Thriving Authors Podcast: Recent Episodes

Dallas Woodburn

Welcome to the Thriving Authors Podcast, where we delve into all aspects of what it takes to get your dream book out of your heart, onto the page and into the world, connecting with a wide audience of readers. On this podcast, you will find behind-the-scenes lessons from my own book-writing and publishing journey, interviews with successful published authors, and tips and advice you can start using today to move you forward in your writing life. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dallas-woodburn/support

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was exciting to talk with Judith Lindbergh about her new historical fiction novel, AKMARAL (and it’s so fun that we shared a publication date of May 7th!)

I learned a ton about historical research in our conversation, and her passion for the project comes through so deeply.

Judith also shared:

  • How she began her journey as a writer and what led her to focus on stories drawn from ancient history.
  • What she noticed happening when she didn't allow for the creative and unexpected in her writing.
  • How she was able to nurture and sustain her creativity over a long period of time and the changes she experienced in the publishing industry over that time.
  • What inspired her to start her creative writing community and how it grew over time.

I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation no matter where you are on your writing journey!And if you are looking to move further along on your journey – or just get started – join me and a small community of like-minded women this summer in Your Book Roadmap! Bring your book to life and truly see yourself as an author. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/yourbookroadmap
About Judith: Judith Lindbergh’s new novel, AKMARAL, about a nomad woman warrior on the Central Asian steppes in the 5th c. BCE, published by Regal House Publishing on May 7, 2024. Her debut novel, THE THRALL'S TALE, about three women in the first Viking Age settlement in Greenland, was a Booksense (IndieBound) Pick, a Borders Original Voices Selection and praised by Pulitzer Prize winners Geraldine Brooks and Robert Olen Butler. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including in Newsweek, Zibby Magazine, Next Avenue, Writer’s Digest, Edible Jersey, Literary Mama, Archaeology Magazine, Other Voices, and UP HERE: The North at the Center of the World published by University of Washington Press. She also contributed to the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibition Vikings: The Norse Atlantic Saga and was an expert commentator on the History Channel’s documentary series MANKIND: The Story of All of Us. Judith is the Founder/Director of The Writers Circle, a New Jersey-based creative writing center where she regularly teaches aspiring and accomplished writers from ages 8-80. Learn more at https://judithlindbergh.com.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain around what I do as a book coach and sharing three reasons why having a book coach is a game-changer in getting your book written.

You’ll hear about:

  • The hardest part of writing your book and how I will help you move through it.
  • The amazing shifts that happen when you have clarity on your writing project.
  • Who the biggest enemy is when it comes to writing a book and how I support my clients with this.
  • How my new program will set you up for continued success and why I structured it the way I did.

I hope this episode gives you a sense of what a book coach is, what I do with my clients and how a book coach can really help you move forward in your journey.

And remember, your book is a whole new beginning in many ways. It's the first step of a really exciting new chapter for yourself, for your business, for your authority and your expertise. It creates so many ripples and you have no idea how far those ripples will go!
Ready to see what ripples your book creates? Join my new program, Your Book Roadmap, and by the end of our eight weeks together you’ll truly see yourself as an author. You’ll have the first chapter of your book DONE and all the momentum you need to continue! It’s a small group with limited spots so grab yours today at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, we are celebrating the launch of my new novel, Before & After You & Me, out wherever books are sold! I'm sharing a conversation that I had on Instagram Live with my friend Tara K. Ross, who is an amazing author and podcast host. She read an early copy of the book, and we chatted a few days before publication.

We talk about:

  • The journey from first draft to publication.
  • What inside this book stemmed from real life.
  • The inspiration behind the characters.
  • What genres the book falls into.
  • Why I chose to tell this story in a very unique structure.

We also talked about the process of getting feedback and choosing what to integrate and what to let go of. I think you’ll find that piece helpful as you journey through your creative projects!And if you struggle to find time to work on your writing or are inspired to carve out time to get back to a story you started years ago, join me May 28-30 for my FREE CHALLENGE "Clear the Way to Write" that will help you finally make time to write.

Three days. Three simple action steps. Big-time shifts in your writing and creative life. Register now at http://bit.ly/clearthewaytowrite

About Tara:

Tara K. Ross lives with her husband, two daughters, and rescued fur-babies in the artisanal town of Eden Mills, Ontario. She works as a school speech-language pathologist and mentors new and emerging creatives. When Tara is not writing or reading, you can find her rock climbing the Ontario escarpment, interviewing authors for The Hope Prose Podcast, or blogging at www.tarakross.com. FADE TO WHITE is her debut novel.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share what has helped me write my back cover and my longer book descriptions. I even give an example of the description from my book that came out in December called “Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours.”

On the surface, writing your book description seems pretty simple…but it is super common to struggle with this task because you need to condense so much into a short space! To write a compelling book description, you need to 1) give the reader a sense of what your book is about; 2) introduce the reader to your own authentic voice and style; 3) sell your book; 4) grab the reader’s attention and leave them wanting more!

I dive into:

  • The distinction between your book description and your back cover description.
  • Some exercises that are really helpful with taking away the pressure and stress of writing the description of your book.
  • Why I recommend writing your book description before you reach the end of your manuscript.
  • How to grab the reader’s attention in your book description.
  • A little trick I use to hone in on how to write to the ideal reader of your book.

Check out the back cover description from my new novel BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME, coming May 7th from @OwlHollowPress & now available for pre-order!! #linkinbioEmma blames herself when a freak accident at a pool party leaves Hunter, the town’s rising track star and her former boyfriend, paralyzed from the waist down. As she struggles with anxiety, loneliness and regret, she begins to obsessively paint portraits of legs and feet—Hunter’s legs and feet—and for the first time receives critical acclaim and notice for her artwork.

But what started as therapeutic for Emma ends up deepening her guilt. Does creating meaningful art require retreating inward toward self-expression, or striving outward toward recognition—or can it somehow be both?

Searching for one whole, authentic identity, Emma grapples with love, ambition, grief, homecoming, and—ultimately—redemption.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with money mentor and writing coach Katy Almstrom about writing a better money story – something especially important for us entrepreneurs and creatives!

Ready to reach your money goals? Or feel like you’re not a numbers person? This is such an encouraging episode to listen to!Katy shares insights on what entrepreneurs need to know to manage their money in each season of business, not only so you can plan ahead but so you can build a healthy relationship with money. She also provides practical ideas to simplify your money habits and create more consistency with irregular income.

And pssst: so much of what Katy talks about parallels the writing journey! So be prepared to be inspired with tips to implement in your creative life, too!Speaking of writing and money… I’m hosting a writing contest with cash prizes! Inspired by my novel Before and After You and Me that comes out May 7th, the prompt is to write about a time that split your life into "before" and "after." This could have been a huge, life-altering event, or it could have been something small that changed your internal landscape. It could be beautiful or painful, joyful or devastating, or any combination of emotion. It could have been something you noticed at the time, or only recognized looking back, years later.

Find the complete details here: https://bit.ly/beforeafterwritingcontest
About Katy:

Katy is a leading money mentor and wealth coach, a teacher and speaker who works with ambitious women who are ready to steward their money in their business and life by creating a sustainable strategy, simplify their process, and build limitless confidence in their money habits and behaviors. With over a decade of experience in teaching and coaching combined with her own debt-free entrepreneurial journey and simplified life, Katy provides a unique service for her clients to help them slow down, map out their own joyful wealth-building journey, and create a life that has WAY less stress around money. Connect with her on Instagram at @katy_almstrom

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with nonfiction book coach and editor Danielle Anderson about how to map out a transformative reader journey—all the way from the timeline to major scenes, to themes and reader desires.

She explains:

  • The five essential elements crucial to structuring your book, especially if it’s a memoir.
  • What desires to tap into that will attract readers who resonate with the journey.
  • Ways you can play with timeline and examples of the different shapes it can take.
  • How to know what scenes really need to be amplified and where to use backstory.

This episode will help you weave a captivating story that will have a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of your readers.

And I encourage you to flex that writing muscle and enter the writing contest that I’m hosting! It’s inspired by my novel Before and After You and Me that comes out May 7th. The prompt is to write about a time that split your life into "before" and "after." This could have been a huge, life-altering event, or it could have been something small that changed your internal landscape. It could be beautiful or painful, joyful or devastating, or any combination of emotion. It could have been something you noticed at the time, or only recognized looking back, years later.

Find the complete details here: https://bit.ly/beforeafterwritingcontest

About Danielle: Danielle Anderson is a trained nonfiction book coach and editor, bringing over thirteen years of writing and publishing experience to help passionate writers amplify their story, voice, and message. She is the founder of Ink Worthy Books, an editorial and publication services company where they believe everyone has a story worth telling, and every story has the power to change the world. Connect with Danielle on IG atinkworthybooks

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm sharing my best tips for entering writing contests!

Including:

  • How to approach entering contests from a place of freedom, joy and non-attachment.
  • Ways to move past the doubts you have about your work so that you can go for it anyway.
  • When the best time to celebrate is!
  • Ideas for how to keep track of the contests you enter.
  • What you need to know before you enter the contest.

I hope that this information gets you excited to enter writing contents in a way that feels good!!And I encourage you to flex that writing muscle and enter the writing contest that I’m hosting! It’s inspired by my novel Before and After You and Me that comes out May 7th. The prompt is to write about a time that split your life into "before" and "after." This could have been a huge, life-altering event, or it could have been something small that changed your internal landscape. It could be beautiful or painful, joyful or devastating, or any combination of emotion. It could have been something you noticed at the time, or only recognized looking back, years later.

Find the complete details here: https://bit.ly/beforeafterwritingcontest

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with my wonderful friend Greta Woolley about her incredible book “S.O.S.: Survival Guide for Teachers, Old and New”. I was honored to be able to support her in writing this book over the course of my 8-week writing program Your Book Roadmap.

It was really so beautiful and incredible for me to witness and journey with her as this book poured out of her!

Greta shares:

  • How she knew she was ready to write her book and how it wasn’t the spectacular moment she thought it would be.
  • The challenges she went through during her writing process and what kept her going.
  • Her favorite writing exercise to implement when she was worrying about her book.
  • What she feels and how she’s different now that her book is out in the world.

I think you’ll be inspired by this conversation and what you can do when you allow yourself to be supported along your writing journey.

About Greta:
Greta Woolley is a behavior specialist at Miles Elementary, where she walks alongside students, families, and educators to create needs-fulfilling environments that positively support academic achievement while growing students’ social and emotional competence. She has spent the past 35 years working as a front-line teacher in the trenches for both general and exceptional student education settings, as a District Trainer, ESE Specialist, Instructional Mentor, and Site-Based Behavior Specialist. Woolley examines the relationship between your “head and your heart” with the firm belief that they must be synchronized for maximum learning to occur. She also models the power of self-examination and reflection necessary for teachers to always remain in an upward trajectory of growth and improvement. She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband Chris and two daughters, Julia and Jaclyn. Connect with her on Instagram @themindfulmentor_

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into two common objections that I hear over and over from the women who are considering joining Thriving Authors Academy. These objections might resonate with you, too, so I wanted to talk about them and pose some questions for you to think about.

If you’re feeling resistant to committing to write your book, this episode will help you figure out if now is the right time to jump in AND how you can guarantee that this investment is going to pay off.

After listening to the episode, if you’re still wondering “Can I really do this?” – let's hop on a call and we can talk through it together. There's no pressure and you're not wasting my time. During our call I’ll be a mirror for you, reflecting back to you the truth that you are sharing, so that you are able to go after your dream of becoming a published author in whatever is the best way for you to do that.

AND if now is the time – and you are ready to go all in to write your book – register by March 29th & get a BONUS Book Breakthrough 1:1 60-minute Intensive ($499 value) so that you can get personal support around wherever you are stuck on your book & can make the most of the Thriving Authors Academy when it starts April 8th! Find more details at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with Amy Michelle Carpenter, publisher of Monster Ivy Publishing and author of several science fiction books. I love that she’s able to come at this conversation from both the publisher’s side and also from the author’s side.

Amy shares:

  • Her thoughts about what publishers love to see authors do in their query letters and social posts.
  • The various steps publishers take to help authors get a book from manuscript to published book on the shelf – and how they create buzz to make it a success.
  • A glimpse inside stages of editing that happen once you sign a contract.
  • How you can set yourself up for success when approaching publishers.

I think you’ll gain so much insight about how you can be the best partner possible when working with a publisher!

If this episode inspired you to get your writing in front of more readers, enter my Before & After Writing Contest!! You could win $100 and publication of your work here on my IG and in my newsletter that reaches thousands of readers. Here's the prompt: Write about a time that split your life into "before" and "after." This could have been a huge, life-altering event, or it could have been something small that changed your internal landscape. Deadline: 11:59pm PT on May 7th. Enter at http://bit.ly/beforeafterwritingcontest

About Amy:

Amy Michelle Carpenter is the publisher of Monster Ivy Publishing, a company of award-winning, bestselling book titles. Monster Ivy emphasizes "edgy, clean" fiction with a PG13 or less rating. The Kiss List was filmed as a movie by Marvista starring Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever) and Parminder Nagra (ER). In her personal life, Michelle received her Masters from Western Colorado University where she studied directly under NYT bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson, and she is the author of several YA science fiction books. Connect with Amy on Instagram at @monsterivypublishing

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m recapping the highlights and key takeaways from the Revamp Your Writing Routine Challenge that I hosted in my free Facebook group, Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best-Selling Authors, last year. We’ve also just gone through the challenge again this past week!! The Facebook group is full of heart centered writers sharing resources and supporting each other and I would be thrilled if you joined us!

The recap includes:

  • Tips for claiming your writing space.
  • Steps to take when you need a reset of your writing routine.
  • Ways to help your brain shift into writing time.
  • Ideas from other writers and so much more!

After listening I think you’ll agree, it’s not just about writing your book to check it off your list, but really wanting to enjoy that experience of writing your book – and it can be such a transformational process!

If you enjoyed our week together last year or our most recent week of the Revamp Your Writing Routine Challenge, or enjoyed listening to this recap, I think that Thriving Authors Academy would be such a wonderful fit for you. The momentum that we built this week and the sense of community – being supported, inspired and not being alone – is such an integral part of the Thriving Authors Academy. Find more details at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com and send me a message to join the waitlist!

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was so wonderful to talk with writer Leigh Shulman who shared so many beautiful gems during her summit talk “Why Rejection is Your Best Friend.”

And because rejection is something that EVERY writer experiences, I think it's important to highlight a couple mindset shifts that she brought up, including:

  • How rejection can actually be a positive force in your life.
  • Ways to strengthen your mindset so rejection doesn’t hurt (as much!)
  • A reframe that can open new opportunities and help you learn the purpose of your work.

Leigh’s insights are so powerful. While she understands it doesn’t feel good to be rejected, she shared, “There's a difference between ‘I'm disappointed’ and ‘I'm no good.’”

If this episode inspired you to approach your writing with renewed bravery, I’d love you to join my “Revamp Your Writing Routine” FREE 5-day challenge that starts Monday, February 26th.

I'll be giving little tips and action steps every day to help you create the perfect, energizing, supportive writing routine for YOU. You deserve a writing practice you can do consistently and with joy! Sign up to join me at http://bit.ly/revampwritingroutine

About Leigh:

Leigh Shulman is a writer and mentor living in Argentina. She founded the Inspired Writer Community for women writers to success through mentorship and mindset coaching. Her international writing retreats and website are among The Write Life’s top resources for writers. Her work appears in Guernica, The Washington Post, Longreads among others. Connect with her on Instagram at @theleighshulman

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the timeline of drafting, editing and submitting (and editing and submitting again) that led to finally getting a publication deal for my new novel BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME.

It has been quite a long journey filled with ups and downs to get here! And I think it’s really important to hear the real stories behind others' success. In fact, many times books aren’t published in the order in which the writer wrote them (which has certainly been true for me!)

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • What inspired the idea for this story 12 years ago.
  • How I played around with the structure, setting and POV.
  • Ways I took feedback to make my book better while staying true to myself and my vision for the book.
  • What I feared would happen if I made any big changes to the book.
  • The discouragement after making it to an acquisitions meeting at a big publisher but not getting an offer… and how I was able to learn from that experience and later get a publication deal with my wonderful publisher Owl Hollow Press.
  • The process of working with amazing editors to get the book to the next level, which helped me grow so much as a writer.

So even if it’s a long journey to get YOUR book out into the world, who knows what's around the next corner. Just keep moving forward, find that next stepping stone and don't give up on yourself. You never know what opportunities and excitement are waiting for you!

BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME is available for preorder now – just search Dallas Woodburn on Barnes and Noble or Amazon!!! Publication date is officially May 7th!

And I'd love you to join us in the Thriving Authors Book Club, a virtual monthly book club where you not only get to read incredible new books filled with heart and wisdom, you also get to have a Q&A with the author and peek behind-the-scenes into their author journey! Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/552eb3b1cf96/bookclub
Our February book is The Story That Made Us Stronger by Maureen Wise (pen name Iris March). Learn more about Maureen (and her other wonderful books) ather website. And you canlisten to my interview with Maureen on the Thriving Authors Podcast here.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was such a delight to talk with Cambria Williams about her debut novel, The Befallen, and her writing journey.

If you are working on a novel of your own and maybe you are in the querying trenches or maybe you're in the muddy middle of your book, I think you will find Cambria's story inspiring and filled with hope to remind you to keep going.

She shares:

  • What got her into writing in the first place.
  • How a text about writing a practice novel gave her momentum and allowed the words to just pour out of her.
  • The reason she changed her novel from a single point of view to featuring two different perspectives.
  • The rewards that can come from being okay with the word no.

About Cambria:

Cambria Williams believes that storytelling is a collective experience that is both limitless and timeless in its transformative nature. Cambria writes fantasy fiction that emphasizes the magic of hope. She is the author of THE BEFALLEN, her debut dark fantasy novel, released in August 2023. She loves traveling, reading, and taking walks with her husband and dog. Cambria has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing and lives in Utah. To learn more about Cambria, find her on Instagram, Facebook, or her website: cambriawilliams.com

And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my free Facebook group Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. We discuss the podcast episodes, I host free challenges and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with!

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm sharing the replay from our first Thriving Authors Book Club meeting. It was so wonderful to be together, chat about Your Book Matters and why OUR books matter and create our vision boards!

I’m so excited for this virtual monthly book club where you not only get to read incredible new books filled with heart and wisdom, you also get to have a Q&A with the author and peek behind-the-scenes into their author journey!

Each month, we’ll be spotlighting a book published by a current or former client. Read the book, invite your friends, and join us for the virtual Zoom book club date!

To kick things off, for January we read MY new book “YOUR BOOK MATTERS: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours” to give you an extra boost of encouragement to leap into YOUR creative projects this new year!

P.S. If you have a vision board to share or just want to connect with other women who have a book in their hearts, join us in the Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best-Selling Authors Facebook group!

Our February book is The Story That Made Us Stronger by Maureen Wise (pen name Iris March). Learn more about Maureen (and her other wonderful books) ather website. And you canlisten to my interview with Maureen on the Thriving Authors Podcast here.

Mark your calendar for Friday, February 23rd from noon-1pm PT and join us for the February meeting!

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In this replay of a solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm sharing straight from my heart to yours. I talk about three important ways you can invest in your writing AND six reasons you should do so – not later, but NOW.

(Spoiler alert: you deserve it. You deserve to be a writer, pursuing the projects in your heart. And when you pour into yourself, you have so much more capacity to pour into others around you.)

I’ve compiled all six inspiring reasons into a pretty PDF you can print out and hang at your desk for those days you need an extra reminder of why you matter and your writing matters. ⁠Click here to download it⁠!

And, if you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you to unlock your AUTHORity, take the first step towards becoming a published author and register for Your Book Roadmap today. You’ll have your first chapter D-O-N-E by the end of March! Find all the ⁠details at dallaswoodburn.com/your-book-roadmap-an-8-week-program-to-unlock-your-authority

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by MJ Fievre, a woman who wears so many hats in the writing world! She’s an editor, a publisher, a coordinator for the Miami Book Fair, and an author of multiple genres!

She shares when she first fell in love with writing as well as her writing journey and in our conversation she also dives into:

  • The specific things that all publishers want to see.
  • What to do even before you start reaching out to publishers.
  • Why you don't have to wait until you have a book out to start your writing career – and what you can do in the meantime.
  • The benefit of having a writing community.
  • The role authenticity plays when connecting with acquisition editors.

After listening I think you’ll feel empowered to begin building your audience and brave enough to lean into your authenticity.

About MJ: Born in the vibrant city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, M.J. Fievre moved to the United States in 2002, carrying with her an unquenchable thirst for storytelling. She’s the brain and the heart behind the best-selling series Badass Black Girl, empowering many to embrace their identities fearlessly. As a writing coach, she helps others write their way through trauma, build community and create social change. She works with veterans, disenfranchised youth, cancer patients and survivors, victims of domestic and sexual violence, minorities, the elderly, those with chronic illness or going through transition, and any underserved population in need of writing as a form of therapy—even if they don’t realize that they need writing or therapy. M.J. can also be found shaping narratives at Mango Publishing, where she is a senior editor, and fostering the literary culture in her role as a program coordinator for the Miami Book Fair.
If you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you to unlock your AUTHORity, take the first step towards becoming a published author and register for Your Book Roadmap today. You’ll have your first chapter D-O-N-E by the end of March! Find all the details HERE.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into all the moving pieces involved in self-publishing and giving you a checklist of what needs to get done before your book hits the shelves.

By following this timeline, you’ll give yourself enough time so that it's not a stressful process, but instead, it’s a really fun and fulfilling and exciting process!

I share:

  • What you need to have done first, before moving your book into the production timeline.
  • When to choose your cover designer and your interior book designer and what’s involved in that process.
  • Why to consider having a book launch team and how you can involve them.
  • The importance of pre-orders and early reviews – along with ideas for pre-order bonuses.
  • Considerations for how you’re going to showcase your book.

After listening, if you decide you don't want to worry about getting all the moving pieces coordinated and getting your book up on Amazon, you’re in luck. I have a Book Publishing Package where I can handle that all for you. Just reach out!

And I’m excited for the new virtual book club, Thriving Authors Book Club, where every month we're going to focus on a wonderful book written by one of my clients or myself. For January we will be reading YOUR BOOK MATTERS. Message me for details because I’d love for you to join us!

Here’s the PDF << you can download to stay organized and on top of things as you release your book out into the world.

Other episodes mentioned:

  • Episode 89: My Top Tips for Connecting With a Publisher
  • Episode 66: 10 Tips to Crush Your Book Launch
  • Episode 133: Tips for Writing Your Book Description
  • Episode 64: Why are pre-orders so important?

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, It was such a joy to talk with author Susan Ito, whose captivating memoir I Would Meet You Anywhere came out a few months ago. If you're curious about the differences between writing a memoir and writing fiction that is based loosely on real life, I think Susan's insights will be incredibly useful to you.

She shared:

  • The ways that her book evolved over the years, beginning as her MFA thesis.
  • A comment comparing her to Frank McCourt that left her upset and indignant early on in her writing project.
  • How she had to trick herself to keep writing her book.
  • The benefit of working with a small academic publisher.
  • When she knew it was finally time to release her book into the world.

I loved hearing her share about what finally got her to commit to a deadline after decades of working on her book!

If you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you to unlock your AUTHORity, take the first step towards becoming a published author and register for Your Book Roadmap today. You’ll have your first chapter D-O-N-E by the end of March! Find all the details HERE.

About Susan: Susan Ito is the author of the memoir, I Would Meet You Anywhere, out from the Ohio State University Press in November 2023. She co-edited the literary anthology A Ghost At Heart’s Edge: Stories & Poems of Adoption. Her work has appeared in The Writer, Growing Up Asian American, Choice, Hip Mama, Literary Mama, Catapult, Hyphen,The Bellevue Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her theatrical adaption of Untold, stories of reproductive stigma, was produced at Brava Theater. She is a member of the Writers’ Grotto, and teaches at the Mills College campus of Northeastern University and Bay Path University. She is a co-organizer of Rooted and Written, a writing workshop for writers of color. Connect with her on Instagram @thesusanito.

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In today's encore presentation of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share what I do to really soak up the final hours of one year and look ahead to the next one. I don't know about you, but New Year's Eve just might be my favorite day of the whole year!

But I know that a lot of people have different feelings coming up and lots of ‘shoulds’ in their brain - I should have done more of this. I should have done more of that. In some ways, those can be helpful signals!!

Listen in as I chat about:

  • How to decide what things to delegate or take off your to-do list.
  • What we can do to keep our big ambitions from causing us to burn out.
  • The one thing you can do to become a better writer in the new year.
  • What I’m proud of myself for and celebrating.

You’ll also hear the four questions that I ask myself every New Year's Eve to really help me celebrate, focus, regroup, and set my intentions for the year ahead. Download the free PDF with these exact questions listed out and see what comes up for YOU!

And if you’re looking to write a book in 2024, grab your spot in my program, Your Book Roadmap! It’s open for enrollment now and if you register before January 19th you get $100 off!! Find all the details HERE.

Have a happy New Year celebrating! Here's to an amazing, creative and beautiful 2024!

Listen at www.thrivingauthorspodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this encore presentation of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing a little love note from my heart to yours. I’m also reflecting on my daughter's namesake, my Grandma Auden, and how so many of us have no idea how far our legacies extend, the ripples that we create, the ways that we touch other people's lives.

I touch on:

  • Why being a book coach is so important to me.
  • How I’m trying to show my children the power of building a life around my creative energy.
  • The huge shift that happens when we start to put ourselves, put our joy, put our creativity first in our lives.
  • What feedback I received from people in my Facebook community and on my newsletter list that helped me create a new program.

And if you’re looking to write a book as part of your legacy, I hope you’re as excited as I am to hear me explain my program called Your Book Roadmap! It is open for enrollment and the 8-week program starts February 5. It will just be a small group with limited spots.
So if you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you so that you can really see yourself as an author – and have the first chapter of your book DONE – then grab your spot! Register before January 19th so you get $100 off. Find all the details HERE.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to be talking with Meliss Jakubovic, an online marketing strategist and business growth expert. She starts us off by pulling a card from her Spiritual Entrepreneurs Affirmation Deck.

Then we dive right into affirming your worth as a writer, including:

  • Ways you can use a card deck to surround yourself with affirmations – and what happens when you do.
  • A great practice to bring affirmations into your writing sessions.
  • How to use affirmations as a tool for overcoming fear so you can move forward.
  • Why it’s important to start with affirmations that feel realistic and true.
  • Ideas to use affirmations to attract success.

I’m sure you’ll agree that incorporating affirmations into your writing life is a great way to develop a positive mindset, grow your self-worth and allow you to flow into creativity!

If you could use weekly reminders to help you focus on using affirmations to support you as you write your book, grab a copy of YOUR BOOK MATTERS. Filled with 52 affirmations, it will give you a little burst of inspiration every week of the year, so that you can feel supported as you go through the natural ups and downs of the creative process.

About Meliss:

Meliss Jakubovic, also known in the industry as the Lead Generation Genie, is an Online Marketing Strategist and Business Growth Expert to coaches and healers, the founder of Meliss Marketing, Author of "#Expert" and "Your Step-by-Step Guide to An Abundance of Aligned Clients + Consistent Income (Finally!)™", and Host of The Marketing Tips With Meliss Podcast. She helps coaches and healers add $10K+ to their monthly revenue and fill their programs so they can make an impact in the lives of others and abundance and freedom in theirs. Connect with her on IG at meliss_marketing.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m reading an excerpt from my new book, Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours. I’m also sharing some rituals and reflections that will be helpful as you think about your intentions for 2024 and your wins from the past year.

Listen in as I dive into:

  • The importance of giving yourself full credit for what you DID do.
  • How unrealistic expectations turn into toxic patterns.
  • An invitation for you to dig in deeper to any resistance you’re feeling around your creative project.
  • Specific questions to journal on as you close out one chapter of your life and enter another.
  • How celebrating both tangible wins and intangible wins has helped my clients.

My hope for you is that you enter into the new year with fresh motivation and energy around your book!

If you could use some extra motivation and encouragement throughout next year, I invite you to purchase a copy of my book, Your Book Matters. It will cheer you on as you move forward on your writing journey over this next year.

Every single week, you get a little love note from me to you and there's also space for you to reflect on your wins from the past week and set an intention for the week ahead. This is such a game changer in celebrating ourselves, giving ourselves credit for our wins, actually recognizing and acknowledging all that we have done, and also giving us clarity and purpose moving forward. Grab it on Amazon as an e-book or paperback.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with author Traci Skuce about what she calls the impossible longing – the thing that drives us, but it doesn't resolve. It’s a fascinating, layered approach to dive into the emotional heart of your characters.

Whether you are writing fiction or a memoir, I think you’ll really appreciate Traci’s insights as she shares:

  • The deeper motivations driving your characters' actions.
  • Why what they want isn't enough and how to tap into the deep ache that drives their journey.
  • Ways to explore the concept of longing in your writing.
  • Rituals you can use to not dwell in that impossible longing for too long.

Tuning into this basic human desire to belong to something that is greater than us is really key to connecting the reader to your characters on a deep and meaningful level.

And remember, my new book comes out next week! Pre-order your signed copy of YOUR BOOK MATTERS on or before December 4, 2023 and get bonus gifts like a printable calendar with fun star stickers that you can use to give yourself credit for all of your writing days and keep track of your progress, bookmarks, affirmations and meditations that I've recorded and even a 1:1 call with me. Go to bit.ly/preorderyourbookmatters for all the info.

About Traci:

Traci Skuce lives, writes, and swims on the traditional and unceded territories of the Sahtloot, Sasitla, Ieeksun and Puntledge peoples. Her work has appeared in several literary journals throughout North America. In April 2020, her short story collection, Hunger Moon, was released by NeWest Press and was a finalist for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Also, in 2020, Traci founded The Writing Journey, an online creative writing school for fiction and memoir writers who want to finish their stories and get them out into the world. Connect with her on Instagram at @traciskuce.thewritingjourney

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing how to maximize your photo shoot experience so you come away with wonderful photos that you can use in your book and marketing materials.

Even if you're someone who doesn't like getting your picture taken, these tips will help you enjoy your photo shoot and see this as a special moment for yourself.

I’m sharing:

  • What you can do to look more natural in front of the camera, even if, like me, you're not the most camera-friendly person.
  • How to decide what to wear so that your personality shines through.
  • Ways the location impacts the overall feeling your photo evokes.
  • A simple tip that will bring freshness into your expressions, especially when the fatigue of smiling sets in.
  • What I was thinking about as I was being photographed!

I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse and learn from some of my mistakes when it comes to the timing of your photo shoot!

And as I mentioned, my new book, YOUR BOOK MATTERS, comes out extremely soon. I’m so excited that it is available for pre-order now with some bonus gifts like a printable calendar with fun star stickers that you can use to give yourself credit for all of your writing days and keep track of your progress, bookmarks, affirmations and meditations that I've recorded and even a 1:1 call with me. Order your signed copies to get these bonus gifts while they’re available – and in time for holiday gifting. Go to bit.ly/preorderyourbookmatters for all the info.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by Jill Lacsa, a confidence coach who helps women follow their dreams, whether that’s to write a book or pursue other passions.

Jill gives examples of:

  • A reframe you can use when you're worried about rejection.
  • What happens when we let fear take over our thoughts.
  • How to step into discomfort so that you can take action.
  • What the crucial step is when it comes to building confidence.
  • Why boundaries are so important and how to get better at holding them.
  • Affirmations that will grow your confidence.

If you have a book idea inside of your heart, one that you've been thinking about for a long time, this episode is your nudge to explore if confidence is the barrier to you taking action!

And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I would love for you to join me in my free Facebook group, Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. We discuss podcast episodes, I regularly go live with free challenges and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with!

About Jill:

Jill Lacsa is a Women's Confidence Coach who helps women pursue their dreams by helping them break through confidence barriers, so they can live their happiest life!

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m delving into why I titled my new book Your Book Matters and why this is something I believe so deeply.

Recently, a wonderful listener emailed me in response to a podcast episode where I mentioned my soon-to-be-released book title. They shared that most books don’t actually matter– that with a creative pursuit you’re the only one it matters to, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for major disappointment.

Listen in as I respond with:

  • How I see this as a "yes and" situation.
  • Why it’s important to focus on the reasons that your book matters to yourself.
  • Why I firmly believe your book will matter to other people.
  • How knowing what motivates you allows you to design the best accountability system for yourself.
  • Intangible ways that we can measure our success and impact on others.

I always love engaging in dialogue with you and getting your feedback, so reach out and share your thoughts with me directly or in our free Facebook Group, Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best-Selling Authors.

While I'm in the home stretch of launching my new book, coming out in early December, it's not too late to join my launch team!! It takes a village to launch a book, and I'd be so grateful to have you as part of my village. If you're interested in joining the launch team for Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours, join here:bit.ly/yourbookmatterslaunchteam.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m delighted to talk with author Louise Nayer whose latest book is a memoir entitled Narrow Escapes. I really loved her warmth and vulnerability as she shared about her writing journey and her work in the fields of memoir and poetry.

Plus, I've started implementing something that she shared in our conversation about having a weekly writing night! Listen to hear more about that, as well as:

  • Advice for juggling parenthood with teaching, writing and working on your own projects.
  • The childhood event that led her to accidentally write poetry.
  • How she received a phone call and invitation to meet for coffee from Isabel Allende!!!
  • Her transition from writing poetry to writing prose.
  • The role her teaching played along her writing journey.

And, did you hear? I’m launching my book 📖 Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours 😍 SOON and I want YOU to be a part of the launch team! As part of the launch team you get a FREE digital copy of the book (plus you get to read it in advance of publication), access to a special bonus call with me, and a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card to treat yourself to all fresh writing supplies & your favorite snacks! Join the team here: bit.ly/yourbookmatterslaunchteam

About Louise:

Louise Nayer is an author, memoirist, poet, and writing teacher. Her latest book is a memoir entitled Narrow Escapes. Haunted by a terrible accident and adrift in love, Louise Nayer takes us on a captivating journey filled with danger and romance through Morocco, New York City and finally on a solo journey to California thousands of miles from her home. Set in the early 70s at a time of cataclysmic change in America, Narrow Escapes will resonate with all who need to release themselves from a difficult past as they search for joy and home.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share what has helped me write my back cover and my longer book descriptions. I even give an example of the description from my new book coming out this December called “Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours.”

On the surface, writing your book description seems pretty simple…but it is super common to struggle with this task because you need to condense so much into a short space! To write a compelling book description, you need to 1) give the reader a sense of what your book is about; 2) introduce the reader to your own authentic voice and style; 3) sell your book; 4) grab the reader’s attention and leave them wanting more!

I dive into:

  • The distinction between your book description and your back cover description.
  • Some exercises that are really helpful with taking away the pressure and stress of writing the description of your book.
  • Why I recommend writing your book description before you reach the end of your manuscript.
  • How to grab the reader’s attention in your book description.
  • A little trick I use to hone in on how to write to the ideal reader of your book.

Curious to see the full description of my soon-to-be-released book – and the differences between the longer description for the sales page and the shorter description for the back cover? I’m sharing this little behind-the-scenes peek with my book launch team so I invite you to join the launch team here: bit.ly/yourbookmatterslaunchteam 📖 🚀

I also welcome you to come join me in my Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors Facebook group and share YOUR book description so we can cheer you on and share feedback!

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to be talking with Jessica Flory about her debut novel Oceans of Sand, a clean fantasy romance. It was fun to hear what it has been like for her in this season of taking her book from draft to published and also celebrating that she's working on her sequel right now too!

I just love her energy and her vulnerability as she shared:

  • How she managed her disappointment and discouragement when trying to get published.
  • Why she recommends going to writers conferences and the value she’s found in attending them.
  • What she did during the waiting period between signing her book contract and seeing it on the shelf.
  • When she decided that she was going to write a sequel.
  • How the process of writing the sequel was different from the first one, what challenges came up and how she was able to overcome them.
  • What she tells herself to get negative reviews out of her head.

I think you’ll find how she developed a habit of writing consistently for 15 minutes a day very inspiring!

And, did you hear? I’m launching my book 📖 Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours 😍 SOON and I want YOU to be a part of the launch team! As part of the launch team you get a FREE digital copy of the book (plus you get to read it in advance of publication), access to a special bonus call with me, and a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card to treat yourself to all fresh writing supplies & your favorite snacks! Join the team here: bit.ly/yourbookmatterslaunchteam

About Jessica:

Jessica Flory writes clean fantasy/romance. She has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from BYU, Provo, and she uses that science background to dream up cool settings and magic systems. Jessica has been a proud member of the Hot Mess Writers Critique Group since 2013.

Jessica is a mom of three crazy boys and one girl. She is a fitness instructor and an avid baker. When she’s not writing, she can be found chasing her kids, making a mess in the kitchen, or reading with her husband. Connect with her at jessicaflory.com.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m delighted to be talking with author Margo Candela about her writing journey and The Neapolitan Sisters, her fifth novel and her first after a decade-long hiatus from writing.

Margo has some wonderful tips and advice to share, including:

  • What she pulled from her training as a journalist that has really helped her in her writing life.
  • Why she doesn’t think she’s realized her full potential yet.
  • How thinking purely creatively felt like a huge indulgence for her.
  • The deliberate choices she makes when structuring her stories.
  • How she was able to set aside her own bias against one of her own characters and eventually grow compassion for her.
  • And so many more nuggets of wisdom!

There are lessons here for all of us, no matter what type of writer you are or where you are in your writing journey. Enjoy the conversation!

And, did you hear? I’m launching my book 📖 Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours 😍 SOON and I want YOU to be a part of the launch team! If you're excited about getting behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of MY current marketing plan in action, I invite you to join me! As part of the launch team you get a FREE digital copy of the book (plus you get to read it in advance of publication), access to a special bonus call with me, and a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card to treat yourself to all fresh writing supplies & your favorite snacks! Join the team here: https://mailchi.mp/94cfc79377a0/your-book-matters-launch-team-sign-up

About Margo:

Margo Candela was born and raised in Los Angeles and began her writing career when she joined Glendale Community College’s student newspaper. She transferred to San Francisco State University as a journalism major, and upon graduation began writing for websites and magazines before writing her first two novels, Underneath It All and Life Over Easy. She returned to Los Angeles to raise her son and wrote More Than This and Good-bye to All That. The Neapolitan Sisters is her fifth novel and her first after a decade-long hiatus from writing. She now lives in San Francisco. Learn more at MargoCandela.com.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into how to create a marketing plan for your book. Marketing, promoting and launching feel so much less overwhelming when you have a plan in place!

I share a few journal prompts that are really helpful to brainstorm and also explain:

  • How to avoid getting completely burned out and not wanting to do any marketing.
  • The best sort of publicity that you can get that will lead to book sales.
  • A menu of ideas that you can get excited about when creating your plan.
  • A mindset shift so you don’t feel icky or salesy when sharing about your book.
  • Examples of special little extra goodies you can send to everybody who preorders your book.
  • What materials are really helpful to have ready when you’re pitching different media marketing opportunities.
  • And more!

I’m launching my book 📖 Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours 😍 SOON and I want YOU to be a part of the launch team! If you're excited about getting behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of MY current marketing plan in action, I invite you to join me! As part of the launch team you get a FREE digital copy of the book (plus you get to read it in advance of publication), access to a special bonus call with me, and a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card to treat yourself to all fresh writing supplies & your favorite snacks! Join the team here: https://mailchi.mp/94cfc79377a0/your-book-matters-launch-team-sign-up

And I would love to invite you to join me in Thriving Authors Academy. I’ll help you feel inspired and empowered throughout the creative process, from first seed of an idea to finished manuscript… and then polished manuscript… and then beautiful published book with your name on the cover. This round goes from October 7, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Find out more at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with Miriam Ilgenfritz, a wonderful author who also happens to be a client of mine! It was such a treat to chat with her about her books, her writing journey and a bit about her experience as being part of Thriving Authors Academy.

I think you'll find our conversation inspiring if you have a book inside of you as well.

Miriam shared how she:

  • Avoids getting distracted by research while writing historical fiction.
  • Makes time to write despite everything she has going on as a wife, mom of 16 kids, and tending to her farm.
  • Pursues writing in multiple genres.
  • Moves past comparison and feeling stuck when writing.

After listening, if you’re ready to get YOUR story out into the world, then I invite you to join me in Thriving Authors Academy. I’ll help you feel inspired and empowered throughout the creative process, from first seed of an idea to finished manuscript… and then polished manuscript… and then beautiful published book with your name on the cover. This round goes from October 7, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Find out more at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

About Miriam:

Miriam Ilgenfritz lives on a farm established before the Revolutionary War, on one side of a mountain in Dornsife, Pennsylvania. Her house is 170 years old and sometimes living in it feels that way. She and her husband Mark have raised 16 kids in this house, but since they live in Amish country she doesn’t stand out all that much at the grocery store. The kids turned out pretty well, considering that they didn’t have rooms of their own or expensive summer camps, and most have now gone off to do interesting things with their lives. Her latest release is a novel called Emily's Story. You can connect with her at https://miriamilgenfritz.com

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing a sneak peek of the curriculum from week 7 of Thriving Authors Academy about how to boost your writing power.

Beyond my mentorship and the community in Thriving Authors Academy, you also receive video lessons and a printed workbook where I distill down the most essential lessons about writing, editing, publishing and marketing your book! So today you’ll get to hear a bit of my teaching style!

I’m diving into:

  • What is scene vs. what is summary.
  • Finding your strengths and developing your natural gifts as a writer.
  • How you can really hook your reader and grab their attention.
  • The counterintuitive way to make your story more relatable to all readers.
  • How to write a book that sticks with your reader long after they’ve turned the final page.

What would it mean for YOUR writing life to have a weekly video lesson just like this delivered straight to your inbox every week? Along with a printed workbook that you can follow along with and actually write out all of these exercises to help you not only write your book, but write the best book possible?

Then I would love to invite you to join me in Thriving Authors Academy. I’ll help you feel inspired and empowered throughout the creative process, from first seed of an idea to finished manuscript… and then polished manuscript… and then beautiful published book with your name on the cover. This round goes from October 7, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Find out more at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to be talking with author Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler who has both a novel and a picture book out this year!

I think you’ll be inspired by Rebecca’s wisdom and how her passion for yoga helped her find her voice as a picture book writer.

She also shared how:

  • Even as a kid, she knew she would write a book.
  • Being in community with other writers spurred her creativity.
  • The perseverance she had resulted in her book coming out at the exact “right” time.
  • Her background writing poetry provides her clarity and precision when writing for children.

One key takeaway for me was that the exact comment that she received from an editor rejecting one of her books has now come back around as something that people rave about in their reviews!

Is writing a book – of any genre – something you’re dreaming of? If you’re ready to be part of a community of writers, join me in Thriving Authors Academy. I’ll help you feel inspired and empowered throughout the creative process, from first seed of an idea to finished manuscript… and then polished manuscript… and then beautiful published book with your name on the cover.

This round goes from October 7, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Find out more at http://www.thrivingauthorsacademy.com/

About Rebecca: Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler was raised in West Point, a small town in the Tidewater region of Virginia. From the moment she submitted her first short story to a young author’s contest in second grade, Rebecca knew she wanted to be a writer. Her love of writing led her to earn a BA in English and an MEd in English education. She spent several years as a high school teacher, during which she also developed a passion for mental health advocacy. Rebecca completed an MA in professional counseling and now works in the school-based mental health field and as a college adjunct psychology instructor.

Rebecca also teaches yoga for the young and the young at heart, and she likes to infuse yoga and breathwork in her counseling practice wherever she can. She believes the most valuable use of her time is teaching youth how to love and care for each other and the world around them. Her stories share her focus on positive relationships and a love of nature. Rebecca now lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and two spoiled Siamese cats. When Mama Grows with Me is her second yoga-inspired picture book. You can follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebeccawwheeler_author and www.rebeccawwheeler.com.


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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m thrilled to present the inaugural Celine Aziz Legacy Award to my dear friend and coach, Anna Rapp, whose wonderful book, The 20K Freedom Fund was released earlier this year. The award is in honor of my amazing friend Celine who tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 26. I miss her every single day, but she really lives on in my life and in the lives of all of those who knew her and who loved her.

I will be awarding this every year during the summit to a woman who I feel really embodies going after what she wants with boldness and bravery in a way that is authentic and empowers other women. A woman who has written and published a book that creates a ripple effect and continues the legacy of building up other women.

Anna inspires other women to go after their dreams and step into that person they want to be. She explains how building a financial cushion gives you so much stability and freedom and shares affirmations to create safety so you can be brave and vulnerable as you put your story out into the world.

In our conversation she shares:

  • How she was able to help people change their behavior by changing their language.
  • The ripples that she’s already seen from bravely sharing her story and putting her book out in the world.
  • Affirmations that can help you create the safety you need to be vulnerable with your story.
  • The hardest part for her along her book writing journey and how she was able to move through it.

I hope this episode encourages you to consider your legacy and pursue your dreams, own your voice and speak your truth to continue the beautiful ripple effect inspired by my friend.

About Anna:

Anna Rapp is a Business Mentor + Mindset Coach, mama to two and founder of the Heart Centered Entrepreneur Podcast and Community. Anna lives in San Diego and helps women create six figure success on PT hours with HEART so they can create financial stability to live their boring, happy dream life with the people they love. You can find Anna on Instagram @heartcentered.entrepreneur.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with Elizabeth Castillo, a multilingual poet, writer, teacher and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee who lives in Paris.

I especially loved hearing her describe writing poetry and reading poetry – but even if you haven’t dabbled in poetry, I still know you’ll gain a lot from this episode.

Elizabeth shares so many nuggets of wisdom and advice in this episode! Including:

  • A bit about her writing process and the unusual way she put her most recent collection together.
  • The way she landed on the name of her poetry book “Not Quite an Ocean.”
  • The value she’s found in building community and the reason she channels her energy into supporting indie creators.
  • How she integrates her artistic life with her life as a mama.

AND if you want to hear more of what Elizabeth has to say, she is speaking on self-care and avoiding burnout at the upcoming Thriving Authors Summit. It’s a completely free virtual five-day summit from August 21-25. I’m talking with experts about everything from mindset to writing tips to editing to marketing to publishing your book. Register at thrivingauthorssummit.com.

About Elizabeth: Elizabeth M Castillo is a multilingual poet, writer, teacher and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. She lives in Paris with her family and two cats, where she writes a variety of different things, in a variety of different languages, and under a variety of pen names. She also runs a handful of small businesses, homeschools, dabbles in charity work and teaches languages part-time. She’s committed to promoting the indie arts, especially from women creators, and has a particular soft spot for women of colour who are also neurodivergent, much like herself. She’s found writing and creativity to be central to her own wellbeing and mental health, and is always keen to accompany other artists on their journey to developing their own authentic creative practice. In her writing Elizabeth explores the different countries and cultures she grew up with, as well as themes of race & ethnicity, motherhood, womanhood, language, love, loss and grief, and a touch of magical realism. Her writing has been featured in publications and anthologies in the UK, US, Australia, Mexico and the Middle East. Her bilingual, debut collection “Cajoncito: Poems on Love, Loss, y Otras Locuras” is for sale on Amazon, and her debut ecofeminist chapbook "Not Quite an Ocean" is out now with Nine Pens Press & on Amazon. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG as @EMCWritesPoetry, or on her website www.elizabethmcastillo.net


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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking with Emma Louise Parkes, host of an amazing podcast called The Ambitious Introvert, about how to market your book as an introvert.

So many writers (myself included!) are introverts, and it can seem so draining to think about getting out there and marketing ourselves and our books. But we all know that promotion is important for the success of our book launches. How do we balance these two opposing goals?

Emma-Louise to the rescue! She shares:

  • How to protect your energy as an introvert while still creating a wildly successful marketing plan for your book.
  • Ways to streamline your marketing so you’re not doing extra but you are authentically connecting with your audience.
  • Tips for what to do immediately after a launch to reset our brain and allow our nervous system to gently calm down.

You will LOVE her genius tips for using different stages of writing & launching your book in your marketing & promotion!

If you found this conversation insightful, make sure you sign up for the second-annual Thriving Authors Summit. It’s a completely free virtual five-day summit that I am putting together straight from my heart to yours, happening from August 21-25. I’m talking with experts about everything from mindset to writing tips to editing to marketing to publishing your book. I'm really excited to bring conversations to you with editors at publishing houses who will be giving tips from their side of the table, as well as authors, mindset coaches, women entrepreneurs, and those who’ve been able to bring their business to a new level because of becoming published authors. Register at thrivingauthorssummit.com for all of the updates and juicy goodness related to this year’s Thriving Authors Summit!

About Emma-Louise: She is a business and mindset coach for ambitious introverts, empaths, and HSPs. She’s also the host of the award winning podcast, The Ambitious Introvert®. Having built her six-figure brand in under three years without previous business experience, Emma-Louise is proof that when you take aligned action, you can scale your business with ease and speed. Emma-Louise’s mission is to help her clients embrace their ambitious introvert nature, stay in their zone of genius, and impact more people with their profitable, purpose-driven businesses. You can find her at https://emmalouiseparkes.com or inside her free Facebook group, The Ambitious Introvert® Network, where she empowers her community of smart, sensitive entrepreneurs.


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing four simple ways that I use paper in my writing process. I’ve found that using pen and paper (or markers and crayons) – basically anything tactile and non-digital – can do wonders for our creative energy, bring more joy and fun to our writing practice, and ultimately make us better writers.

You’ll hear:

  • How I sometimes use crayons in my brainstorming process.
  • The different parts of the writing process that have me turning to blank pages and index cards.
  • How a piece of poster board helped a client own her identity as an author and claim to the world that she was working on a book.
  • What can happen when you have a new view and flexible way to interact with your book.

I hope one of these ideas resonate with you or will spark a new idea for you. And if they do please share because I’d love to hear!

>> Did you find this episode insightful? Then make sure you sign up for the second-annual Thriving Authors Summit! It’s a completely free virtual five-day summit that I am putting together straight from my heart to yours, happening from August 21-25. I’m talking with experts about everything from mindset to writing tips to editing to marketing to publishing your book. I'm really excited to bring you conversations with editors at publishing houses who will be giving tips from their side of the table, as well as authors, mindset coaches, women entrepreneurs, and those who’ve been able to bring their business to a new level because of becoming published authors. Register at thrivingauthorssummit.com for all of the updates and juicy goodness related to this year’s Thriving Authors Summit!


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking about ways to create a writing routine that actually fits into your life – even if this is a busy season for you and things are hectic.

If writing is something that you keep telling yourself you're going to carve out time to do, but it just seems to always slip away with other more urgent tasks that take up your time, then this episode is for you!

I share:

  • The benefits to blocking even 10 -15 minute increments of writing in your calendar.
  • What aspects of your life to consider when creating a writing routine.
  • The first step to take to create your new writing habit.
  • Ideas and examples that clients – and myself – have found success with to make writing time something to look forward to rather than it feeling like just another task.

I’m excited for you to experience the joy and ease that a writing routine can bring and the incredible progress that you can make to really move forward on your book!

If you found this episode insightful, make sure you sign up for the second-annual Thriving Authors Summit. It’s a completely free virtual five-day summit that I am putting together straight from my heart to yours, happening from August 21-25. I’m talking with experts about everything from mindset to writing tips to editing to marketing to publishing your book. I'm really excited to bring you conversations with editors at publishing houses who will be giving tips from their side of the table, as well as authors, mindset coaches, women entrepreneurs, and those who’ve been able to bring their business to a new level because of becoming published authors. Register at thrivingauthorssummit.com for all of the updates and juicy goodness related to this year’s Thriving Authors Summit!


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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m chatting with Jodi Graham, a productivity expert, about simple, actionable tips that you can start implementing TODAY to move forward on your writing project with confidence!

After recording my interview with her, I have taken her advice to heart and I already feel so much less overwhelmed and more empowered over my to-do list. These are tips that are geared toward writing your book, but also that you can use in all areas of your life and business!

She shares so many gems including:

  • What to do if you find yourself constantly getting distracted when you sit down to write.
  • How to find the energy and focus to work on your book.
  • The one quick thing you can do that will save you 2 hours a week.
  • Strategies to keep you from feeling overwhelmed with big projects so you can stop procrastinating and take action.

I’m excited for you to listen in if you want to feel more productive and intentional with your time.

If you found this conversation insightful, make sure you sign up for the second-annual Thriving Authors Summit. It’s a completely free virtual five-day summit that I am putting together straight from my heart to yours, happening from August 21-25. I’m talking with experts about everything from mindset to writing tips to editing to marketing to publishing your book. I'm really excited to bring conversations to you with editors at publishing houses who will be giving tips from their side of the table, as well as authors, mindset coaches, women entrepreneurs, and those who’ve been able to bring their business to a new level because of becoming published authors. Register at thrivingauthorssummit.com for all of the updates and juicy goodness related to this year’s Thriving Authors Summit!

About Jodi:

Jodi is a Productivity Coach working with online business owners and solopreneurs who are stuck in inaction due to confusion and overwhelm. During their work together they discover how to translate their to-do lists, projects and goals into doable and actionable steps so that they can create a consistent pipeline of clients and income. She is all about making the most of life and believes that in order to do that you’ve got to be productive and intentional with your time. Experiences are unlimited, time is not. Make the most of your life by making the most of your time. Connect with her on Instagram @jodigrahamcoach


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In this solo episode, I’m talking about what I call Overflowing Ideas Syndrome. It’s when you have so many ideas that it's really hard to commit to one idea and easy to get distracted.

This will be a great episode for you if you have a bunch of half-finished manuscripts, but you don't have a completed book!

I delve into:

  • Why nothing is wrong with you and how you can reframe this into a strength.
  • Tools that will help you focus your energy on one idea at a time.
  • The importance of tuning in to the book YOU most want to write.
  • What happens when you pay attention to what gives you energy and excites you.
  • Journaling prompts that you can use whenever you need to find clarity about what direction to go in.

After listening, I think you’ll understand why it's really common to get distracted by shiny new ideas and to abandon projects halfway – and how joining a container of support with a writing community and working with a coach can help you stay accountable to finishing your book.

And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. This free community is the perfect place to share what came up for you with this episode and any goals you have so we can cheer you on – and also to provide a little extra accountability for you, too!


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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I had a lovely conversation with Tara K. Ross whose novel Fade to White came out the same year as my debut novel. I've been a fan of hers since then!

It was fascinating to hear from Tara about how her novel came to be and her writing and publishing journey. If you are someone who has a book inside of you but you haven’t formally studied writing, I’m excited for you to see what is possible!

In our conversation, Tara shared:

  • How entering a writing contest started her on the journey to publication.

  • The unique way she found an agent and a publisher and how she recommends finding one now.

  • A fun hobby she turns to when she’s feeling creatively drained.

  • What her writing routine looks like as she balances all her responsibilities.

  • Her approach to planning and the character work she does before she begins writing.

I think you’ll love her energy and hearing how she continues to grow as a writer!

About Tara:

Tara K. Ross lives with her husband, two daughters, and rescued fur-babies in the artisanal town of Eden Mills, Ontario. She works as a school speech-language pathologist and mentors new and emerging creatives. When Tara is not writing or reading, you can find her rock climbing the Ontario escarpment, interviewing authors for The Hope Prose Podcast, or blogging at www.tarakross.com. FADE TO WHITE is her debut novel.


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing what I do at the beginning of each month as I reflect on my writing routine to see if there is anything I want to adjust or work on moving forward.

There’s nothing like the clean slate of a brand-new month to check in on YOUR writing goals! This is not a time to judge yourself, criticize yourself, or feel guilty for what you haven’t done. Instead, this is meant to be an inspiring & encouraging time!

Listen to the episode as I describe why this practice of intentional reflection works and how it has helped me to adjust my writing routine. Then grab your journal, brew a hot cup of tea, and light a cozy candle.

Here are 7 questions to reflect on:

  1. What emotions or adjectives would I use to describe my current writing routine?

  2. How do I WANT my writing to feel? What emotions or adjectives come up?

  3. When is my ideal creative time? When do I feel most alive and inspired?

  4. What project lights me up the most right now? What do I want to devote my time to this month?

  5. What is a big writing goal I am working on? What would be an amazing smaller goal to accomplish by the end of the month that would really move me forward toward that big goal?

  6. What affirmation resonates with me right now in my writing life?

  7. Bonus: block off time on the calendar to write! Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes!

I hope this exercise was helpful for you to acknowledge where you are, take stock of your goals and dreams, and make a plan to get there!

And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. This free community is the perfect place to share what came up for you with this exercise and any goals you have so we can cheer you on – and also to provide a little extra accountability for you, too!


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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was such a treat to talk with Nina Schuyler, author of the new book Afterword – a stunning novel with powerful echoes of our current state with Artificial Intelligence.

I loved the book and was especially impressed by these characters she created who were profoundly intelligent in the world of science and AI and math. It was so interesting to talk to her about how this story germinated inside of her, how she researched technology and really followed her curiosity while creating these characters and this love story.

I think you'll enjoy our conversation where Nina shared:

  • How she was able to characterize a non-human since she needed to eliminate gestures and facial expressions.

  • The way she used the concept of tunneling to structure the novel.

  • Her desire to bring attention to women in math and the sciences.
  • And SO much more!

I just loved Nina's energy and I can't wait to hear what gems you take away from our conversation!

About Nina:

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024. Her novel, The Translator, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022.

She teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and for the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons, where she hikes, bodysurfs, and writes in a small room, looking out at a tall palm tree. Find her at ninaschuyler.com


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I address the common misconception that writing a book will take a lot of time – time away from your business and other money making actions that seem more urgent.

Spoiler alert: I think that the opposite is true! I believe that writing your book is one of the biggest gifts to your business and one of the best things you can do to increase efficiency and productivity and save time in your business.

You’ll hear me share reasons and examples why I think this, including:

  • How to avoid spending all our time putting out fires of day-to-day business and client tasks.
  • The simple way writing a book allows you to schedule your CEO time on a consistent basis and actually stay committed to it.
  • The mindset shifts that I and my clients have experienced that have helped us to grow into the next level in life and business.
  • The importance of creating an enduring content bank and the strategy I use for organizing content so it’s easy to find and keep track of.

After listening I think you’ll agree that writing a book is the most efficient time-saving gift for your business!

And if you’re not already there, I’d love for you to join me in my free Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. If you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, this is the place to be! We discuss the podcast episodes, I regularly go live with free challenges, and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with.


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In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with LaCresia Arnold about how she came to to adopt the important mission of empowering other women to own their journey, honor their voice and be more verbal about their lived experiences. 

It was beautiful to hear LaCresia share her transformational journey of learning to give to others by first giving to herself. 

LaCresia also dove into:

  • How she went from peacekeeper to peacemaker and what the distinction is.
  • The shifts that she’s experienced and witnessed in other women when they have a safe and supportive community to share their stories.
  • How you can honor your truth as a writer, business owner, wife, mother, daughter, and human being.
  • The way she helps other women to bravely share their voices and their stories.

She shared so many gems and was such a source of light, I think you’ll really enjoy listening – and even relistening – to her mantras and self-reflection prompts.

About LaCresia:

LaCresia is a native Illinoisan and passionate about helping women own their stories. Through her upstart community OneEighty she creates safe spaces for women to share their life experiences. She passionately believes that when we share our stories of triumph, pain, and victory countless lives are changed and transformed. Connect with her on IG at one_eighty__


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In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on a magical night I had last week at my author event at Banter Bookshop. I've published three books in the last three years, but this was my first in-person book event because of the pandemic and pregnancy, and it was amazing to be in conversation and celebrating my books out in the world.

I share:

  • My personal transformation along my writing journey and some examples from my clients.
  • What to remember when a vision for your life feels impossible.
  • How connecting to readers through your book can grow your business.
  • The first thing Kate Northrup said recently when introducing herself, when she could have focused on her successful company and coaching business.
  • How committing to something can shift your identity.

I cannot wait for you to have a night like I had on Tuesday. A night where you are celebrating your book, signing your book, connecting with your readers. So for those of you who have that little voice in your head, that little inkling in your heart, to write your book… I encourage you to commit to it and to get started now!

If now is indeed the time, I’d love for you to join me this summer in my brand-new 8-week program Your Book Roadmap that will help you unlock your AUTHORity & step into your full creative powers. This is a super-affordable way to work with me in a magical high-touch supportive container. You'll finish with a full outline, your first chapter done, and a solid writing routine that fits into your busy life & schedule. Register at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com/

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In this episode, it was such a joy to talk with Mimi Herman about her debut novel, The Kudzu Queen. It was a book I just could not put down and found myself thinking of the characters in between reading sessions.

She shared so much wisdom and practical advice including:

  • How she came to write this historical fiction novel.
  • The way that poetry has influenced her prose and the different reasons she has for writing poetry and fiction.
  • How she first fell in love with writing and knew she wanted to be a writer.
  • How to find your way back to writing after you’ve gotten away from it.

I think you’ll really enjoy hearing about her writing process and what she does with any writing she takes out of a book or poem. She also shared some great insights about how to make a scene or a character or a setting really come to life.

Once you’ve listened, you may feel inspired to make progress on your own book! If that’s the case, sign up for my brand-new program Your Book Roadmap. We start on June 5th, and by the end of the summer, you'll have a clear book outline and your first chapter DONE. Plus, you'll have created a habit of writing consistently that feels easy and joyful, rather than stressful or overwhelming. Register at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com/news-blog/your-book-roadmap

About Mimi:

Mimi Herman is a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist, director of the United Arts Council Arts Integration Institute and co-director of Writeaways writing workshops in France, Italy and New Mexico. She has taught in the Masters of Education programs at Lesley University, served as the 2017 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate and has been an associate editor for Teaching Artists Journal since 1990. She has engaged over 25,000 students and teachers with her warm and intuitive teaching style. Mimi holds a BA from the University of North Carolina and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson. She's the author of the beautiful novel The Kudzu Queen, as well as A Field Guide to Human Emotions, Logophilia and The Art of Learning. Her writing has appeared in many journals, and she has also performed her fiction and poetry at numerous venues, including Why There Are Words in Sausalito, Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh and Symphony Space in New York City. Find her at www.mimiherman.com.

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In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain around what I do as a book coach and sharing three reasons why having a book coach is a game-changer in getting your book written.

You’ll hear about:

  • The hardest part of writing your book and how I will help you move through it.
  • The amazing shifts that happen when you have clarity on your writing project.
  • Who the biggest enemy is when it comes to writing a book and how I support my clients with this.
  • How my new program will set you up for continued success and why I structured it the way I did.

I hope this episode gives you a sense of what a book coach is, what I do with my clients and how a book coach can really help you move forward in your journey.

And remember, your book is a whole new beginning in many ways. It's the first step of a really exciting new chapter for yourself, for your business, for your authority and your expertise. It creates so many ripples and you have no idea how far those ripples will go!

Ready to see what ripples your book creates? Join my new program, Your Book Roadmap, and by the end of our eight weeks together you’ll truly see yourself as an author. You’ll have the first chapter of your book DONE and all the momentum you need to continue! It’s a small group with limited spots so grab yours today at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com.

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In this episode, it was such a pleasure to talk with Kristin Akerele about how our natural inner femininity nurtures our creativity and how it is SO important in giving birth to our ideas in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.

In our conversion, Kristin shared:

  • Her three-pillar strategy of embodying feminine energy.
  • A mindset shift to understand you are inherently worthy and that your worth isn't attached to being productive.
  • The relationship between energetics and the nervous system.
  • How to get in the right energetic space to be able to access your intuition.
  • And so much more!

I think you’ll gain so much insight from this episode on how you can unleash your feminine magic and how you can approach your writing time and creativity in a way that changes from pressure to pleasure – so that you don’t burn yourself out.

About Kristin:

Kristin is a Feminine Embodiment Coach, Energy Healer and Divine Channel who mentors high-achieving women to embody their feminine power and intuitive magic as leading yoga teachers, coaches, aspiring-coaches and healers. She also channels light code activations, speaks light language, and clears energetic blocks to access a deeper connection to your higher self and the Divine. She offers individual energy healing and coaching sessions as well as group certification programs in pranayama/yogic breath and feminine embodiment coaching. Connect with her at https://linktr.ee/kristinakerele.

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In this solo episode, I’m sharing a little love note from my heart to yours. I’m also reflecting on my daughter's namesake, my Grandma Auden, and how so many of us have no idea how far our legacies extend, the ripples that we create, the ways that we touch other people's lives.

I touch on:

  • Why being a book coach is so important to me.
  • How I’m trying to show my children the power of building a life around my creative energy.
  • The huge shift that happens when we start to put ourselves, put our joy, put our creativity first in our lives.
  • What feedback I received from people in my Facebook community and on my newsletter list that helped me create a new program.

And if you’re looking to write a book as part of your legacy, I hope you’re as excited as I am to hear me explain my new program called Your Book Roadmap happening this summer over the course of 8 weeks. It will just be a small group with limited spots.

So if you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you so that you can really see yourself as an author – and have the first chapter of your book DONE – then grab your spot! Register before May 5th so you get $100 off. Find all the details HERE or send me an email at dallaswoodburn@gmail.com.

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In this episode, I had a delightful conversation with speaker and author Lelia Gowland about what planted the seed to her publishing a book and how her writing and ideas evolved along the journey.

She shared some really insightful advice about authenticity, especially in regards to being a writer and also:

  • How a gap in the market was a motivator for her in actually bringing her book to fruition.
  • A valuable piece of feedback that encouraged her to write as her authentic self.
  • Her shift from writing policy briefings that were devoid of voice to a very conversational tone.
  • What she does when the inevitable imposter syndrome shows up.

If you could use some inspiration and guidance on being true to yourself while also connecting with your audience, then I think you’ll really enjoy this episode.

About Lelia:

Lelia is a sought after speaker and writer on authenticity, compassion and connection. Fortune 500 companies and professional associations from across North America regularly hire Lelia to support their teams. Described as the confidence fairy godmother we all need, Lelia has delighted audiences ranging from auto care and health care workers to cocktail connoisseurs to women in roofing. In addition to her much loved weekly newsletter, Lelia has written over 150 articles in national publications, including Huffington Post, Forbes and Harper's Bazaar. Her book, You Got This: The Ultimate Negotiation Guide for Professional Women, provides a fresh and instantly applicable toolkit for anyone ready to develop their own authentic voice in negotiation.

Listen at www.thrivingauthorspodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this episode, it was such a treat to interview Stephanie Cotta whose debut Young Adult Fantasy book, The Conjurer's Curse, was recently released!!

It was really interesting to hear how real events in her life, and in the world, inspired her fantasy books. So if you are interested in writing fantasy, I think this conversation is going to be especially useful for you.

We chatted about world building as a fantasy author as well as:

  • Where to find inspiration and ideas.
  • How she sets the ambiance for her writing sessions.
  • Her simple advice to people who are wanting to write a book.
  • What she does when she gets writer's block and more!

She shared so much good advice! Congratulations to Stephanie on her debut book!

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Cotta hails from beautiful Southern Oregon and resides in a quaint, historic mining town. Growing up, she spent much of her time delving into every new Star Wars book she could get her hands on, which all began at age nine when she bought The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton at a garage sale for a quarter. Her love of Star Wars and Sci-Fi/fantasy has been undying ever since. A fine arts major in college, she first embarked into the literary world as a children’s book illustrator, then leapt over to the realm of storytelling when she could no longer repress the urge to write the fantasy stories running wild in her imagination. When she’s not steeped in writing, she’s launching arrows at hay bales, drawing with pastels, reading fantasy, playing an immersive RPG, or watching the latest BBC historical drama. You can connect with Stephanie and find her book at https://linktr.ee/StephanieCotta.

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In this solo episode, I’m talking about some epiphanies I had last summer on my way home from getting my blood drawn (my least favorite thing) and, yes, they relate to the writing process!

So listen in to hear 3 tips that will help you recharge your writing routine so you can write more consistently now and into the future!

I share my thoughts about:

  • What to do when you have a lot of resistance around doing something that’s important to you.
  • How you can set yourself up to write consistently.
  • Ways to move beyond stories from your past to create a healthier narrative for yourself around writing.
  • How being in community with others can help you figure out what works best for you!

After you listen, I think you’ll feel less pressure to perform or prove yourself to anyone when it comes to your creative process - and instead, you’ll remember that your creativity is a gift that you're giving yourself.

I would love for you to join me in my free Facebook group, the Book Breakthrough Community! It's full of other heart-centered writers sharing resources and supporting each other. We discuss the podcast episodes, I regularly go live with free challenges, and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with. Join us!

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In this solo episode, I’m diving into two common objections that I hear over and over from the women who are considering joining Thriving Authors Academy. These objections might resonate with you, too, so I wanted to talk about them and pose some questions for you to think about.

If you’re feeling resistant to committing to write your book, this episode will help you figure out if now is the right time to jump in AND how you can guarantee that this investment is going to pay off.

After listening to the episode, if you’re still wondering “Can I really do this?”, let's hop on a call and we can talk through it together. There's no pressure and you're not wasting my time. During our call I’ll be a mirror for you, reflecting back to you the truth that you are sharing, so that you are able to go after your dream of becoming a published author in whatever is the best way for you to do that.

AND if now is the time – and you are ready to go all in to write your book – there are still a few spots in this next round of Thriving Authors Academy that begins April 8th!! Find more details at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In this episode, I’m excited to interview my dear friend Courtney Caldwell. She is a writer across genres! She's a poet, a playwright, a novelist, a flash fiction writer. AND she has been with me for three rounds of Thriving Authors Academy!

Listen in to hear her experience going through Thriving Authors Academy and enjoy her calm, gentle presence as she shares:

  • What convinced her to join even though she already had so much going on in her life.
  • The challenges she had to overcome along the journey of getting her debut novel down on paper.
  • How going through Thriving Authors Academy has changed her.
  • And what the experience of being part of a community of writers was like.

If you're struggling with many different ideas or projects that you haven't been able to complete, or maybe you're wondering about what it's like to be empowered as part of a writing community, I think this conversation is exactly what you need to hear!

AND if you are ready to be part of a community of writers, there’s still time to join this round of the Thriving Authors Academy that begins April 8th. You’ll receive small-group coaching calls with me, small-group writing workshops for you to get feedback from others, virtual coworking sessions for you to write within the energy of a nurturing creative community, simple + foundational lessons about writing, editing, publishing and marketing your book, and more! Find more details at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com.

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In this solo episode, I'm recapping the highlights and key takeaways from the Revamp Your Writing Routine Challenge that I hosted in my free Facebook group, the Book Breakthrough Community. The group is full of heart-centered writers sharing resources and supporting each other and I would be thrilled if you joined us!

The recap includes:

  • Tips for claiming your writing space.
  • Steps to take when you need a reset of your writing routine.
  • Ways to help your brain shift into writing time.
  • Ideas from other writers and so much more!

After listening I think you’ll agree, it’s not just about writing your book to check it off your list, but really wanting to enjoy that experience of writing your book – and it can be such a transformational process!

If you enjoyed our week together with Revamp Your Writing Routine Challenge, or enjoyed listening to this recap, I think that Thriving Authors Academy would be such a wonderful fit for you. The momentum and the sense of community – being supported, inspired and not being alone – is such an integral part of the Thriving Authors Academy.

And register before March 20th so you get a free one-on-one session with me!! This bonus intensive session is something we can schedule before the program starts or during the program. Find more details at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In today’s episode, I am excited to interview Life Coach Nicole Baker!

Nicole shares actionable tips you can implement TODAY to help you 1) notice the sneaky ways that perfectionism comes up in the writing process and 2) overcome perfectionism in these moments to get back into the juicy flow of creativity. 

Nicole Baker is a Coach who helps high achievers ditch perfectionism, cut the hustle and start achieving goals with fun and fulfillment. Having grown up in a family immersed in the personal development world, she has been attending seminars and absorbing personal growth tools her whole life and she has since helped hundreds of perfectionists accomplish goals ranging from starting their own businesses to finishing a half marathon. She has been featured in Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, Voyage Denver, The Self Helpless Podcast and The Mighty plus is the CEO of Life Coach Baker LLC and the host of The Life Coach Baker Podcast. Connect with Nicole on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifecoachbaker

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In this solo episode, I’m excited to talk about deciding when to share your book with others and what the overall editing process looks like.

Listen in to find out details like:

  • The different stages of editing and which order to do them in.
  • An analogy that my creative writing professor at USC shared that has stuck with me.
  • The importance of hiring a qualified professional editor, and how to find the ideal editor for YOU.
  • How to ensure you get the feedback that you really need to hear from others.
  • And what to do when you get feedback that doesn’t resonate with you.

I am here with you in the trenches working on the edits to my books right now, too, and think that you’ll get a lot of value out of the insights I’m sharing.

If you could use support around the drafting process and the editing process, I would love to invite you to apply for this next round of Thriving Authors Academy. It's a magical six-month small group container of support, encouragement, structure, gentle accountability and resources for you as you are drafting, editing, publishing and marketing your book.

I have had so many people who joined the program tell me that they knew it was going to be helpful but that they didn't anticipate how life changing this program was going to be. Others have said it not only changed their life as a writer, it changed their life as a human <3 So it really is such a magical group. And I would love to invite you to apply to join us for the next round that runs from April 8 to October 1, 2023 if this resonates with you. Learn more at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In today’s episode, I am excited to have branding expert RuthAnn Rafiq here to talk with us about how to grow your brand as an author. If you’re anything like I was a few years ago, you might be thinking, “Wait, what is a personal brand as an author? What does that even mean?” I have learned a thing or two about the importance of branding as I have published more books and grown my business.

In her signature simple and welcoming style, RuthAnn teaches us why it's important to establish a personal brand, as well as HOW to do so with quick tips for getting started.

Listen in to hear:

  • The difference between like branding and marketing.
  • How a personal brand can help you pivot easily and do well in multiple different areas.
  • Steps you can take to begin to establish a personal brand online.
  • What connection points help build the know like and trust factor.
  • Ways to stand out online amongst everyone else.

I think you’ll find so many parallels to branding and writing and walk away with some great ideas that you feel good about implementing!

About RuthAnn:

RuthAnn Rafiq is the brand designer and business strategist behind R Artspace, a branding studio helping heart-centered women look legit online to grow their dream business. Hailing from Kansas City, she spends her days in her cozy home office working during baby's naptimes creating beautiful brands and strategic websites for incredible women service-providers. Connect with her at http://rartspace.com or on Instagram at @r_artspace.

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In this solo episode, I’m celebrating a very special milestone – 100 episodes! I have gleaned so much from the process of creating this podcast and doing 100 episodes and I’ve narrowed them down into ten lessons that I want to share with you!

These lessons are super relevant to writing, to creativity, and to any big dream that you have that you might be pursuing.

Listen in as I share what I learned about:

  • Why we shouldn’t ignore, push away, or procrastinate on our dreams.
  • How we can live in integrity and become attuned to our fullest and deepest selves.
  • What the creative process is really like behind-the-scenes.
  • Continuing to grow and learn new things as an adult.
  • And so much more!!!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate 100 episodes than to get some more reviews for the Thriving Authors Podcast! Just search for the podcast on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts, and write a review. Even just one sentence is awesome! It would mean so, so much to me and it is such a great way to help other people find the podcast as well.

And after you write a review, send a screenshot to me and I’ll send you a special surprise gift. You'll also be entered to win a free 45-minute session with me – a one-on-one call where we can talk about your writing, any questions that you're having about writing or publishing, or anything on your heart. The drawing for the winner of the free session will be at the end of February so leave your review as soon as you have a minute <3

If you’d like a PDF of the ten lessons I share in this episode send me an email at dallaswoodburnteam@gmail.com and I’ll send that right along!

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In today’s episode, I am actually in the interviewee seat! Coach and author Emily Grabatin interviewed me for a series that she did on Instagram live and gave me permission to share our conversation with you.

We talked about how and when to get visible as a new author and she asked such insightful questions!

Listen in to hear:

  • Encouragement for you aspiring writers who’ve had a manuscript sitting on a shelf for years but haven't had the confidence to move forward with it.
  • How and where to talk about your book before it's written, afterwards, and when it's ready to be released.
  • Key visibility opportunities that you can easily take advantage of to get your book noticed.

I think you’ll find a lot of actionable gems in this episode!

About Emily: Emily Grabatin infuses hope into dormant and God-called dreams. Through coaching, writing, and leadership, she helps individuals recognize who they are, uncover what makes them feel alive, and streamline their focus so they can flourish. She lives with her husband James and daughter near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

AND if “writing a book” is top of your 2023 goals list, then my Thriving Authors Academy might be EXACTLY what you need! Thriving Authors Academy is a small-group, supportive, nurturing six-month program for women who have a book inside their heart. I am SO excited to share that the waitlist for this premium mentorship I offer is now OPEN!

Sign up for the waitlist and you’ll be the very first to know when enrollment opens… and you even get a bonus discount, too! Find all the details at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com

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In today’s episode, I spoke with my lovely writer friend Jen Milius. Jen is a talented multi-genre author, developmental editor, podcast host, and all-around wonderful human and I was delighted to have her join me for a wonderful conversation about writing, editing, and really finding your voice.

She shared so many golden nuggets you can take into your own life, including:

  • How she was able to bring together her different talents and backgrounds on her journey to becoming a published author.
  • The importance of having containers to capture your ideas and creativity when it comes.
  • Ways to find joy in the creative process, even amongst the bumps that happen.
  • What the common denominator for writing in different genres is.
  • The benefits of reading what you wrote out loud.

I think you’ll really enjoy the playfulness and curiosity that Jen brings to the writing process!

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, developmental editor, coach and accomplished author having published seven children’s titles in the Einstein and Moo series, and most recently, co-authored You Know it’s a Verb, Right? which blends personal development, business, and leadership tenets. Jen leverages her 20-year corporate career, undergraduate Communications degree, and M.B.A. to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way and leave a legacy by telling their stories through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. As host of The TufFish Show, Jen features authors from different genres and businesses, but with one thing in common – they had a message or story they wanted to tell and courageously got out of their own way and made it happen. Check out her website at www.jennifermilius.com and find her on IG at @authorjennifermilius

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m reflecting on how welcoming a second baby relates to birthing a second book. Becoming a mom of two reminds me so much of the mindset that I talk through with my clients related to writing another book.

I delve into:

  • The parallels between a second baby and a second book.
  • Why you can expect to have mindset challenges when writing a second, third, or fourth book.
  • What to do when external pressures and critical voices in your head get louder when writing your next book.
  • My Steph Curry analogy to growing as a writer.
  • How we can lean into the creative process throughout the unknowns and even if we are afraid.
  • The truth of why it's never too late to invest in yourself and your writing.

I'm hoping that some of these insights that I've been gleaning during this time are useful for you, whether you are working on your first book, or your second, or your third or down the line!

And I’d love to share an exercise that all of my clients do when we begin working together. It's called Getting to Your Why. Send me an email at dallaswoodburn@gmail.com and I’ll send you the three-page downloadable PDF with some questions that you can journal about to really help you try to get to the why of your book.

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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I spoke with trauma-informed, certified life and success coach and clinical hypnotherapist professor Megan Kuhar.

In my fascinating conversation with Megan, she teaches how your subconscious mind will help you overcome stress, overwhelm, and imposter syndrome in the creative process. If you have ever wished that you could find answers to writer’s block or plot holes in your dreams – it IS possible!

Megan also explains a simple way to begin dreaming answers to your struggles. She certainly inspired me to bust out my old dream journal and begin jotting down my dreams again!

About Megan:

Megan Kuhar is a trauma-informed Certified Life + Success Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist, professor at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, and a marketing and technology specialist. Over her career she noticed the common frustrations that creatives face when it comes to building their business. Her aim is to help creatives get at the root cause of their entrepreneurial struggles through subconscious healing and thought-provoking coaching questions, while also providing tips that are helpful and easy to apply. Connect with her at www.megan-kuhar.com or on Instagram at @megankuhar.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into two simple but mighty questions to ask yourself every single week to really move forward in your writing project.

This practice can be especially powerful if you're working on a big writing project - like a book!!

I dive into:

  • Examples that explain why these questions work so well.
  • Tips for integrating this simple framework into your writing practice.
  • How you can keep your momentum going even when things don’t go as planned.
  • What happens when you consistently celebrate your wins.

I have seen time and time again the POWER in these questions and now I want to share them with you!

And I would love for you to join me in my free Facebook group, the Book Breakthrough Community! It's full of other heart-centered writers sharing resources and supporting each other. We discuss the podcast episodes, I regularly go live with free challenges, and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with. Join us!

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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing an amazing conversation with celebrated entrepreneur and Marketing and Growth Strategist Natasha Ho. She shares a simple mindset reframe she calls the “You’re Ready Paradox” and speaks to the importance of giving yourself permission to go after whatever it is that you want.

She also delves into selling your book, breaking up with busyness, and mindset shifts for lasting change & success, as well as:

  • How do you know when you're truly READY to dive in and write your book?
  • What if you never feel fully ready?
  • What happens when you lose your connection to your why.

Natasha shared so many gems related to writing your book, but also to growing your business and just to living your best life in general so I know you will get a lot out of this episode!

About Natasha:

Natasha Ho is a woman on a mission to help entrepreneurs rapidly grow their businesses to six-figures and beyond without grinding longer, working harder or doing all of the things. She helps high-achieving women elevate what they sell and how they sell it, so they can have more wealth, fun and leisure. Natasha wanted to crack the code on how to grow with more speed, simplicity and joy for herself. So she studied and experimented with every marketing and sales strategy she could find. What she discovered is the key to rapid sales growth: you have to take the uncomfortable leap before you think you’re ready. Sell first. That’s how she created Sell Out Offers. She’s used this method to sell out cooking lessons, retreats, consulting services, and grow her business to six-figures in the first year while working 20 hours a week.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share what I’m doing to really soak up these final hours of 2022 and looking ahead to 2023. I don't know about you, but New Year's Eve just might be my favorite day of the whole year!

But I know that a lot of people have different feelings coming up and lots of ‘shoulds’ in their brain - I should have done more of this. I should have done more of that. In some ways, those can be helpful signals!!

Listen in as I chat about:

  • How to decide what things to delegate or take off your to-do list.
  • What we can do to keep our big ambitions from causing us to burn out.
  • The one thing you can do to become a better writer in 2023.
  • What I’m proud of myself for and celebrating!

You’ll also hear the four questions that I ask myself every New Year's Eve to really help me celebrate, focus, regroup, and set my intentions for the year ahead. Download the free PDF with these exact questions listed out and see what comes up for YOU!

Have a happy New Year celebrating! Here's to an amazing, creative and beautiful 2023!

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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I spoke with bestselling Canadian writing duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley who write under the pen name Maggie Knox. I just devoured and loved their latest novel All I Want for Christmas, so it was a real treat to talk with them for this very special holiday episode of the Thriving Authors podcast.

I know you'll come away with so much inspiration from what they share about writing, both individually and also collaboratively creating these novels.

We chatted about:

  • How they fell in love with writing and got started as authors.
  • What happened after they told their women's writing group about their idea to write a book together.
  • The process of shifting from writing books solo to developing a working relationship and drafting a book together.
  • How they’re able to develop such dynamic characters and were able to bring the setting to life, even though neither had ever been to that city before.

Karma and Marissa also share some great advice when it comes to knowing when it's time to walk away and start something fresh. Enjoy the episode!

About Maggie Knox:

Maggie Knox is the pen name for bestselling Canadian writing duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. Brown is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of five novels, including the #1 national bestseller Recipe for a Perfect Wife, as well as the non-fiction bestseller The 4% Fix: How one hour can change your life. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Self, Redbook, Today’s Parent, and Chatelaine. She lives just outside Toronto with her family and a labradoodle named Fred. Stapley is a former magazine editor and New York Times bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club Pick Lucky, as well as international bestsellers Mating for Life, Things to Do When It’s Raining, and The Last Resort. Many of her novels have been optioned for television and her journalism has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Elle, Today’s Parent, and Reader’s Digest. She lives in Toronto with her family and a pre­cocious black cat named Oscar. The Holiday Swap was their first novel writing together as Maggie Knox and is a Canadian bestseller. Their latest novel is All I Want for Christmas.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share all about finding your ideal reader for your book. I also share two stories from my own life that really highlight the idea that our books are not going to be for everyone and the real mindset hurdle we have to get over.

Including:

  • One specific thing to focus on as you're writing and editing your book.
  • What can happen when you're chasing the approval of everyone.
  • How to sift through advice when you get conflicting feedback about your work.
  • A solution for when worries or self-doubt come up.

You’ll also hear three questions that you can journal on that will help you hone in on your ideal reader.

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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I spoke with published author and former client Amanda Hardy. She is the author of Dear Mama, You Matter: Honest talk about the transition to motherhood, which is such a beautiful book, especially for any new mamas or expecting mamas.

In our conversation, Amanda talks about embracing the messiness of the creative process and how that was really a game changer for her. If you're someone who is a little bit type A or you really like things to be very organized and neat and to know exactly what you're doing, you are going to want to listen.

We chatted about:

  • Why accountability was so necessary for her to carve out time to write.
  • What happened when she allowed her writing to evolve and flow.
  • The importance of finding the right accountability partner for you.
  • What she did to transition from formal academic writing to a more personal style.
  • How becoming a published author has grown her own business.

Amanda shared so much of her wisdom and was delightful to talk with so I know that you will get a lot out of our conversation.

About Amanda:

Dr. Amanda Hardy has been working with mamas and families as they transition to parenthood for over a decade through research and advocacy, as a doula, a childbirth educator, and maternal mental health professional. Her work focuses on childbirth, child development, parenting, and the intersectionality of these three. Currently, she is an assistant teaching professor at Iowa State University and a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with a private practice specializing in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). When not camping or traveling she resides in Iowa with her two sons and a reluctant housecat.

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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share my top tips to get someone in the industry to care about your book and want to read and publish it.

No matter what stage you are at in your writing journey it is common to wonder – What if I pour all this time and energy into writing my book and then I can't get a publisher for it or nobody wants to read it?

In this very practical episode I share:

  • Three tips for writing a query letter that grabs a publishers attention and gets them to ask for more.
  • Why now is such a wonderful time to be an author.
  • What questions to ask yourself when looking for a publisher or literary agent.
  • The exact steps to take before you reach out to a publisher.

Both of my book deals last year were the result of a cold query so I’m sure these tips will be super useful for you, too!

Want another set of eyes on your query before you hit send? I have a limited number of one hour long virtual sessions where we can focus on your pitch letter. I’ll help ensure that your query is something that's going to hook the reader, grab their attention, and have the best chance possible of getting a yes response from a publisher or an agent. If you are interested, send me a message and I’ll send you all the details.

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In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I spoke with published author, professor, and former client Melinda Rangel. She is the author of Iron Sharpens Iron: Daily Proverbs for Today's Martial Artist. And she has so much wisdom and inspiration to share with you!

If you’ve ever felt like your life is too busy to commit the time to writing a book, or thought, “Who cares what I have to say?” then you want to listen to this episode!

We chatted about:

  • What inspired Melinda to return to writing and finish her book after a 14 year hiatus.
  • Where she found the confidence to use her own voice and overcome imposter syndrome.
  • How scheduling and accountability were two of her keys to success – allowing her to work full-time and get her PhD while she was finishing her book!

About Melinda:

Melinda Rangel is the author of Iron Sharpens Iron: Daily Proverbs for Today's Martial Artist. She has her PhD and is a professor at Tabor College, as well as director of their MBA program. Together with her husband Chris, Melinda has owned and operated Ultimate Martial Arts since 1994 when they started a school in the basement of their home. From one boy who needed to be rescued from bullying to hundreds who have learned Biblical truths in their martial arts training, Iron Sharpens Iron shares inspiring stories of their journey.


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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I would love to invite you to celebrate with me!! Last month marked my biggest launch yet for my book coaching program Thriving Authors Academy, and it inspired me to reflect on the lessons I learned… which are not only applicable to entrepreneurship, but to book launches and pitching agents and chasing after any big dream you are holding in your heart!

Including:

  • What to do when you feel like you need to do all the things, every day, all at once.
  • What happens when you keep the faith and keep your mindset strong.
  • How to set the right size goal - one that is a stretch but still feels possible.
  • Why it’s important to keep going even when it feels like no one is watching or following you.

So whether you are launching a program, launching your book, or doing your query process you’ll find some action steps that you can take, too.


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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I spoke with my dear friend and former client Elaine Clark Aldrete. She’s the founder of Teaching Life Choices Inc & author of the debut middle-grade novel G-R-E-E-N-E.

It was such an interesting conversation that included:

  • How a rumor at her grandson’s high school inspired her to write her novel.
  • What her writing process looked like on a daily basis.
  • The differences between writing a children's book and then tackling a full-length novel that's much longer and includes many different characters.

She also shared what it was like being part of my Thriving Authors program and being part of a community of other writers who are also working on books!

About Elaine:

Elaine Clark Aldrete was born in New Hampshire, lived for many years in California, and currently resides in Arizona. A dedicated mother, wife, businessperson, and instructor, she served as a board director for the nonprofits Diabetes Explorer Educational Foundation, Inc. and Grants to You. In 2012, Elaine founded Teaching Life Choices, Inc., a nonprofit devoted to captivating and engaging the minds of children to learn, have fun and make good life choices. To learn more, go to http://www.teachinglifechoices.org. She is the author of a children’s book, Does Diabetes Mean You Die? And the middle-grade novel G-R-E-E-N-E.


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share three stories from my own writing life of ways that gratitude has helped me.

Gratitude has been the number one thing that has helped me sustain my writing career! Leaning into gratitude in all different seasons has brought feelings of purpose, contentment, excitement and joy. From my journey I’m sharing:

  • How a gratitude practice I began back in high school was the seed that began my podcast
  • The ways gratitude allowed me to shift my mindset and perspective
  • What allowed me to manifest my childhood dream
  • The importance of figuring out the essential gratitude you have for your writing project

Tune into this week’s episode to hear ways you can incorporate gratitude into your writing and life, wherever you are along the journey.

And just in time for the holiday season, join me the week of November 14th for a FREE 5-day challenge that will center your writing practice in gratitude + kindness… just in time for the holiday season! Sign up at https://bit.ly/writingwithgratitude.


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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I got to chat with my friend Carol van den Hende, author of the award-winning Goodbye, Orchid series and acclaimed public speaker.

She has such wonderful advice for writers at all stages of our careers – whether it's with actually penning our books or marketing our books or spreading the word about them.

We also talked about:

  • The process of writing a prequel and how her second book came to be
  • The key to managing self-expectations
  • How to persevere through the tough parts of your writing project

I know you will come away from this conversation with some wonderful gems from Carol!

About Carol:

Carol van den Hende is the award-winning author of the Goodbye, Orchid series, a public speaker, and MBA with 20+ years’ experience in marketing, strategy and insights. Plus, she works in chocolate (there’s no ‘sweeter’ job!) Carol is passionate about simplifying marketing concepts into actionable steps for publishing success. She’s keynoted and presented at conferences like Writer’s Digest, IBPA, NJ-SCBWI, International Women’s Writing Guild, Rutgers Writers’ Conference, Sisters-in-Crime and Women Who Write. She’s also a regular contributor to DIYMFA, where she pens the Author Marketing Toolkit column.


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In today’s solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I get vulnerable and share a couple stories from my personal life – and how they relate to the writing process.

Specifically, we are talking about the complicated balance between desire and surrender.

This idea of:

  • Surrendering what you cannot control while feeling empowered to take brave action around what you CAN control.
  • Giving yourself permission and allowing yourself to dream big dreams.
  • Being bold and vulnerable and recognizing the desires that you have around your book, your writing, and your life as a whole.

You can have gratitude AND a desire for more! So listen in as I share straight from my heart to yours. Then give yourself permission to admit to your own dreams and desires.


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In today’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing a fascinating conversation I had with Brad Graft, the author of the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy.

If you’re interested in history, or in writing and plotting out a trilogy, I know you’ll take a lot of gems from what he shares about:

  • How his research led him to travel to remote places around the world
  • His process of writing his trilogy
  • How he felt called to write about this topic
  • The mystery and the magic inherent in the creative process, along with the practical routines of writing a novel or a series
  • And more!

About Brad:Brad Graft is a businessman who runs a national chain with his partners. A former U.S. Marine officer who served in Somalia, he helped develop a military program that assists wounded servicemen and families of the fallen. He continues to steer fundraising for charities serving this cause. An avid fly fisherman and hunter, for decades he has pursued game fish in remote places around the world. Also a history buff, his research on the Brotherhood of the Mamluks series took him to the Middle and Far East, where he studied Medieval-era routes and fortresses and trekked the Mongolian steppe on horseback, learning the ways of native hunters and nomadic herders.


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I have a brand new solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast coming at you today, where we talk about ways to transition in and out of your writing time.

My 3-year-old has a hard time with transitions – getting in and out of her car seat, stopping play to come up for dinner, going from inside to outside, etc – and it struck me that transitions can be tough for all of us.

Transitions are emotional and uncertain. We don’t know what is waiting for us on the other side. So resistance, fears and doubts often pop up around transition.

Transitioning into our writing time – or, more specifically, the discomfort of this transition – is often what holds us back from hitting our writing goals. It is so common to feel that discomfort and give up for the day. When really, what you might need is to build in some simple transitional cues for yourself to help you ease into the creative process.

I’ve got lots of ideas for you on the podcast this week! Plus a free checklist you can download for an inspiring writing session. (Just DM me and I’ll send it your way!)


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I have a special episode for you today of the Thriving Authors Podcast where I sat down with my dear friend & client Brianna Wilkerson @madewellwomen to chat about her experience being part of Thriving Authors Academy!

  • What does it take to bring a book from idea or concept, to rough draft, to edited manuscript that is ready for readers?
  • How do you know if you are ready to invest the time and energy into writing your book? What if you’re not sure that you’re “worth” it?
  • Why is it so important to have support through the book-writing process?

Bri and I spoke about her journey writing and editing her forthcoming nonfiction book. Bri has this radiant energy and beautiful wisdom that is such a gift to everyone around her.

Especially if you are struggling with mindset blocks around writing your book or doubts about whether the investment will be worth it, you don't want to miss this conversation. <3

​​About Brianna:

Brianna Wilkerson is a Holistic Health and Life Coach, Essential Oils Advocate with doTERRA, podcast host, wife and momma, matcha tea lover, and at-home crossfitter. She helps women find peace with food, create healthy habits, and use natural essential oil-based products so they can feel better, have more energy, and take care of themselves and those they love.


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m answering all of your questions about Thriving Authors Academy, my signature six-month small-group book mentorship program.

I’m overjoyed that I get to be a coach for people and get to lead this amazing program! So I wanted to share a little bit more about it with you and answer questions like:

  • What makes Thriving Authors Academy special?
  • What makes this program different from other programs out there?
  • How do I know if it's a good fit for me and for my book?
  • How do I know this investment is going to be worth it?

Tune into this week’s episode to hear the nuts and bolts of this program so that you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.

And if you’re interested in joining us, I would love to have you! We begin October 8. Apply & find more info at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com.


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I like to surprise my clients in Thriving Authors Academy with bonus sessions where I bring in experts to talk about various topics. Last month, two amazing cover designers, Rebecca Barney & Lenore Stutznegger, spoke to the group about…

  • the cover design process
  • what makes a good cover
  • what authors can do to help get a cover we love for our book
  • and more!

I’m excited to share an excerpt of this expert panel on cover design with YOU as this week’s podcast episode. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it is like to be part of Thriving Authors Academy!

(And if you’re interested in joining us for the next round, I would love to have you! We begin October 8. Apply & find more info at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com or apply for the scholarship at https://bit.ly/ThrivingAuthorsAcademyScholarship)

About our guest experts:

Lenore Stutznegger is the author of the award-winning debut novel BLUE SHADOWS FALL and a cover designer for published books in a variety of genres. She learned from a young age to hone her talents in art and trust in her voice. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Fine Art, married the love of her life, and lived in North Carolina for many years and considers the South to be her happy place. She now resides in Northern California with her four spirited children, a pug, two cats, and backyard chickens in a new kind of crazy paradise.

Rebecca Barney is the founder of Barney Design, a graphic arts design studio with experience in print and digital branding, illustration and website design. Her love for art began in high school after a trip to Italy, and she continued to study art history through college, where she graduated with a BA in Art History. She moved back to San Diego and started working at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, where a co-worker and good friend encouraged her to take her studies toward graphic design, and the rest is history! (She designed the gorgeous cover for my novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life!)


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Have you ever wondered about hiring a publicist for your book? Or maybe you would like to make a plan to rock PR on your own… but you have no idea where to even begin. In such a crowded book market, how can an author ever hope to stand out?

Today’s brand-new episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast is one you might want to listen to more than once, and take notes! Because my guest Lilian Sue is an expert on everything related to book publicity and she generously shares her top tips, wisdom and insights with us about how you can…

  • push past your limiting beliefs

  • make connections and build relationships

  • hit your marketing goals for your book

  • all without burning out!

I daresay this episode might shift the entire way you view book marketing and PR. I would love to hear what comes up for you!


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I have a new solo episode for you today delving into the question: Are you in a season of waiting?

Sometimes we want something SO BADLY, but there is nothing we can do but wait, with patience and faith and surrender, for it to come to us when the timing is right.

Other times, we put ourselves in a season of waiting when we don’t have to be, because we are afraid or doubtful about what if we are “ready.” (Spoiler alert: you will never feel completely, 100% “ready” to write your book!)

This episode was originally an IG Live that I did last year, and received so much response that I decided to bring it back as a podcast episode.

I hope you enjoy and that it resonates with you!


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Barbara Graham is the author/editor of the New York Times bestselling Eye of My Heart: 27 Women Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother, her non-Hallmark take on the complexities of being a grandparent in the 21st century. She’s also the author of Women Who Run with the Poodles: Myths and Tips for Honoring Your Mood Swings, a national bestseller that offers a satirical look at the dark side of the self-help movement. Her memoir, Camp Paradox, is a haunting yet wry coming-of-age tale set at an all-girls summer camp which fast-forwards decades into the future when Barbara realizes that the “love affair” she believed she’d shared with her camp counselor fits every definition of sexual abuse. Barbara has contributed to many magazines, including National Geographic Traveler, O The Oprah Magazine, Food & Wine, Glamour, Vogue, and her essays have been collected in numerous anthologies, and her plays have been produced Off-Broadway and at theaters around the country. Her first novel, that we focus on a lot in this interview, is titled What Jonah Knew.


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In this solo episode straight from my heart to yours, I talk about three important ways you can invest in your writing AND six reasons you should do so – not later, but NOW.

(Spoiler alert: you deserve it. You deserve to be a writer, pursuing the projects in your heart. And when you pour into yourself, you have so much more capacity to pour into others around you.)

I’ve compiled all six inspiring reasons into a pretty PDF you can print out and hang at your desk for those days you need an extra reminder of why you matter and your writing matters. Click here to download it! 


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Risa Nyman was born and lived in Boston until a move to the Ocean State two years ago. She proudly carries her Boston accent with her wherever she goes. Risa has worked as Executive Director and President of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and served as Chair of the Diversity Implementation Task Force for the national organization. She has moderated candidates’ debates, organized voter registration drives, and get-out-the-vote campaigns to promote participation in our democracy.  

Risa’s deep dive into creative writing started after finding three pennies in a neat stack on a windowsill in a completely empty apartment that belonged to her mother. She assumed those pennies were a message that it wasn’t too late to follow her dream. After taking classes, attending workshops, and conferences, Risa found her writing voice in middle grade fiction.  

When not writing, you might find Risa reading, exercising, or doing therapeutic ironing (yes, there is such a thing.) Connect with her at https://www.risanyman.com/


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In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, l delve into the differences between over-writers & under-writers.

First of all, you might be thinking, "What does that even mean?? Over-writers? Under-writers? I’ve never heard those terms before!"

In my coaching programs, I always bring up the topic of under-writers and over-writers and 99% of people have never heard these terms. So you’re not alone if you’re scratching your head a bit right now!

"Over-writers" and "under-writers" are two categories that writers tend to fall into.

Neither one is better than the other. They are simply two different working styles.

Tune into this week’s episode to figure out which category you fall into AND how to use this knowledge to propel your writing forward!


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Filip Dousek is an AI & analytics expert. He was the founder and CEO of Stories.bi, one of the first startups in the world to automate big data analysis, which got acquired. He is the author of Flock Without Birds, a novel about the illusions that make up our world, which sold sold over 10,000 copies in its original Czech language. Filip regularly speaks at industry conferences and podcasts on the topics of mental models, paradigm shifts, and the impact of artificial intelligence on our lives. He worked in London, Hong Kong, and Silicon Valley, hitchhiked across Alaska, and got married at Burning Man.

Flock Without Birds

A genre-bending, mind-altering novel about the illusions that make up our world. Flock Without Birds comes in two volumes, with neither one first or second--it's up to the reader to start with the Story or the Book.

In the Story, an aging philosopher tells the tale of the Book--a tale of love that spans centuries, continents, and precious texts. Adam, who will one day write the Book, is a young PhD student torn between love and his obsession--coding an algorithm to sift the world's data and find God, dead or alive. But a series of mysterious paintings lead him on a winding journey from Cambridge through a Faustian bargain to the edge of reason. Meanwhile in his library, Toito the philosopher calls into question everything there is to believe about Adam--and our world.

The Book--Adam's journal from a foreign prison--promises to cure the divisions that plague the world. Their root cause isn't politics, capitalism, race, religion, or media. A deeper layer, obvious and invisible, forms what we think, believe, and do. It shapes our wars and our relationships. Unless we confront these illusions, we will remain slaves to the obvious and lose the greatest freedom--the freedom to create a different world. The code--and the key--is within the human mind. But will Adam himself manage such a feat? Can he escape the prisons of the body and of the mind, and regain his love?

After reading both volumes, Adam's story--and our society--will look very different in the end. Two tales, separate and intertwined, ask the question: where does the whole end and the part begin? What is a flock without birds?


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This is a solo episode straight from my own personal experience of coming out of a season of book launching, and is also a topic that has come up a lot lately with my clients in Thriving Authors Academy.

→ How do you create a sustainable creative practice 

– how do you build a career as a writer 

– how do you actually get to the finish line of your book 

– without burning out? ←

My answer: build plenty of self-care into your writing routine.

In this episode, I delve into my TOP EIGHT self-care tips for writers. Listen, bookmark, and enjoy! This might be an episode you want to save and come back to when you need to hear it again. I always like to pause and reflect on my self-care practices after a book launch, after I finish a big project, when I hit a milestone in my life like a birthday or anniversary, or even with the change of seasons.

You can also download a FREE PDF with all eight of these tips!


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About Tobey:

Tobey Hiller writes fiction, flash and poetry. She’s the author of a novel, four collections of poetry, and a book of stories. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in a wide variety of journals, print and online, national and international, and in six anthologies. She writes both realist and fabulist fiction. One of her stories, "Splinter," was short-listed for the first Los Gatos-Listowel Short Fiction Contest and later won a First Prize in Craft Magazine’s Short Story Contest; two of her other stories have been short-listed for prizes. Her fiction collection FLIGHT ADVICE: A FABULARY was one of five finalists for Omnidawn’s 2019 Fabulist Fiction Prize and appeared from Unlikely Books (Jonathan Penton, New Orleans) in December 2021. Her most recent book of poetry, CROW MIND (Finishing Line Press, 2020) was reviewed in The Los Angeles Review. She may be found at http://thiller.ag-sites.net


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In this special podcast episode, I am super excited to share the audio from my virtual book launch for my new short story collection How to Make Paper When the World is Ending! I got to celebrate & chat with my amazing author friend Carol Van Den Hende, who has been such a generous & insightful supporter of my book.

Tune in to hear behind-the-scenes tidbits about the book and an in-depth Q&A about everything from carving out time to write, developing characters, the revision process, differences between writing novels and short stories, and more!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A couple sets off on their first long weekend together with romantic-or murderous-intentions. A recently divorced father attempts to jump-start his life by performing as John Lennon in a Beatles cover band. A young woman becomes obsessed with a sweepstakes contest in the wake of her roommate's sudden death.

How to Make Paper When the World Is Ending features literal ghosts, spiritual ghosts, charming ghosts; ghosts that are dead ends and ghosts that are still living; the ghosts of what might yet be and the ghosts of what might have been. How is each of us shaped by what haunts us?

As Entropy Magazine noted of her first collection, Dallas Woodburn is a master of writing stories that "never cease to surprise or carry a wave of emotional impact." With its ambitious scope and resonant themes, How to Make Paper When the World Is Ending is another deeply felt, captivating collection of stories that will linger long after the final page.


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I am delighted to share a brand new episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast where I sat down with my friend Maureen Wise, pen name Iris March @searchingformysteries, to chat about her fantastic debut “succulent sleuth” cozy mystery novel THE BROKEN BRIDGE.

Discussed in this episode:

  • How she brought her passions for cozy mysteries, for plants, for sustainability and all of that into her writing and to her novels
  • The background behind her writing of The Broken Bridge
  • Her writing process and how she was able to get it out and not take years
  • How she kept herself accountable while writing

About Mauree, aka Iris: Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants and now she’s writing stories about people getting killed. Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has worked in the sustainability field her entire career and is usually either reading a book or is on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.


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I am excited to share a brand new episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, which is very much a day-in-the-life episode because it is all about the week before book launch. And guess where I am right now in my life?? I am LIVING the week before book launch! My short story collection How to Make Paper When the World is Ending comes out on Tuesday!

In this episode, I share my top 10 tips to make the most of the week before your book launch. Click here to download the free PDF with all 10 tips! 


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Vanessa Hua is a journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle and best-selling novelist. Her latest novel, FORBIDDEN CITY, tells the story of a teenage girl from a small village who is selected to serve the Communist Party and Chairman Mao at the start of the Cultural Revolution in China. Vanessa and I met nine years ago when we were both Steinbeck Fellows at San Jose State University, and she is a true champion of other writers. It has been such a thrill to watch her soar.

Discussed in this episode:

  • Her new novel Forbidden City
  • How she got into writing
  • How the topic of her new novel was born and her writing and research process
  • Her evolution as an writer

About Vanessa:

Vanessa Hua is an award-winning, best-selling author and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her novel, A River of Stars, was named to the Washington Post and NPR’s Best Books of 2018 lists, and has been called a "marvel" by O, The Oprah Magazine, and "delightful" by The Economist. Her short story collection, Deceit and Other Possibilities, a New York Times Editors' Choice, received an Asian/Pacific American Award in Literature and was a finalist for a California Book Award, and a New American Voices Award. Her latest novel, Forbidden City, was called “magnificent” by Publisher’s Weekly, and was published on May 10, 2022.


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I am delighted to share a brand-new episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, all about pre-orders and why they matter so much to authors!

In this episode we discuss…

  • what is a pre-order
  • why having a pre-order option is important
  • marketing and promotion ideas for your pre-order
  • sneak peek into my preorder campaign for my new short story collection that is being published at the end of June

Grab your favorite snack and settle in for this magical episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast.


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In this week’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I got to sit down with Jessica Thompson all about how she combined her love of mysteries and baking and found her perfect genre!

Jessica is an absolute delight and it was so lovely to hear about…

  • her love of cooking
  • how she found the right genre as a writer
  • how to find true happiness in life and in the writing process

Grab your favorite snack and settle in for this magical episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast!

About Jessica:

When Jessica discovered mystery novels with recipes, she knew she had found her niche.

Now Jessica is the author of the Amazon best-selling culinary cozy mysteries "A Caterer's Guide to Love and Murder" and “A Caterer’s Guide to Holidays and Homicide." To be published in 2022 is an anthology of short stories that she is curating. She is active in her local writing community and is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas and the Storymakers Guild. As an avid home chef and food science geek, Jessica has won cooking competitions and been featured in the online Taste of Home recipe collection.

Jessica is originally from California, but now has adopted the Austin, Texas lifestyle. She enjoys living in the suburbs with her husband and young children, but also enjoys helping her parents with their nearby longhorn cattle ranch.


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This week’s episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast is dedicated to a very special person in my life, on his birthday: my Dad! I talk about what he has meant to me as a writer, how he's been so instrumental in my career and how he inspires me to find joy in the ups and downs of the creative life.

In this episode I talk about…

✨the importance of having a cheerleader in your corner

✨how my dad has been instrumental to my success as a writer

✨examining your ingrained beliefs about making a career as a writer and letting go of the ones that do not serve you

✨affirmations from me to you to cheer you on!


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A graduate of Florida State University, Robert Gwaltney resides in Atlanta, Georgia. By day, he serves as Vice President of Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc., a non-profit organization that strengthens children and their families during the most critical times in their development. Through his non-profit work, he is a champion for early childhood literacy. Robert also serves as Fiction Editor for The Blue Mountain Review. In all the hours between, he writes. The Cicada Tree is his debut novel.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

✨how Robert makes time for his passion for writing even with a busy life and demands of a day job

✨the importance of finding support and community

✨leaving room for your intuition to speak to you throughout the writing process

✨behind-the-scenes of Robert's award-winning debut novel THE CICADA TREE

RESOURCES:

Robert's website: https://robertlgwaltney.com/

Follow Robert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertgwaltneyjr/


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This week we’re talking all about ARCs! If you’ve never heard this term and are scratching your head, like “not another acronym!” don’t fear. I’ve got you covered!

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * What the heck is an ARC, or “Advance Review Copy,” and how is this different from a published book? * How can an author use ARCs to build credibility and excitement about their book? * Why are book reviews so important and how can you use an ARC to garner more book reviews? * Plus, I take you behind-the-scenes in how I used ARCs in my launch of my latest novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life – and how you can grab an advance copy of my new short story collection How to Make Paper When the World is Ending!

RESOURCES:

  • Get a copy of the my new ARC: email me at dallaswoodburn gmail com

Want more? Join us on Facebook at Book Breakthrough Community, and you can always reach out to me personally at @DallasWoodburnAuthor on Facebook and Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast and your ideas for new episodes. Until next time, happy writing!


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For the past decade and a half, Angie K. Love has had a rewarding career as an Acupuncturist, finding deep fulfillment in helping people heal in body, mind, and spirit. Through her writing, she hopes to bring healing to people's hearts and souls. From an early age, Angie has been an avid reader and prolific writer, and it’s been her lifelong dream to be a published author. Awakening Hearts is her debut novel, and she looks forward to writing many more (her second book is in the works, and she's already mentally plotting the third).

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Angie's past career as an acupuncturist * Debut of her award-winning new novel * Her inspiration and thoughts behind her writing * Her thoughts on writing a sequel and will she will be writing one * Angie's advice to other authors

RESOURCES: Angie’s Website

Follow Angie on Instagram

Want more? Join us on Facebook at Book Breakthrough Community, and you can always reach out to me personally at @DallasWoodburnAuthor on Facebook and Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast and your ideas for new episodes. Until next time, happy writing!


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Welcome to the Thriving Authors Podcast, where we delve into all aspects of what it takes to get your dream book out of your heart, onto the page and into the world and connecting with a wide audience of readers.

On this podcast, you will find behind-the-scenes lessons from my own book-writing and publishing journey, interviews with successful published authors, and tips and advice you can start using today to move you forward in your writing life.

We're shifting from Overflowing Bookshelves to now the Thriving Authors Podcast, and this is my first solo episode, all about how to use your book cover to create buzz prior to your book launch!

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Kim’s diverse job experience background and how her jobs led to entrepreneurship * Being creative as a coach * Moments where sales became easier for Kim * Affirmations to use if you are scared of being visible online * Supporting other women through their wins * Kim’s favorite tools to use with clients when they’re doing mindset work * One truth that has been standing out to Kim lately

RESOURCES: * Kim's Website * Follow Kim on Instagram

Want more? Join us on Facebook at Book Breakthrough Community, and you can always reach out to me personally at @DallasWoodburnAuthor on Facebook and Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast and your ideas for new episodes. Until next time, happy writing!


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I am excited to share a brand new episode of Overflowing Bookshelves, featuring the talented multi-genre novelist Rebecca Bischoff! If you like to write in many different genres, or if you ever struggle with the push-pull between creativity and promotion of your books, Rebecca has some wisdom and permission to share with you! You will definitely come away inspired from this episode.

Rebecca Bischoff is the author of a contemporary young adult book titled "The French Impressionist"; a middle grade historical fiction mystery set in the Civil War era titled "The Grave Digger"; and her most recent book, a humorous middle grade novel titled "Hole in the Rock," which was released last year. Rebecca is an avid reader, Netflix binge-watcher and chocolate eater. She lives in Idaho with her family.

Connect with Rebecca at https://rebeccabischoffbooks.com/


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I am excited to share a brand new episode of Overflowing Bookshelves, featuring the hilarious and insightful J. Trevor Robinson @jtrevorrobinsonauthor, author of THE MUMMY OF MONTE CRISTO. It was so fascinating to learn about how he adapted and breathed new life into a classic! If you write historical fiction, or if you’ve ever struggled with balancing research and writing a draft, you definitely do not want to miss this episode.

When J Trevor Robinson was young, he received a well-worn stack of mystery and horror novels from his older brother, and it instilled in him a lifelong desire to be an author. Heavily influenced by Stephen King's scares, Jim Butcher's action scenes, and the larger-than-life characters in Ayn Rand's books, he blended those influences with classic literature and pulp horror to write his Immortal Works debut THE MUMMY OF MONTE CRISTO. He has also self-published a young-adult horror novel THE GOOD FIGHT, and was published in the Amazon #1 bestselling horror anthology SECRET STAIRS as the sole romance story in the collection. He lives in Toronto keeping the redhead gene alive with his wife and daughter, born Friday the 13th.


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Alison Kimble began writing because she loves stories and believes in their power to shape our world and ourselves. Her writing blends the real and the fantastical and crosses genres of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. She has written one novel, Strange Gods, and is working on her next. She lives in the Greater Seattle Area with her husband and spends her time walking in the woods, going to the movies, and seeking adventures large and small.

Connect with Alison at https://www.authoralisonkimble.com/


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Multi-award winning YA author Melanie Hooyenga writes about strong teen girls learning to find their way in the world. Her time travel series, The Flicker Effect, tells the story of Biz, a 17-year old who uses sunlight to travel back to yesterday, and her sports romance series, The Rules Series, follows three girls in Boulder, Colorado who navigate their struggles with life and love while skiing, biking, and snowboarding in the great outdoors. Her newest series, The Campfire Series, features dual-POV stories about love, life, and making the most of sleeping under the stars.

Connect with Melanie at https://www.melaniehoo.com/


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I am delighted to share a brand new episode of Overflowing Bookshelves, featuring my sweet friend @authorcoricooper, who is one of the most inspiring people I know. Her joy about the writing life is contagious and her positive attitude will inspire you to approach your own creative process with renewed energy. Grab a cup of tea or a sweet treat and enjoy!

Cori Cooper is an Arizona Mountain girl (not born, but definitely raised!) She met her husband in Middle School and married him 8 years later when they both grew up (sort of). She is the author of the middle-grade novel BAKE BELIEVE and the upcoming sequel BAKE OFF. When she isn’t reading until her eyes go blurry or typing her fingers stiff, Cori loves to play board games with her 4 kids, go for hikes in the gorgeous pine-forested hills just steps from her front door, and bake delicious treats for her family and friends.


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Lenore Stutznegger is the author of the award-winning debut novel BLUE SHADOWS FALL. She grew up running barefoot in the woods of Mechanicsville, Virginia with a dog at her side, five crazy siblings, and creative parents. She learned from a young age to hone her talents in art, trust in her voice, and compete for the most marshmallows in Lucky Charms. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Fine Art, married the love of her life, and lived in North Carolina for many years and considers the South to be her happy place. She now resides in Northern California with her four spirited children, a pug, two cats, and backyard chickens in a new kind of crazy paradise.

Connect with her at https://www.lenorestutz.com.


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Johannah Davies (JD) Spero’s writing career took off when her first release, Catcher’s Keeper, was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013. Since then, she’s found similar success with her young adult fantasy Forte series, winning recognition from National Indie Excellence Award (2014, 2016) and Adirondack Literary Award — Best Book of Children’s Literature (2015). Her novel Boy on Hold was a 2020 Book Excellence Award winner and a 2020 IPPY GOLD winner for Best Mystery/Thriller, and its sequel Boy Released came out earlier this year. After living in various cities from St. Petersburg (Russia) to Boston, Johannah now lives with her family in the Lake George area, where she was born and raised.


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This is a special episode: a recording of my virtual book launch for my new novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life! My amazing sister & librarian extraordinaire Allyson McAuley chatted with me about the ten years it took to bring this book into the world, crafting multidimensional characters, giving yourself permission to write and read a variety of genres, planning out book structure, and more! I also give a little reading from the book – a part I’ve never shared publicly before.

Order the book here and read reviews here!

About Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life:

The person who ruined their lives just might bring them together...

Brad is ready for a perfect senior year: he has a seat at the popular lunch table, a gig co-hosting the school’s morning announcements, and a gorgeous girlfriend. But when Carissa breaks up with Brad, his carefully constructed life comes crashing down. Convinced everything would be perfect if only Carissa would take him back, Brad creates a “self-improvement plan” and vows to re-win her heart.

Rose wishes she were having a normal senior year like everyone else, but leave it to her twin sister Carissa to butt in and ruin her life. Carissa secretly nominated Rose for the reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again—and now Rose is on her way to Texas for three months of calorie-counting, marathon-exercising hell. Rose already felt overshadowed by her “perfect” sister, and collapsing on a treadmill on national TV is not making things any better. Plus, Rose can’t squash feelings for her sister’s boyfriend Brad (even though she knows he would never see her as anything but a friend.)

For fans of friends-to-lovers romance comes a heartwarming novel about self-improvement, identity and acceptance in our image-obsessed culture.


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Lisa Czarina Michaud is a novelist and translator. Her debut novel, SLANTED & DISENCHANTED, came out last year to rave reviews. Born and raised in Chelsea before a family relocation to Long Island, she has been writing her New York stories her entire life. Wanting to see the left coast, she attended The Evergreen State College before stumbling through adulthood in Hollywood, then back east to Brooklyn and eventually Paris. Lisa's work has been featured in various publications. She currently lives in France with her husband, son, and cat, Le Tigre.

Connect with Lisa at www.lisacmichaud.com.


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Author and Certified Coach Cynthia Morris is the founder of Original Impulse, helping people become the writers they’ve always wanted to be. Cynthia has published seven non-fiction books and a Paris historical novel. Her most recent book is The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book. She speaks globally on writing and the creative process and leads retreats, and hosts the podcast Stumbling Toward Genius.

Connect with Cynthia at www.originalimpulse.com.


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Before becoming a writer Elizabeth was a waitress, a pollster, an Avon lady, and an opera singer. Her stories and essays have appeared in The Idaho Review, The Rumpus, StorySouth, PANK, and elsewhere, and have received numerous Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. She is the Interviews Editor at The Rumpus, as well as a regular contributor to Ploughshares Blog. Her first novel, MONA AT SEA, was a finalist in the 2019 SFWP Literary Awards judged by Carmen Maria Machado, and is available now from Santa Fe Writers Project. Originally from South Texas, Elizabeth now lives with her family in Massachusetts.

You can find her on Twitter and Instagram: @unefemmejames. Her website is www.elizabethgonzalezjames.com 

Make sure to subscribe to the Overflowing Bookshelves Patreon Page for bonus material from Elizabeth and our other guests!


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Ethel Rohan is the author of In the Event of Contact, winner of the Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize (2021). Her debut novel The Weight of Him (St. Martin's Press and Atlantic Books, 2017) was an Amazon, Bustle, KOBO, and San Francisco Chronicle Best Book, and was shortlisted for the Reading Women Award. She is also the author of the story collections Goodnight Nobody and Cut Through the Bone, the former longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize and the latter longlisted for the Story Prize. Her work has appeared widely, including The New York Times, World Literature Today, The Washington Post, PEN America, Tin House, Guernica, and more. Raised in Ireland, she lives in San Francisco where she is a member of the Writers Grotto. Connect with her at www.ethelrohan.com. 

For bonus content, make sure to check out our Patreon page! www.patreon.com/dallaswoodburn


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Rebecca Prenevost is the author of The Mom Walks series: Starting in Fifth, Getting Crushed, and Catching Up. Never in a million years did Rebecca think she’d be a writer. But she was looking for fiction books that reflected her everyday struggles of parenting tween girls, and she couldn’t find them. She wanted something light, heart-warming, and relatable. So she tried writing one, and she had a blast. If you liked The Baby-Sitters Club books when you were younger and enjoyed Gilmore Girls not too long ago, her books could be perfect for you.

http://rebeccaprenevost.com/


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Shanthi Sekaran's most recent novel, The Samosa Rebellion, was written for 8-13 year olds, but it's definitely the kind of book adults can get into, too. (I LOVED it!) Her most recent adult novel, Lucky Boy (Putnam/Penguin), was named an IndieNext Great Read and an NPR Best Book of 2017. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Salon.com, LA Review of Books and Huffington Post. When she's not writing books, she writes for television, on the staff of the NBC medical drama, New Amsterdam. Shanthi lives in Berkeley with her family and a cat named Frog.  Connect with Shanthi at www.shanthisekaran.com.


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Elise Arsenault is the amazingly talented voice actor who narrated the audiobook of my novel The Best Week That Never Happened. She is a classically trained actor, singer, and voice-over artist. She has worked throughout the country with various regional theaters, including Merrimack Rep, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Ivoryton Playhouse, Imagination Stage, and the Discovery Theater at the Smithsonian Institute. She has narrated more than 130 audiobooks in a variety of genres, from nonfiction to cozy mystery to sci-fi. She is also a career coach for actors!

Connect with Elise at her website http://www.elisearsenault.com/


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Joan Steinau Lester is an award-winning commentator, columnist, and author of critically acclaimed books, including Mama's Child and Black, White, Other. Her writing has appeared in such publications as USA Today, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, and Huffington Post. Her latest book Loving Before Loving: A Marriage in Black and White chronicles her marriage to the Black writer Julius Lester, and tells the story of a writer and activist fighting for love and justice before, during, and after the Supreme Court’s 1967 decision striking down bans on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia. Speaking candidly about every facet of her life, Lester illuminates her journey to fulfillment and healing.

Connect with Joan at www.joanlester.com.


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Ruth Mitchell is the author of the award-winning novel Deleted, described as "Inception meets 50 First Dates." She was born and raised in Salt Lake City and grew up writing plays for the neighborhood kids and “exploring” the woods near her home. In high school, she founded a Dead Poets’ Society, as well as successfully campaigning to make the school’s all-male service club accept female students. She met her husband, Bill, on their first day of classes at the University of Utah, where she graduated with a BA in journalism. Working for the Deseret News, she reported on wildfires, shootings and human interest stories. When her husband finished medical school, they moved with their two small daughters to Texas. In Dallas they learned to love good barbecue, bluebonnets and Texans. With a little Texan in tow (a boy!) they moved to San Diego. In California, they welcomed another son and put down roots. In addition to dreaming up new book ideas, Ruth loves long rambling conversations, baking, hiking, party-planning and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.

Connect with her at www.literallyruth.com.


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Rachel grew up in the middle of a wheat field where she found plenty of time to read and dream. Her mom paid her a dollar per classic novel

she read so, in a quest to amass a small fortune, Rachel read over 200 classic novels before junior high. After dabbling with writing novels

and stage plays, she ran to the BYU bookstore for her first job. She sat behind the register, voraciously reading Shannon Hale novels while

Brandon Sanderson and other internationally-selling authors held book signings in front of her. That was when she began dreaming up plots of

her own.

Rachel's debut novel SHATTERED SNOW was a Whitney Award finalist, Swoony Award winner, and Deep Magic E-zine highlighted novel. She is

also the author of SPINNING BRIAR and GRANTED: CURSE OF THE EMERALD JINN. In addition to writing novels, Rachel works as the marketing

manager for Immortal Works Publishing. She currently lives in Southern California where she enjoys sand at its finest: the beach and the

desert. She loves to play board games with her kids, browse Pinterest for tasty recipes, and read a bedtime story to her husband every night.

https://www.rachelhuffmire.com/


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This episode is sponsored by Patreon supporter Michael Swaidan. Thank you, Michael!!

Emma Dhesi writes contemporary Women’s Fiction. She began writing seriously while a stay at home mom with 3 children under five years of age. She needed something for herself and for her future. By changing her mindset, being consistent and developing confidence, Emma has gone from having a collection of handwritten notes to two fully written, edited and published novels titled THE DAY SHE CAME HOME, and BELONGING. Her stories reflect the authentic lives of women by exploring the complexities of family life. Before writing, Emma trained as a stage actor and worked in London for a decade before moving with her husband to Hong Kong. After seven years there, Emma and her family relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland, where her writing came together and publication beckoned.

http://emmadhesiauthor.com/


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Holli H.L. Anderson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing—which has nothing to do with writing, except maybe by adding some pretty descriptive injury scenes to her books. She discovered her joy of writing during a very trying period in her life when escaping into make-believe saved her. She enjoys reading any book she gets her hands on, but has a particular love for anything fantasy. Holli can't decide which genre to write in, so she just writes the stories that won't leave her alone in the dark of night and on long, solitary drives. If you like Middle Grade contemporary, Young Adult Urban Fantasy or Dystopian, or Adult Romantic Thrillers -- she's got a book for you. Along with her husband, Steve, and their four sons, she lives in Grantsville, Utah—the same small town in which she grew up. Her latest novel is UNDER THE VIADUCT.

http://www.holli-anderson.com/


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As a thriving professional in the tech industry, Sonya Judd's life was interrupted by a premature baby and spontaneous twins less than a year later. Having three children born within a year of each other, often referred to as Irish triplets, she speaks and writes about becoming your best you when life throws you curveballs. She studied Finance and Economics at NYU and Columbia, and works as a business strategist in the tech industry. Her debut book Rest in the Nest was released earlier this year. 

You can connect with Sonya at her website https://www.sjsexecutivecoaching.com/


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Katya Cengel is an author and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in New York Times Magazine, Marie Claire, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post among other publications. She has reported from North and Central America, Europe, Asia and Africa and was based in the former Soviet Union for half a decade. She is the author of Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) 2020 winner and Foreword Indies 2019 winner From Chernobyl with Love: Reporting from the Ruins of the Soviet Union (Potomac, 2019); Exiled: From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to California and Back (Potomac, 2018) and 2013 Kentucky Literary Award finalist Bluegrass Baseball: A Year in the Minor League Life (Nebraska, 2012).

www.katyacengel.com 

Episode Extras! Listen to Katya read an excerpt from her book From Chernobyl with Love as well as share a writing prompt. Visit https://www.patreon.com/dallaswoodburn 


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Mary Potter Kenyon graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Psychology, and is a certified grief counselor. She is the Program Coordinator for the Shalom Spirituality Center. Mary is widely published in magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, including ten Chicken Soup books. She conducts writing workshops and does public speaking on the topics of writing, utilizing your creativity in your everyday life, and finding hope and healing in grief. She is the author of seven books including the award-winning Refined By Fire: A Journey of Grief and Grace and Expressive Writing for Healing. Her book on creativity, Called to Be Creative, was released in August 2020.

https://marypotterkenyon.wordpress.com/


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Emily Grabatin is the author of the book DARE TO DECIDE: Discovering Peace, Clarity and Courage at Life's Crossroads. Through coaching, writing and leadership development, she helps individuals recognize who they are, uncover what makes them feel alive, and streamline their focus so they can flourish.

Through seasons of restlessness, burnout and wandering even while working in her dream job in ministry, the greatest gifts Emily has received have been from individuals who saw potential in her before she saw it. Appreciating the value of people holding a space for her to discover her own answers and step out into her calling at her own pace, she’s passionate about offering that gift to others.

What most people don’t know about Emily is her secret box of unfinished novels yellowing in her basement. What she learned about storytelling and why she never finished writing her novels inspired the principles she uses to inspire others in getting clear on their dream and making more confident decisions. Emily lives near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada with her husband and daughter.

https://daretodecide.ca/


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This episode is a bit different! I was recently invited to be a guest speaker for the Writers' Society at the University College of London to answer questions about my writing journey. Our conversation was so fruitful and interesting that I asked for their permission to share part of it with you. Hope you enjoy this glimpse into my writing life!

Dallas Woodburn published her first book, There’s a Huge Pimple On My Nose, when she was in fifth grade… and she hasn’t stopped since! Her published books include the YA novel The Best Week That Never Happened; the YA short-story collection 3 a.m.; the adult short-story collection Woman, Running Late, in a Dress; and the forthcoming YA novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life (coming Feb 2022). She has won numerous awards for her writing including the international Glass Woman Prize and the John Steinbeck Creative Writing Fellowship. A passionate champion of young writers, Dallas is the founder of Write On! Books, an organization that empowers youth through reading and writing endeavors, and is also editor of the book series Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today’s best youth writing. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her amazing husband, adorable daughter, and overflowing bookshelves.


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Kelli Warner is the author of NOT WITH THE BAND and THE MOMENT WE FELL: humorous and relatable young adult and contemporary romance novels, the kind of stories that get your insides so wound up in an ooey-gooey mess that you forget about the un-fun stuff in life. She's passionate for a good cup of coffee (even a bad one on a desperate day), enjoying time with friends and family, and spending lazy Saturday mornings watching the Food Network. Kelli and her husband live in Oregon with their two teenaged children and a border collie named Lucy. Connect with her at https://www.kelliwarner.com/


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Kiley Roache is the author of FRAT GIRL and THE DATING GAME, two young adult novels published by Inkyard Press, a division of HarperCollins. Kiley grew up in the suburbs outside Chicago, and has been writing since the 7th grade. She signed with a literary agent days before graduating high school. She is a graduate of Stanford University where she studied Political Science. She authored both her books while she was still a college student, and once got up early to look at copyedits before painting her face for a tailgate.

Kiley has also worked as a journalist, and her bylines are in The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Chicago Tribune’s teen publication The Mash, among others. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.  In 2018, she wrote an op-ed for The New York Times’s “On Campus” series entitled “The Future of Frats” arguing that fraternities should go co-ed. It was the lead story in the Times’s “The Edit” newsletter that week.

https://www.kileyroache.com/


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Maggie Reyes is the author of the Questions for Couples Journal, and is also a blogger and podcast host. She is a Life Coach and Modern Marriage Mentor who specializes in helping driven, ambitious women create the marriages of their dreams. Her innovative, playful and practical approach to love and marriage takes the principles of cognitive psychology and luxury hospitality service and uses them to teach her clients the most effective ways to break destructive patterns and develop the mindsets and habits that make relationships thrive. 

https://maggiereyes.com/


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A.H. Ann Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. She was educated at Harvard College and Berkeley Law School, where she was an editor of the California Law Review. She is a practicing attorney and has served as chief of staff to the CEO and head of investor relations at a Fortune 200 company. A.H. Kim is the proud mother of two sons, a longtime cancer survivor, community volunteer, and member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto. A GOOD FAMILY is her first novel.

https://www.ahkim.net/


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Gabi Justice is the author of Dog Girl, her young adult contemporary romance debut which just released on November 17, 2020. She is the mom to three dogs and one stray cat named Luna Buna. She lives in Florida with her husband and children. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tennis court in the state that she hasn’t visited, having three competitive junior players in the family. Gabi spent most of her adult life writing editorial copy for local magazines after graduating from the University of South Florida. Florida provides the settings for all her coming-of-age stories that highlight bullying, misjudgment, acceptance, and teen anxiety. Her main characters are goal-oriented teenage girls with a drive that can be fierce and dangerous. 

Connect with Gabi at https://www.gabijustice.com/


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Shana Lynn Schmidt is the author of the award-winning memoir Over Our Hearts: a mother's journey learning to listen in, about her experience listening in to her heart during teen daughter's pregnancy and beyond. She is a licensed counselor, parenting coach, infant & early childhood mental health specialist, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, writer, and Nana. She lives in a small Kansas town with her husband Brian, not far from where they grew up, with their two dogs and an empty nest. 

www.shanalynnschmidt.com


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Hope Bolinger is the author of the modern-day Daniel retelling trilogy,Blaze, Den, and Vision (releasing in August 2021). The YA superhero romance she co-wrote with Alyssa Roat, Dear Hero, just released from INtense Publications in September 2020. The sequel Dear Henchman is set to release in April 2021. Hope is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 900 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids to HOOKED to Crosswalk.com. She writes about 250-300 articles a year. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly in the Serious Writer newsletter.

Connect with Hope on Instagram and Twitter @hopebolinger, or through her website www.hopebolinger.com.


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Samantha Vitale has an insatiable hunger for two things: big challenges and amazing stories. When not working at her highly technical day job, she can be found devouring books or writing new ones of her own. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their two small humans. She is the author of the debut YA novel THE LADY ALCHEMIST. 

https://www.sdvitale.com/


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E.K. has been writing poetry ever since she was very young. She published her first book, A Collection of Poems, when she was 10 years old. Her second collection, Down the Road, was released only a few years later in 2018. E.K. has published work in Stone Soup Magazine and is a staff writer for Youth MENSAN Magazine. Her poetry has placed in several competitions, including but not limited to the Carl Sandburg, Ventura County Writer’s Club, Lincoln Poetry, and No Place for Hate Imagine a World Without Hate writing contests. Besides writing, E.K. loves science, math, and history! She also plays the violin, piano, and sings. Traveling the world is one of her favorite things to do. E.K. enjoys spending as much time as possible with her dog Coco.

https://ekbaer.com/


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Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is the author of two middle grade book series, each published by HarperCollins Children's Books, THE GUARDIAN HERD (a quartet) and RIDERS OF THE REALM (a trilogy). Before this, she self-published a middle grade fantasy called THE PET WASHER.  She received a B.A. in English from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition to literature, she studied philosophy and sociology, and is fascinated by underdogs and power dynamics between groups of people. She is the current Literary Laureate for The Healdsburg Literary Guild. When she is not writing, you can find Jennifer galloping her little black mare through the foothills of Sonoma County or teaching free creative writing workshops to kids and adults at various branches of the local library system. She lives in Northern California with her husband, three children, and many pets!

https://www.jenniferlynnalvarez.com/

https://www.theguardianherd.com/


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Karen Strong is the author of the critically acclaimed middle grade novel Just South of Home, which was selected for several Best of Year lists including Kirkus Reviews Best Books, CCBC Choices, and Bank Street Best Books.Her short fiction appears in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back and A Phoenix First Must Burn. Born and raised in the rural South, she is a graduate of the University of Georgia and an advocate of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). An avid lover of strong coffee, yellow flowers, and night skies, Karen lives in Atlanta.

https://www.karen-strong.com/


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Lisa Moore Ramée was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in the Northern California, with her husband, two kids, two obnoxious cats and more yard than she can control. She earned a BA in Speech Communications from San Francisco State and a MA in English Literature (focusing on Creative Writing) from Cal State East Bay. She worked for several years in publishing for the Walt Disney Company, first in comics, and then with licensed publishing. While there, she co-penned The Little Mermaid, Jr. Graphic Novel and the writing bug took up permanent residence.She is a devotee of Top Chef and Project Runway and often tries to work the shows in her plots. A Good Kind of Trouble, her first novel, received critical acclaim, garnering three starred reviews (PW, Kirkus and SLJ). Something to Say has received two starred reviews (Kirkus and SLJ). 

https://www.lisamooreramee.com/


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Caitlin Horrocks is author of the novel The Vexations, named one of the Ten Best Books of 2019 by the Wall Street Journal. Her story collection This Is Not Your City was a New York Times Book ReviewEditor’s Choice and a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Another story collection, Life Among the Terranauts, is forthcoming from Little, Brown in 2021. Her stories and essays appear in The New YorkerThe Best American Short Stories, The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, The Pushcart Prize, The Paris Review, Tin House, and One Story, as well as other journals and anthologies. Her awards include the Plimpton Prize and fellowships to the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the MacDowell Colony. She is on the advisory board of the Kenyon Review, where she recently served as fiction editor. She teaches at Grand Valley State University and in the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her family.

http://caitlinhorrocks.com/about/


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C. Hope Clark is the Editor of FundsforWriters, named one of the Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers for the past 10 years. She is also a prolific author of The Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries. As a freelance writer, she’s published in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest, Guide to Literary Agents, Writer’s Market, Chicken Soup, and many other trade and online publications.

https://chopeclark.com/


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I'm excited to share this very special episode! My debut YA novel, The Best Week That Never Happened, was published on April 21st by Month9Books and Blackstone Audio. It is such a thrill to have it out in the world and to hear from readers who are connecting with the storyline and the characters! I held a Virtual Book Launch on April 26 and was joined by my friends Tobie Easton and Jennieke Cohen, who you might remember from episodes 2 and 3 of this podcast. I’m delighted to share our conversation with you now, as well as some behind-the-scenes tidbits about my brand new book!


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Morris Ardoin earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Louisiana State University and a master’s in communication from the University of Louisiana. A public relations practitioner, his work has appeared in regional, national, and international media. His blog, Parenthetically Speaking, can be found at www.morrisardoin.com. His memoir STONE MOTEL: MEMOIRS OF A CAJUN BOY is now available. He divides his time between New York City and Cornwallville, New York, where he does most of his writing. 


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Natalie Lund is the author of the young adult novels, We Speak in Storms and The Sky Above Us (forthcoming Nov. ’20). She is a former middle and high school teacher and a graduate of Purdue University’s MFA program. Natalie is a member of SCBWI and is represented by Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency. She lives in Chicago with her spouse and a very talkative cat. You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter at @nmlund.


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After a career in undergraduate counseling, Laura Sibson pursued an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing in a local coffee shop, you can find her running the neighborhood streets or hiking with her dog. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and their two sons. Her debut YA novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has received wide acclaim and was one of my favorite books of last year. 

https://www.laurasibson.com/


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Farrah Penn was born and raised in a suburb in Texas that’s far from the big city, but close enough to Whataburger. She now resides in Los Angeles, CA with her gremlin dog and succulents. When she’s not writing books, she can be found writing things for BuzzFeed and sending texts that contain too many emojis. 12 STEPS TO NORMAL is her first novel.


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Mark Gottlieb is a highly ranked literary agent both in overall deals and other individual categories. Using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers, he is actively building his own client list of authors. Mark Gottlieb is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources that are available at book publishing’s leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. During his time at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented numerous New York Times bestselling authors, as well as award-winning authors, and has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. He previously ran the agency’s audiobook department, in addition to working in foreign rights. Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looking forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/agents/mark-gottlieb/


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Tara Lynn Masih has won multiple book awards in her role as editor of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction and The Chalk Circle: Intercultural Prizewinning Essays. She is also author of Where the Dog Star Never Glows: Stories and Founding Series Editor for The Best Small Fictions annual anthology. Her award-winning fiction, poetry, and prose has been heavily anthologized. Her debut novel, My Real Name Is Hanna, won a Florida Book Award, a Foreword Book of the Year Award, a Skipping Stones Honor Award, and the Julia Ward Howe Award for Young Readers, and was recognized as a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards.

http://www.taramasih.com/


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In this special episode to celebrate the cover reveal for my novel The Best Week That Never Happened (check it out + read an exclusive excerpt at The Nerd Daily!) we are diving into a behind-the-scenes look at book covers. In addition to chatting about my book cover process, I also talked with Danielle Doolittle, Art & Design Projects Coordinator at Month9Books, and author N. R. Bergeson.

N. R. (Nils) Bergeson is the author of the Glass Globe series of children’s novels, a former U.S. Diplomat, and a passionate proponent of global education. He has traveled to nearly 70 countries with his wife, Emily, and their four young children. Nils is enamored with the international world and plans to visit everywhere if he can. He hopes his writing will instill a desire in the rising generation to take advantage of modern opportunities to see the world, learn new languages, and expand their cultural experiences as far as they can. https://nrbergeson.com

Pre-order links for The Best Week That Never Happened:

(Be sure to send in your receipt to claim your bonus pre-order goodies!)

  • IndieBound /
  • Barnes & Noble /
  • Book Depository /
  • Amazon

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Kelly Jensen is a former teen librarian who worked in several public libraries before pursuing a full-time career in writing and editing. Her current position is with Book Riot (bookriot.com), where she focuses on talking about young adult literature. Her books include Here We Are: Feminism for The Real World and (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, a collection of art, essays, and words to launch a powerful and important conversation about mental health. It was named a best book of 2018 by the Washington Post and earned a Schneider Family Book Award Honor. Her next book is Body Talk, scheduled for Fall 2020.


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Nathan Leslie won the 2019 Washington Writers' Publishing House prize for fiction for his collection of short stories, Hurry Up and Relax. Nathan’s nine previous books of fiction include Three Men, Root and Shoot, Sibs, and The Tall Tale of Tommy Twice. He is also the author of a collection of poems, Night Sweat. Nathan is currently the series editor for Best Small Fictions, the founder and organizer of the Reston Reading Series in Reston, Virginia, and the publisher and editor of the new online journal Maryland Literary Review. Previously he was series editor for Best of the Web and fiction editor for Pedestal Magazine. His fiction has been published in hundreds of literary magazines such as Shenandoah, North American Review, Boulevard, Hotel Amerika, and Cimarron Review. Nathan’s nonfiction has been published in The Washington Post, Kansas City Star, and Orlando Sentinel. Nathan lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Julie. He teaches at Northern Virginia Community College.

Nathan's website: http://www.nathanleslie.net/index.php

Maryland Literary Review: https://www.marylandliteraryreview.com/

Best Small Fictions: https://www.thesonderpress.com/best-small-fictions

Reston Reading Series: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232505597093213/


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Julie Hoag lives in Minnesota with her husband and three sons. Before becoming a writer, she worked as a scientist at the University of Minnesota, as a pediatric nurse, and as a stay-at-home mom. After her youngest entered school, she revisited her interest in writing by starting a Family, Lifestyle and Food Blog at juliehoagwriter.com. She began submitting non-fiction articles across the internet, finding wonderful success in getting published on numerous websites. Additionally, her YA Contemporary Romance novel Hungry Hearts was just published by Swoon Romance/Month9Books and her second novel is forthcoming later this year. In this episode, Julie and I talk about making the switch from writing nonfiction to fiction, how being a blogger has made her a better novelist, and more.


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Parker Peevyhouse is the author of the YA science fiction thrillers Where Futures End, The Echo Room – which Kirkus called “a thrilling ride” in a starred review -- and Strange Exit, which was just published by Tor Teen. Parker is likely trying to solve a puzzle at this very moment, probably while enjoying In-N-Out fries, admiring redwood trees, and quoting movies about sentient robots. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

https://www.parkerpeevyhouse.com/

http://www.launchpadworkshop.org/

https://www.writeoncon.org/


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Stephanie Kuehn is a psychologist and an author. She has written five novels for teens, including Charm & Strange, which won the ALA’s 2014 William C. Morris Award for best debut young adult novel. Her second novel, Complicit, was named to YALSA’s 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and her third, Delicate Monsters, won the 2016 Northern California Book Award. In 2015, Stephanie was awarded the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship for The Smaller Evil and in 2017, her fifth novel, When I Am Through With You, received a starred review from Kirkus and was also named an Amazon Best Book of the Month. Booklist has praised her work as “Intelligent, compulsively readable literary fiction with a dark twist.”

http://stephaniekuehn.com/


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Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl are a husband-and-wife team who write novels and stories of mystery and adventure from their rustic cabin in the Rocky Mountains. They regularly speak at writers conferences, universities and high schools to help others achieve their writing dreams. Their debut YA novel, MERGED, received a starred review from Kirkus as well as other rave reviews. The science-fiction story centers around seven of our country’s most gifted teens who will become Nobels, hosts for the implantation of brilliant Mentor minds, in an effort to accelerate human progress. But as the line between what’s possible and what’s right draws ever blurrier, the teens discover everything has a cost.

Connect with Jim & Stephanie at www.jimandstephbooks.com, and on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @jimandstephbooks. 


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Jennieke Cohen writes historical fiction for young adults inspired by real people and events because life is often stranger than fiction. Her debut YA novel, DANGEROUS ALLIANCE, is The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in a witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery! DANGEROUS ALLIANCE has garnered rave reviews from Publisher's Weekly, The Nerd Daily, Book Riot, Barnes and Noble, and is a featured pick on Book of the Month Club. Jennieke studied English history at Cambridge University and has a master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California. She loves exploring new locales but always returns home to Northern California where the summers are hot, the winters are mild, and life is casual.

https://www.jenniekecohen.com/


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Award-winning author Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she's grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it.  Her debut novel, Emerge, is a Gold Medal Winner (Young Adult – Sci-Fi/Fantasy) of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and is Book 1 in the acclaimed Mer Chronicles series. The trilogy follows the descendants of the Little Mermaid and offers fans a peek into a world where Mermaids aren't just real, but live secretly among us on land. Tobie and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. 


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Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. He pitched and developed several screenplay projects for film and television before completing his first two novels, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH and STILTSKIN, both published by Curiosity Quills Press. Andrew's foray into writing for a younger audience resulted in the HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES series, published by Month9Books.  

*Throughout the month of December, I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate the upcoming release of my debut YA novel,* The Best Week That Never Happened*. All you have to do to enter is* mark my book as “Want to Read” on Goodreads**. That’s it! I have lots of fun prizes that I’ll be giving away on December 31st.


Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dallas-woodburn/support