let her know you found her on Am I Write!)
Facebook: VegInspired - Plant-Based Living
YouTube: Veginspired
Website: veginspired.com
Check out Kathy's books: 30 Minute Whole Food Plant-Based Cookbook, Super Easy Plant-Based Cookbook, Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Cookbook, and Visioning: Creating the Life of Your Dreams in the Age of Intention.
Branding Expert Yamilca Rodriguez has a passion for entrepreneurs who can do anything in this world and is here to help listeners attract the right individual by selling your brand (you) through the lens of human behavior. She also breaks down the difference between theories of Freud and Young’s 12 different archetypes (GOLD for characterization!).
Though shorter, this episode is packed with essential visualization of your TRUE audience and brand. Tune in!
Resources
Brand Therapist by Yamilca Rodriguez:
Jerry Campbell’s 12 Steps of Story Theory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisvillebespoke/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamilcarodriguez/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yamilca.rodriguez.71
“It's a lot to present yourself every day as a brand and try to keep the marketing going and keep all the wheels in alignment.”
If you're feeling frustrated and defeated because, despite your efforts to shift your mindset towards evolution and self-discovery, you're not seeing any significant progress, then you are not alone!
As guest Stephanie Hayes explains: this mindset is often a result of a creative misalignment. Join host Sheridan Sharp to hear Stephanie teach how to identify if you’re pursuing something that doesn't serve you any longer, or it's time for a little bit of a refresh. Take the first step to build a brand that is in alignment with YOU and become inspired again.
Resources
Website: stephaniehayes.biz
Podcast, Real People, Real Business: podcast.stephaniehayes.biz
Jump back in to the conversation between host Sheridan Sharp and Kiana Krystle, a resilient and talented writer who shares her captivating story:
The world of publishing can be a rollercoaster, as Kiana discovered during her journey to bring her debut novel to life. Beset by delays and an emotionally taxing revision process, Kiana's tenacity and passion for her story became her driving force. She learned to stay humble, trust her editors, and always seek the heart of her story.
Kiana has immense experience in refining her manuscript, learning the importance of staying present and mentally prepared throughout the revision process. Her determination and unique experience with the publishing industry make her an excellent source of guidance for young adult writers looking for support and advice.
About Kiana
Kiana Krystle is an Asian American author with a love for lush, whimsical prose and fairytales. She is a previous editorial intern at North Star Editions, former literary fellow at BookEnds Literary, and a Pitch Wars Mentor for the Class of 2021. When she’s not writing, Kiana is either at the beach, performing moon rituals, or obsessing over Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. She loves all things cottagecore, sea themed, and romance. Kiana’s debut novel DANCE OF THE STARLIT SEA is scheduled for publication in Summer 2024 by Peachtree Teen, and she is represented by Naomi Davis. You can connect with Kiana on social media @kiana_krystle on Instagram and Twitter.
Resources
@kiana_krystle
TikTok: kianakrystle
Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic
Preorder her book, Dance of the Starlit Sea!
Newly debuting author Kiana Krystle takes a seat with host Sheridan Sharp to open up about her amazing but at times, deeply daunting journey, from self-teaching herself the query process to an unexpected 9 offers even though her story was still in the “on proposal” stage.
Gain a wealth of insights from her story, like how persistence and self-belief are key to achieving your goals. Writing is a tough industry, and it's easy to get discouraged when things don't go as planned. As Kiana illustrates with grit and determination, anything is possible.
And stay tuned for next week with more wisdom from Kiana in part 2!
About Kiana
Kiana Krystle is an Asian American author with a love for lush, whimsical prose and fairytales. She is a previous editorial intern at North Star Editions, former literary fellow at BookEnds Literary, and a Pitch Wars Mentor for the Class of 2021. When she’s not writing, Kiana is either at the beach, performing moon rituals, or obsessing over Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. She loves all things cottagecore, sea themed, and romance. Kiana’s debut novel DANCE OF THE STARLIT SEA is scheduled for publication in Summer 2024 by Peachtree Teen, and she is represented by Naomi Davis. You can connect with Kiana on social media @kiana_krystle on Instagram and Twitter.
Resources
@kiana_krystle
TikTok: kianakrystle
Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic
Today, podcasting expert Lyndsay Phillips joins host Sheridan Sharp to talk to the creative writers AND business writers looking to expand their presence and spread the word about their new and upcoming projects.
The best way to build relationships with potential fans? Podcasts!
Let’s talk about how you can promote your brand—YOU—by making appearances, creating easy but invaluable assets, and building authority without condescending.
Welcome back to season 2, Word Wizards!
Resources
Smoothbusiness.com/write
Guest Gina Buonaguro brings her unique experience as a multi-published historical fiction writer, both as a coauthor and solo author. She compares and contrasts these two roles and offers advice for where you can find inspiration for historical fiction.
Talk about the merits of holding control over your self-published work versus the help provided from traditional publishing houses—and be prepared to do your own networking either way! As a bonus, get the scoop from her latest book, newly released in 2023!
ResourcesWebsite
Facebook
About GinaGina Buonaguro’s latest novel (and her first solo) is The Virgins of Venice, released on December 13, 2022 by HarperCollins. She has coauthored three historical novels: The Sidewalk Artist, a dual-timeline story about the Renaissance master Raphael; Ciao Bella, which takes place in Northern Italy in the summer after World War II; and The Wolves of St. Peter’s, a murder mystery set at the time Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome.
Am I Write? is back for 2023, and with a new writing topic.
Erik Morris Eskanazi comes on as a guest to talk about script writing—specifically, script writing that began as a personal essay (also known as the narrative essay) and how to fictionalize that into a screenplay.
Learn more about the emotional and international impact film brings when based off creative nonfiction. Above all, be inspired to dabble in new genres and experiment with conventions, just as Erik continues to do, on this episode of Am I Write? podcast.
Resources
Website
More About Erik
About Erik
Eric Eskanazi is a writer of short stories, poetry, essays and screenplays. He has self-published his work and is the owner of a small independent publisher called Outre Tomes, Inc. In addition, Eric has adapted his screenplays for various video projects. Despite no formal training in filmmaking, he has casted, produced, directed, shot, composed, scored and distributed both shorts and feature-length videos. Eric has also read his essays and short stories through various podcasts that he has produced over the years.
I wanted to take a minute this holiday season to let you know what you can expect from Am I Write? in the near future! What you need to know: YOU moved the podcast from 1 to 10,000 downloads in less than a handful of months. This has launched the show beyond Apple’s top 1% podcast chart.
And the best part?
The growth was organic.
Get ready for season 2 with a whole new group of guests and brand new genre topics.
Sign up for the newsletter to prepare for upcoming events.
Happy holidays!
Resources:
Sign up for the Newsletter
How to Help Promote Authors Without Spending a Dime Episode
Damyanti Biswas on Supporting Authors Without Breaking the Bank
This episode is for the like-minded writers who find themselves predicting the plots of movies and books a little too accurately but haven’t yet caught that “lucky break” with their own writing.
The truth is: there is no lucky break! Guest Heather Carter lays out the pros and cons she has experienced both with indie publishing and traditional publishing. She also shares a recent experience with a book deal that didn’t go as planned, proving that things aren’t going to be all roses after you’ve signed. Learn to pivot with her brilliant ideas for maintaining persistence on this episode of Am I Write?
Resources
Website
Books by Heather
About Heather Carter
Heather Carter is an independent fiction author who writes primarily adult fantasy and fantasy romance. An avid writer since childhood, she has released two fantasy novels and has been featured in multiple anthologies, with more releases coming down the pipeline.
Heather calls the St. Louis area home, and lives with her husband, two children and one extremely spoiled cat (What writer doesn’t?). When she’s not writing, she loves to read fantasy novels, make music, and drinks way too much coffee.
Host Sheridan Sharp is delighted to bring on an exciting guest to discuss a new and important topic. Multi-published poet and professor Mark Bennion joins her to discuss everything poetry. Listen in and gain a better understanding of the many facets and emotional resonance of poetry—there’s something for everyone! Learn what makes a poem great and get advice for how and where you can publish your poetry from a long-time expert. As a bonus, hear a LIVE reading of a personal poem of Mark’s on this episode of Am I Write?Resources
Poems by Mark
Beneath the Falls collection
“What I’ve Thought and What Is”
“Eight Days”
“Prayers for the Prodigal Within”
“To the Prank Call”
Poetry Suggestions from Mark:
D.S. Martin’s Angelicus collection
Elizabeth Bishop
Linda Pastan
Naomi Shihab Nye
About Mark Mark D. Bennion grew up in Wisconsin, Utah, and Idaho. In his undergraduate days he studied at both Ricks College and Brigham Young University, majoring in English and minoring in Korean. Upon graduating from BYU, he lived in Jerusalem for a year and studied language and literature at Hebrew University. After his time in the Holy Land, he attended the MFA program at the University of Montana and finished there in 2000.
Since then, he has taught composition, creative writing, and literature courses at BYU-Idaho. He is the author of three poetry collections: Psalm & Selah: a poetic journey through the Book of Mormon (2009), Forsythia (2013), and Beneath the Falls: poems (2020). Mark and his wife, Kristine, are raising their family in the Upper Snake River Valley.
Lilian Horn is a published author who writes fantasy and fiction books. She has a bachelor's degree in biomedical laboratory science, and her writing is heavily inspired by her Scandinavian roots, the inspiration for her inclusion of folktales from her side of the world.
Tune in to Am I Write? today to talk about Lilian’s passion for incorporating mental health in her narratives, how she answers the writer’s call while constantly battling chronic fatigue, and how resilience and adaptability have been the top factors of success in her life—and should be in yours, too!
Resources
Website
Sheperd booklist:
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
King of Scars by Leah Bardugo
About Lilian
Hailing from the cold north of Norway, Lilian spends her summers glaring at the midnight sun and the winters freezing her backside off. When not doing either of those activities, she writes, manages her health, and entertains a very spoiled cat.
With a bachelor's degree as a biomedical laboratory scientist and obscure game developing classes under her belt as well as her skill as hobby artist on the side, she makes the most of her days when she’s not battling chronic illness. She’s had ME since she was 11 years old, meaning she is exhausted all the time and has to manage her time and energy accordingly. She writes stories that take her far away from reality across distant lands.
R. A. Salvatore is the reason her books often explore themes such as mental health and trauma and overcoming them while saving the world, and Salvatore remains to this day her biggest inspiration for writing, specifically his The Legend of Drizzt series (she even named her cat Drizzt) and The Cleric Quintet.
Thriller author Maggie Giles takes a seat with host Sheridan Sharp to talk about her experience with the query/publishing process, including an almost-signed book deal that SHE turned down. Get a greater understanding of the power in your gut instinct and the importance of getting your book deal questions answered when the time comes.
Learn about what it’s like writing with Aphantasia (the inability to form mental images of objects that are not present), the learning benefits from the query process, and being true to what you love.
Resources
Lady Jane Dissapears by Joanna Davidson Politano
The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey
Website
TikTok
Goodreads
Sheridan’s Goodreads
About Maggie Giles
Maggie Giles is a Canadian author who is usually daydreaming about fictional characters. Always looking for a new creative outlet, Maggie dove into writing a novel headfirst. She has been a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association since 2014 where she works as their Social Media Director. She also has an irrational obsession with Shawn Spencer. The Things We Lost is her first novel. Her sophomore novel, Twisted, will be out September 19, 2023.
JC Peterson brings her knack for contemporary wit and real experience to Am I Write? Podcast to talk about “garbage disaster” characters that deserve a chance to grow from mistakes.
Use dialogue purposefully and hear why each character needs to go into the conversation intentionally. Use conversations to move the plot forward and make them interact with their surroundings—get in those scene details without stopping.
Last, JC shares her real and honest experience with querying, drafting, and persevering. Understand that it’s always long, and there’s always obstacles in the path, so celebrate your little wins as a creator!
Resources
Website: https://www.jcpetersonwrites.com/
Instagram: @jcpwrites
Twitter: @jenc_p
About JC PetersonJC Peterson is an author of contemporary rom-coms. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, worked for years as an award-winning journalist in Oklahoma, and now lives in Denver, CO, with her husband and children.
Being Mary Bennet is her debut novel and released March 2022. A companion novel, Lola At Last, will release with HarperTeen winter of 2023.
When not dreaming up funny contemporary stories or herding children, she loves to eat and shop local, explore the Colorado mountains, and plan new adventures.
Debuting thriller author Marie Still joins host Sheridan Sharp to talk shop about how she keeps a balance writing and publishing four different books at a time. Talk about building realistic characters and keeping your pacing without frustrating the reader with too little details, the importance of understanding the craft, and embracing that once it’s in the reader’s hands, it’s their story. Marie also explains why it matters to depict mental health in literature and the things that make people snap out of character on this episode of Am I Write? Podcast.
Resources
Website: mariestill.com
Books by Marie Still
We’re All Lying
My Darlings
Social handle: @mariestillwrites
TikTok
The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas
Killing Me by Michelle Gaygnon
Twitter: @Mariestill
Goodreads
About Marie
Marie Still grew up obsessed with words and the dark and complex characters authors bring to life with them. Now she creates her own while living in Tampa with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a very grumpy hedgehog.
Her debut thriller, We're All Lying, isreleasing March 2023 from Rising Action Publishing (audiobook from Dreamscape).
Marie’s debut suspenseful women's fiction (under Kristen Seeley), Beverley Bonnefinche is Dead also releases in 2023 during September from Rising Action (audio from Blackstone Audio).
Her third project is a psych thriller titled My Darlings, releasing 2024 from Rising Action and Blackstone.
Author of upcoming thriller The Blue Bar, Damyanti Biswas talks on writing better with buzz around her, knowing when you’re ready for publication, and the two major traits she looks for in mentees who are “already ready to be professionals.” Hear how she both values and gives her professional feedback in a way that is helpful, the journey between her first and second book, and why your achievement of success is relative.
Tune in alongside host Sheridan Sharp as Damyanti helps you discern which path of success you’re taking and be better prepared against your disappointments (especially during the query process) on this episode of Am I Write? Podcast.
Resources
Website: damyantiwrites.com
Damyanti’s upcoming thriller, The Blue Bar is available for pre-order or find it on Goodreads!
Damyanti’s first book, You Beneath Your Skin
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner
The Earthspinner by Anuradha Roy
About Damyanti BiswasDamyanti's work has been published in Smokelong Quarterly, Ambit, Pembroke Review, Griffith review among many others in the US, UK, and Australia. She has been listed for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards, and also serves as one of the editors of The Forge literary magazine.
Her Indian debut literary crime novel You Beneath Your Skin is an Amazon bestseller, and optioned for the screens by Endemol Shine. Her next novel, The Blue Bar, is slated for publication on Jan 1,2023 in the USA via Thomas & Mercer. Apart from being a novelist, Damyanti is an avid reader of true crime, a blogger, and an animal lover. Her ambition has always been to live in a home with more books than any other item, and she continues to work toward that. For more information, visit www.damyantiwrites.com.
Join host Sheridan Sharp in this episode of Am I Write? Podcast to discuss four major ways you can support the authors you love and the debuting writers you’re anticipating. Pulled from a number of sources found in the show notes (including guests on the show), Sheridan breaks down the major–and sometimes unsuspected–game-changers for marketing authors.
Resources
Damyanti Biswas on Supporting Authors Without Breaking the Bank
Book Riot, 99 Ways to Spread the Word
Best Hashtags for Debuting Authors
Sheridan’s Goodreads
A personal favorite author of host Sheridan Sharp, today’s guest on AM I WRITE? Podcast has over 30 published books and is well-versed in historical romance. Josi’s abundance mindset is evident in each of the questions she answers; hear her conviction about the power in the way you think about what you write, including how your emotions affect what you create. Learn that those dark times don’t go away after you publish a book and instead, find your own secret sauce and stop comparing yourself to the writer next door on this episode with Josi Kilpack.
About Josi Kilpack
Josi is the award-winning author of several novels across a spectrum of genres and a contributor to several anthologies. In addition to her writing she enjoys reading, travel, cooking, and naps—not necessarily in that order—and works as a real estate agent in Utah and Southern Idaho. She is the mother of four and lives in Northern Utah.
Connect with Josi
Facebook: Author Josi S. Kilpack
Instagram: Authorjosiskilpack
The Jackrabbit Factorby Leslie Householder, Trevan Householder, et al.
Life is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler
Books by Josi:
The Connecting Door Novella
Shadow Mountain: The Valet’s Secret
A full list of Josi’s works
Special Episode
In this special episode, host Sheridan Sharp takes a little time to talk to you about ways to take the edge off of the ever-daunting query process. Take these tips from writers on the show and Sheridan's experience to turn your query process into just that: a working process!
Resources
Damyanti Biswas (stay tuned for her upcoming episode and book!)
Tune in to the conversation with author of 3 series and over 15 books: Alex Bledsoe, as he shares his experiences with fantasy in real life, rejection, and two seemingly opposite genres that will make you pee your pants.
Whether you’re writing fantasy, thriller, or modern day fiction, Alex explains how it’s all rooted around real life–and why that humanity is more important than any fantasy world you can build. Hear why humor is harder to portray than other human emotions (such as love or terror), the benefits of niche publishing houses, and the reality behind the grueling query process. Alex will share truths from his journey to becoming a published novel from age 18 to 44 and more on this episode of Am I Write?
Resources
Facebook
Alexbledsoe.com
Books by Alex (Including the upcoming new release, Dandelion)
About Alex Bledsoe
Alex grew up in Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He has been a reporter, photographer, editor, and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman.
He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning, and tries to teach his three kids to act like they’ve been to town before.
Stop getting caught up in “sharpening your pencils” and do the number one thing it takes to be an author: write the book!
Mutlipublished author of regency romance Kristi Ann Hunter shares wisdom from her journey as a writer on this episode of Am I Write? The truth: there is no secret sauce. Understand that your personal writing path will be different from the dream pathway, and that’s okay! Accept critiques for the helpful information they’re meant to be and use them to your advantage–be sure your manuscript is ready. Identify whether your genre will require an immersive point of view and hear the advantages of pulling it off. Lastly, give second thought to your first line; it’s vital you hook, line, and sink ‘em!
Resources
Sign up for Kristi’s Newsletter (Keep an eye out for her new book releasing this fall!)
Website
About Kristi Ann HunterAward-winning author Kristi Ann Hunter has spun chocolate, faith, and diet lemonade into more than a dozen Christian Fiction romances. Find out more at KristiAnnHunter.com or by following Kristi Ann Hunter on Instagram.
Switching from romance in the middle ages to modern rom-com style books, today’s guest on Am I Write? is a fictional romance expert. Hear how writing the story in your head can begin your writing path the right way and get Kortney Keisel's thoughts on witty banter, the unsuspected leaps and setbacks of writing in a new era or genre, and taking your characters to vulnerable places.
“I would say just finish it. Because the second you write it to the end, that feels like the biggest accomplishment.”
Resources
TikTok
Website: kortneykeisel.com
Books by Kortney Keisel
About Kortney KeiselKortney loves all things romance. Her devotion to romance was first apparent at three years old when her family caught her kissing the walls (she attributes this embarrassing part of her life to her mother's affinity for watching soap operas like Days of Our Lives). Luckily, Kortney has outgrown that phase and now only kisses her husband. Most days, Kortney is your typical stay-at-home mom. She has five kids that keep her busy cleaning, carpooling, and cooking.
Writing books was never part of Kortney's plan. She graduated from the University of Utah with an English degree and spent a few years before motherhood teaching 7th and 8th graders how to write a book report. But after a reading slump, where no plots seemed to satisfy, Kortney pulled out her laptop and started writing the "perfect" love story...or at least she tried. Her debut novel, The Promised Prince, took four years to write, mostly because she never worked on it and didn't plan on doing anything with it.
Kortney has written seven books. Four in the young adult dystopian romance genre and three in adult romantic comedy. Her debut novel, The Promised Prince, was a finalist for a Whitney Award and won a Swoony Award for Best Dystopian.
Guest and multi-published author Jennifer Nielsen joins host Sheridan Sharp to remind you that what you do as a writer does matter. Keep persistence but also stay humble, and you’ll be surprised at the opportunities that come your way. Gain Jennifer’s unique insight as an artist who comes not from a writing background but a theater background. Compare the arts’–no matter the medium–affinity to tell stories. Hear her answers to genuine questions posed by young kids who are fans of her work.
Resources
Website: www.jennielsen.com
Social Handle: @nielsenwriter
Atlas Obscura Website
About Jennifer Nielsen
Jennifer Nielsen is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Ascendance Series, the Traitor's Game series; historical novels such as A Night Divided, Resistance, Words on Fire, and her latest release, Lines of Courage. She is the founder of Book Drop, which helps connect children at Title One Schools with authors and their books, and she has a hopeless addiction to chocolate. Jennifer lives in Northern Utah with her family.
Today’s guest on AM I WRITE? brings her unique experience writing and publishing her first novel while still a JUNIOR in high school. Caroline Wei takes a seat at the podcast table to speak with and inspire young writers to pursue their ideas. Tune in to she and host Sheridan Sharp’s conversation about the challenges and benefits of self-publishing and why the hardest–and most important–part of starting the process is just writing it down.
Resources
Caroline’s Blog
Buy Caroline’s Book: The Amnesia Experiment
Even in those dark nights of the soul where you feel your manuscript’s not working, tell yourself “I’ve had this feeling before, and I will power through.”
Get inspired by a guest who’s done it a million times and still wonders where to go to just keep writing. As Robert Masello elaborates: “Too many writers I know say, ‘I’m holding my work because I want it to get out in perfect shape and in the right venue.’ It’s an excuse for keeping things in a drawer. Don’t. You never know where or when it will lead to bigger and better things.” The publishing industry has changed drastically during Robert’s writing career. Learn not to let the obstacles stop you on this episode of AM I WRITE? Podcast.
About Robert Masello
Robert has been a writer his entire life: a journalist in New York for many of the major magazines and newspapers and an author of over twenty books, both novels and nonfiction, several of which have appeared on national bestseller lists. He has also written for various television shows on all the major networks. Robert is a member of the Writers Guild of America, and lives in Santa Monica, CA.
ResourcesWebsite
Books by Robert
This is THE episode for writers who love reading various genres but aren’t sure they can make that leap into writing a new one. Guest Joan Donaldson shares her method with host Sheridan Sharp for jumping from genre to genre on this episode of AM I WRITE? And it all has to do with exercising those fingers daily, identifying conflict, and having a little belief in yourself.
About Joan DonaldsonJoan's novel On Viney's Mountain won the 2010 Friends of American Writers Award for Outstanding YA novel and represented the State of TN at the 2010 National Book Festival. Her novel Hearts of Mercy won first place in the 2018 Pencraft Awards for romantic suspense. Over the years, The Christian Science Monitor has published many of her personal essays. In 2008, she earned a MFA in creative writing from Spalding University. Along with her husband, John, she writes from her organic blueberry farm.
Resources
Website
Author Facebook
SCBWI
Help support Joan in the community by leaving her books a review!
The Way of the Writer by Charles Johnson
Books by Jerry Spinelli
Joan’s Farm
Join host Sheridan Sharp and guest Rob Kosberg, published author and founder of Bestseller Publishing, to talk about the kind of people they publish: REGULAR BUISNESSPEOPLE, many without a background in writing but with a poignant story to share and a widespread problem to solve.
About Rob Kosberg
Rob Kosberg is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, and the founder of Best Seller Publishing. Rob’s Publish. Promote. Profit.™ book and system have been used by tens of thousands of authors in dozens of countries. Simply put, Rob helps entrepreneurs become the go-to authority in their market by writing, launching and profiting with a best selling book.
He has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine as well as hundreds of other shows, podcasts, magazines and articles.
ResourcesGet a FREE copy of his book at publishpromoteprofit.com
Rob’s company: bestsellerpublishing.org (access their free material and content)
Long-time writer, author, editor, and delightful human Janet W. Butler has done about everything in the writing industry. Jump into her conversation alongside host Sheridan Sharp and discuss everything from verb strategy to why you may need to reframe your paradigm around gatekeepers and editors alike–plus, have a great time doing it!
About Janet W. Butler
Janet is a writer, editor, and editorial consultant by day and a “small soprano” by night. An RWA Golden Heart Winner for RAINMAN'S BRIDE, a traditional romance that took the crown in 1998, she is also the author of “the best two little books almost no one ever heard of”—two romances, both published with small presses, and both now back in her possession to be resold. In response to requests from “mentees,” she’s also produced an e-book version of the popular workshop series 12 Weeks to Your First (or Next) Novel, available through Kindle Direct.
A Chicago area native, she’s now back home after a stint in northeast Indiana, living not far from one of the Chain o’ Lakes with Maisie, Fur Diva and Office Cat Extraordinaire. When she’s not writing, she’s baking the annual Christmas Cookie Extravaganza, sampling new wines, or spending quality time at her piano trying to unravel the mysteries of Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Elgar, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Schubert. She’s also a member of various choral organizations in the Chicago area, in which occasionally she hits notes only dogs can hear.
Resources
www.janetwbutler.com (check out her contact page to connect!)
Janet’s Blog
Small Soprano Facebook Page
Instagram: @authorjwb
Twitter: @AuthorJannyB
Janet’s book, 12 Weeks to Your First (or Next) Novel
Inaugural guest and multi-published author of children’s horror Josh Allen deep dives into why the children’s genre has become the richest facet of his life, reconnecting readers with the basic but complicated facets of courage, bravery, and creativity. Learn why it’s not too late–if you’re 4 or 40–to build a creative life. Be gentle with yourself, others, and write because you love it.
About Josh AllenJosh Allen is the author or two books: OUT TO GET YOU: 13 TALES OF WEIRDNESS AND WOE and ONLY IF YOU DARE: 13 STORIES OF DARKNESS AND DOOM. His writing has received praise from The Wall Street Journal, Booklist, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, and more. He holds a Masters’ of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Old Dominion University, and he teaches creative writing at BYU-Idaho.
**Resources
Twitter: @justjoshallen**
SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for members in the Idaho/Utah area