Book Echoes

On this episode of Authoring Onward, I chat with Emily Jon Tobias about gesture in writing, her winding path to publication, and so much more! This is going to be one of the final episodes of Authoring Onward. We have had a great run, but as both Joy and I are moving on to new… Read More »Episode 160: Gesture in Writing with Emily Jon Tobias

This week, I chatted with Cynthia Newberry Marten about so many things: releasing books close together, writing characters at different ages and stages, and her 50-state book tour. Wow! Have a listen. About Cynthia Cynthia Newberry Martin's (she/her/hers) first novel, Tidal Flats, won the Gold Medal in Literary Fiction at the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards… Read More »Episode 159: 50-State Book Tour with Cynthia Newberry Martin

This week, Joy and I had a great chat with Marjorie Hudson about writing southern fiction as a transplant to the south, finding a writing community, and so much more! Have a listen for a great chat and an excerpt of her work. About Marjorie: “I grew up in the North,” Marjorie says, “but I… Read More »Southern Fiction with Marjorie Hudson

We're back for Spring 2023! And for the first episode of the season, I chat with Cheryl King about her historical fiction, the way she finds inspiration by participating in writing contests, and so much more. Have a listen! About Cheryl: After 12 years in the newspaper business, I got the teaching bug and became… Read More »Episode 157: Writing contests with Cheryl King

This week, Joy and I chatted with my author buddy Michelle Nott about her new book, Teddy Let's Go, writing quiet books, persistence, pivoting, and so much more! It was a great chat full of lessons for children's and adult writers alike. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also, this is… Read More »Episode 156: Quiet Books with Michelle Nott

This week we talked about writing your passion with Julie Carrick Dalton. Julie writes powerful stories that deal with climate issues. We talked about the value of writing your passion, creating characters readers connect with, and so much more! About Julie: Julie Carrick Dalton is the Boston-based author of The Last Beekeeper and Waiting for… Read More »Episode 155: Writing your passion with Julie Carrick DAlton

Hello and happy Thanksgiving! We're back from break. We had a great chat with author Allen Klein. He shares about the therapeutic benefits of humor and many lessons learned from his long career in publishing. Have a listen… and a laugh! About Allen: Allen's Site Allen's TED talk Ever hear of a “Jollytologist®”? Well meet… Read More »Episode 154: Lessons learned from 30+ Books and therapeutic humor with Allen Klein

This week, Joy and I chat with Valerie Nieman about her books and the vivid setting she creates. Ever wondered how to deepen your own settings? Have a listen for Valerie's tips and exercises to craft unforgettable settings. Reminder: We'll be out next week for the holiday. Be back at you in two weeks! About… Read More »Episode 153: Writing vivid settings with Valerie Nieman

This week, Joy and I chatted with historical fiction author and book coach Susanne Dunlap. We had a great chat about research inspiration, mining one's own family or local history for story ideas, and much more! About Susanne: Susanne Dunlap is the author of twelve works of historical fiction for adults and teens, as well… Read More »Episode 152: Historical Fiction and Inspiration with Susanne Dunlap

This week on the podcast we chatted with PJ McIlvaine about one of my favorite topics (because it's something I am always trying to tweak and figure out myself) work/life balance for writers. Have a listen and learn from her wealth of experience. We also chatted about PBPitch, the Twitter pitch event for picture book… Read More »Episode 151: work/life balance with PJ McIlvaine

This week, we chatted with Liz Alterman about resilience, writing groups, and her path to publication. Have a listen to her great advice and inspiring story of persistence! About Liz: Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. She spends most days repeatedly microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up… Read More »Episode 150: Resilience in writing with LIz Alterman

This week on the show, I chatted with author, podcaster, and veteran of public radio Kitty Felde. We had a wonderful chat about her middle grade mysteries and her podcasts as well as podcasting for authors. Being a guest is a great way to dip your toes into podcasting if you're curious about it or… Read More »Episode 149: Podcasting (and being a guest) for authors with Kitty Felde

This week, I've got Joy back on the show with me as we talk about her course, Create a Discussion Guide for Your Book. We've all seen lists of discussion questions in the back of books, but have you ever considered creating such a guide for your own book? Joy talks about why discussion guides… Read More »Episode 148: Creating a discussion guide for your Book with Joy E. Held

I'm back for the autumn season! You can look forward to weekly episodes of Authoring Onward until shortly before Christmas. And I've got some awesome announcements! First, former guest Joy E. Held is joining the podcast. She's doing some work behind the scenes, but you'll also hear her voice a bit more in future…including an… Read More »Episode 147: Q4 planning for writers

This week on Authoring Onward, I chat with Paul Attaway about finding that creative voice within, whether it's finding the initial inspiration to write or breaking writer's block as you go forward. Have a listen! About Paul: Paul was born and raised in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Paul and his wife, Lyn, met in college… Read More »Episode 146: Finding your creative voice with Paul Attaway

I'm so pleased to be editing, writing, and podcasting from an actual writing desk this week. It's not in its final position, but behold! Sooo much better than the wobbly folding table where I've done most of my work for the past three years. What a glamorous author life, right? Today's episode is about 7… Read More »Episode 145: 7 things that didn't work for my author business

I'm back! After a bit over a month of kid activities, the whole family getting covid, then catching up after recovering from covid, I'm so glad to be podcasting again. And as we emerge from the busyness that is the end of spring, it's a great time to think about how summer will change our… Read More »Episode 144: Summer Rescheduling for Writers

Today is a little different on the show. I got a bee in my bonnet about something and decided to do this episode as a response and to take the time to also script the show so that it could stand alone as a blog post below for greater accessibility. Authoring Onward is a show… Read More »Episode 143: Creativity in survival mode: A response to Care and Feeding

I hope you are all having a lovely spring (or fall in the other hemisphere). For today's spring break episode, I'm talking about how understanding your why for writing helps you make choices in your author career. Understanding your why is just one of the things I cover in my brand new course: Stellar Self… Read More »Episode 142: Your Why

I talk a lot about ideals on this show, how to organize your time, how to manage your writing and author business, but life isn't like that. So on today's episode, I get real. This is the mess of my author and editor life. And in the case of housework, it is literal mess! Grab… Read More »Episode 141: The messy real life of an author and editor

Today's episode is a joint one with Let's Start Writing, so if you also subscribe to LSW, no need to listen to both–they are the same! Today's tips episode is about what to do when you're writing along on one project and a shiny new story idea comes up, tempting you to cheat on your… Read More »Episode 140: When inspiration distracts

This week, I chatted with author Edward Di Gangi about his book, his book launch, what went well and what he'd do differently. It's a whole book launch analysis. If you're getting ready for a launch or looking ahead to one, this is a great episode to help you in decision making. About Edward: Edward… Read More »Episode 139: Analyzing a book launch with Edward Di Gangi

Thousands of writers write a book in a month during National Novel Writing Month, but what about writing so fast that you're publishing a book each month for two years! That's what cozy mystery author ACF Bookens has done. Of course, she's not writing them the same month they are published–there's editing, formatting, etc. to… Read More »Episode 138: Rapid release with ACF Bookens

It's our second critique episode! This time, I talk to horror author Ghost Lady. We go over the sales page for one book and the first page of a manuscript for a work in progress. Hopefully you all learn a little something about creating a compelling first page and about crafting a sales page that… Read More »137: Sales page and First Page Critique

This week, I've got something a little different on the show, the first book sales page critique. Author Sean kindly volunteered to go first. I go over his book's sales page from cover to description to categories. I hope you all learn a little something about presenting and selling books. If this is a format… Read More »Episode 136: Sales Page Critique #1

They say truth is stranger than fiction, so is it any wonder that history can inspire great fictional stories? In this episode, I chat with fellow mystery writer and podcaster Landis Wade about his historically inspired mystery, and about researching and writing fiction with a historical bent. Have a listen! Landis Wade is a recovering… Read More »Episode 135: Writing historically inspired fiction with Landis Wade

I'm so glad to be back this week. Last week the podcast took a short break because of Covid-related school closures (thank goodness my family all okay, though). Today I'm chatting about one of the rookie mistakes I see newer authors make, which is modeling themselves on household name authors or making choices they've been… Read More »Episode 134: Don't model your author biz on household names

This week's solo episode explores the ways fear holds us back in our writing and book promotion. What are some common ways we get held back? And what can we do about it? The good news is that this is normal. It happens to all of us. It's also something we can chip away at… Read More »Episode 133: Is fear holding you back?

It's character time! Just as I'm getting ready to start a new mystery for the upcoming Mysteries, Midsummer Sun, and Murders anthology, I had the chance to interview Carrie Knowles about creating and developing characters. We had a wonderful chat about the importance of character development, finding inspiration for characters, creating nonhuman characters, and so… Read More »Episode 132: Knowing Your characters with Carrie Knowles

This week, I honored my commitment to working more sustainably in 2022 and did something I've never done before. I took a mental health day. So I thought this week would be a great time to talk about writer burnout and how to avoid it. I'm joined by artist and writer e'Layne Kelley to talk… Read More »Episode 131: Burnout and how to avoid it with e'Layne Kelley

It's a shiny, new year, and you probably have some new writing and personal goals to go with it. Yay! Jump into those goals, but remember to do so in a sustainable way. In fact, sustainable is my word of 2022. (Yes, I did the cheesy thing and picked a word of the year.) If… Read More »Episode 130: Word of the year and critiques

Sometimes in writing and podcasting, you just have to roll with the punches… so there won't be another episode for December. But I'm excited for what 2022 has in store. Authoring Onward will be back in your podcast player the first week of January! Happy holidays! Connie

What do I love as much as Christmas trees, tinsel, and eggnog? Planning, of course! And a shiny, new planner. Drum roll, please… … It's here! The Messy Author Planner 2022 is here in paperback and (sadly delayed) hardcover (as well as a paperback undated version)! I'm so delighted. Wanna look inside? And in its… Read More »Episode 129: Planning and making 2022 goals

The holiday season is upon us, and it can be a time as stressful as it is joyous. Huh. Kind of like the writing life. So, while the weather gets chilly, let's chill out from all the anxieties authors can have. Take my free Find Your Writing Time Course and join the weekly newsletter!

This week, Amber Henry came back on the show to go more in-depth about how she organizes pop-up shops where she sells her books and which benefit many local entrepreneurs in her community. We had a great chat. We referenced a few prior episodes that you might want to go back and listen to after… Read More »Episode 127: Organizing pop-up shops with Amber Henry

This week, I chatted with author Amber Henry about the different ways she gives back to her community. We talked about school visits, giving while protecting your boundaries, looking for the need where you already have connections, and more! I hope our chat can give you ideas of ways you can contribute to your own… Read More »Episode 126: Giving back through school visits and more with Amber Henry

It's November! And this month's theme is giving thanks and giving back. Today I run down some ways I've volunteered in the past and ways I plan to give back this year. What have you done to give back to the writing community or your community at large? Comment below, so we can all get… Read More »Episode 125: Giving back as an author

This week, I have returning guest Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (see her previous episode here). We talk about all things writing scary stuff, creating ghostly characters, our own childhood fears, and more! Snuggle up with a warm apple cider and a cozy blanket for our spooky chat! About Danielle: I'm an author, connector and storyteller who is… Read More »Episode 124: Writing scary stories with Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

It's a mini-episode today! Welcome, October is such a busy month. I've got a soon-to-be-launched anthology coming up, my son's fall festival is tomorrow, requiring me to locate and fix the Halloween costumes that have already been strewn around our house, and my daughter is starting Nutcracker rehearsal already! So today is a quick episode,… Read More »Episode 123: Feel the Spookiness

Last week, I did a deep dive into the results from my recent KU free days promotion, and I promised to keep y'all updated. As of now, I've almost earned back my ad spend on this series. Only $38 to break even. Now, I've noticed the money trickling down day by day as I get… Read More »Episode 122: 4 common fears that spook Writers

Today, I'm doing a deep analysis of my recent KU free days promotion, what I did, and how it went. So, though it is October and therefore Spooky Season, our theme of the spooky side of publishing is going to start next week, because I have a feeling this postmortem may go a little long.… Read More »Episode 121: Promotion postmortem

October, my favorite month is almost here, and with it I have a free ebook promotion scheduled. So today's episode is about the freshening up I like to do to get ready for a promotion. It's a mild stretch out of my comfort zone, more of a getting things done I've been putting off, but… Read More »Episode 120: Prepping for a Promotion

I am so glad to be writing and illustrating much more this week (working on a Halloween story!)  along with celebrating. My son just turned six, and now our living room is littered with large model trains, including one that is too big to run indoors! We'll be setting up an outdoor railroad this weekend… Read More »Episode 119: If you can't find it, make it.

Since September's theme is stretching out of our comfort zones, today's episode is about the advice you'd give to another writer that you aren't doing yourself. Think about it for a bit. I bet there's something. It's probably something you know would help you but looks like a bit of work. Something you've meant to… Read More »Episode 118: Author, take your own advice

Reader reviews. Asking for them and looking at them… that certainly stretches a lot of authors out of their comfort zone, myself included. But reviews are an important part of getting your book in front of a wider audience and demonstrating that people are actually reading and enjoying it. So, today's episode is about how… Read More »Episode 117: Getting Reviews from Readers

September's theme is learning new things and stretching gently out of your comfort zone. This episode is the interview for September with Clare Marshall about selling books at craft shows and comic conventions, a topic that does push a lot of introverted authors out of their comfort zones, but it's an experience you can learn… Read More »Episode 116: Bookselling at shows and mindset shifts with Clare C. Marshall

The Book Echoes podcast is now Authoring Onward! Same great content but new name and more descriptive branding. And lest you think I'm leaving newbie writers out, just wait for my new podcast, Let's Start Writing, launching hopefully next week! Have a listen to see what exciting topics are coming up in the next couple… Read More »Episode 115: Announcing Authoring Onward

We're getting closer to back-to-school time, so how about picking up a kids' book? We're living in a golden age of children's books. Even if you don't have kids or write for kids, there's a lot everyone (and especially writers can learn from reading children's and young adult books. Have a listen! The Guardian article… Read More »Episode 115: Read a children's book even if you write for adults

Going through summer slump while you wait for fall to start? Me too! Last night, I simply had to bake some pumpkin muffins to pretend it was autumn for a minute. Yum. It's easy to feel like August is just a waiting month, with all the exciting things starting in September, but it's also a… Read More »Episode 114: Autumn planning for writers

I'm back from vacation and so excited to share with you this interview with Sacha Black about her new book 8 Steps to Side Characters. (It has a workbook, too!) Your protagonist is the star of the show, but side characters bring the world alive. Now that I'm back in town, I can't wait to… Read More »Episode 113: Side characters with Sacha Black

Authors are often puzzled the first time they need to hire a freelance editor: What kind of editing do I need? Where do I find an editor? What should my manuscript look like? In a rare video episode of Book Echoes: A Podcast for Writers, I'm diving deep into the levels of editing, hiring, and… Read More »Episode 112: Hiring a freelance editor