How To Be A Better Person with Kate Hanley

In this final installment of my interview with debut science fiction novelist Christy Climenhage (her brand new thriller is “The Midnight Project”), we covered:The very specific sound of spring that's giving her life right nowFinding a creative role model very close to homeFiguring out how to write for the joy of it AND make money from itWhy her goal is “write more words”The joy of having her stories take root in other people's headsThe series of novellas she hid in the bathtub to finish Connect with Christy on Bluesky @cclim.bsky.social or at christyclimenhage.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of my interview with Christy Climenhage, the author of the brand new science fiction thriller The Midnight Project.“The Midnight Project” is Christy's first novel, and focused on two friends and scientists who are muddling through a frighteningly real world on the verge of collapse. In this episode, we talked about: How writing, although it requires help from others, is something that's yours and yours alone (unlike, say, a job or a relationship)Finding the delight in being a beginnerDealing with impostor syndromeLearning to take the next step (instead of giving up)Freeing yourself of the desire for external validationThe benefits of being a debut author when you are olderDebunking the idea that merit is kingEnjoying others' successWhy she doesn't have a Costco membership Connect with Christy on Bluesky @cclim.bsky.social or at christyclimenhage.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Christy Climenhage, the author of the brand new science fiction thriller “The Midnight Project,” a tale of equal parts hope and horror set in the near future where humanity and the climate are on the verge of collapse, focused on two scientists and friends who are charged with designing a new kind of human.“The Midnight Project” is Christy's first novel, and it was amazing to talk with Christy at this moment when she's first becoming a published novelist. We covered: Combining interests (in Christie's case, being a news junkie and science fiction fan)What Cli-Fi is and why it's not necessarily scaryThe question she asked herself that got her to finally write the novel she'd been thinking about for 10 yearsThe schedule she created that kept her on trackThe rewards of a consistent schedule (even if it's not everyday)Sending 20 queries and getting 20 rejectionsThe joy of finding your writing communityConnect with Christy on Bluesky @cclim.bsky.social or at christyclimenhage.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part three of the Finding the Throughline interview with Amy Shearn, the award-winning author of five critically-acclaimed novels, including her latest book which just came out, “Animal Instinct.” Amy has also published hundreds of essays in publications like Real Simple, “O: The Oprah Magazine”, and the “New York Times” Modern Love column and has nearly twenty years of experience editing for digital publications. Amy also teaches creative writing and works one on one with writers as an editor and/or book coach. In today's episode, we cover:- How she refills her creative well after publishing and promoting a book- Why she's on a kick of reading writers' and artists' published journals- A sneak peek at the novel project she's diving into next- The three things on her to-do list for later in the afternoon that perfectly encapsulate her answer to my question “Is there anything you sense that you need to shift?”- A lovely vision of a rustic writing retreat/cat farm- The series that really had a hold on her- The recent album she's listened to so much she's forgotten about all other music Connect with Amy on Instagram @amyshearnwriters, Substack @amyshearn, or at amyshearnwriters.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Shearn, award-winning author of five novels. Her latest book, “Animal Instinct,” is about a 40-something newly divorced woman rediscovering her desires during the height of the COVID pandemic, and doing so both through her interactions with actual live humans and an AI chatbot she designed to compile all her favorite parts of actual live humans and none of the annoying, boring things–it's such a fun, thoughtful read. Amy also teaches creative writing and works one on one with writers as an editor and/or book coach. In this part of our interview, I ask Amy about the squishier side of writing–the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that shape your view and your work. We covered:- Reconciling the sensitivity and openness required to be a writer and the need to have a thick skin in order to share the work you so lovingly create- Why a three-star review is actually a sign of success- How teaching writing has helped her view her own inner critic differently- How to feel like you've done ‘enough' to promote your work–even if that's very hard to quantify- Her definition of a work's success–that it has taken on a life of its own- The best moment of her writing life that happened just last weekend!- What she's no longer afraid of now that she's 45-½- Why there is no formula for creativity Connect with Amy on Instagram @amyshearnwriters, Substack @amyshearn, or at amyshearnwriters.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm talking with Amy Shearn, the award-winning author of the critically-acclaimed novels “Dear Edna Sloane,” “Unseen City,” “The Mermaid of Brooklyn,” and “How Far Is the Ocean from Here.” Amy's newest novel is “Animal Instinct,” which follows a 40-something newly divorced woman re-entering the dating scene and reconnecting with her desires during the social isolation of COVID lockdowns. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it "delightful and hilarious,” which I can co-sign–despite its pandemic backdrop, which might sound like it could be stressful, this is a book I look forward to reading each night because I know it will take my mind off my worry du jour and give me a lot to think about while also being a ton of fun.Amy has nearly twenty years experience as an editor for digital publications, has published hundreds of essays for places including New York Times' "Modern Love" column and The Rumpus, and she currently works one-on-one with writers as an editor and writing coach. We covered:- Her really insightful take on how loving reading as a kid can lead to wanting to be a writer (I hadn't thought of it in this way before)- The mix of calling and coercion that got her to think beyond writing novels to also penning personal essays- Making the shift to freelancing as an editor, teacher, and book coach (and away from working for a publication for her primary income source)- Matching your writing goals to the time you have available (as someone who needs to work full-time, whether as a freelancer or an employee)- How to keep yourself accountable to your writing goals when you don't have a deadline- Using a 50-50 parenting agreement post-divorce as an "every other weekend writing retreat" Connect with Amy on Instagram @amyshearnwriters, Substack @amyshearn, or at amyshearnwriters.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the final installment of my talk with Samuel Marquis, author of numerous books of history and historical fiction, including his newest, "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal," a non-fiction look at one of the most notorious “pirates” ever, who also happens to be Samuel's 9th great grandfather. We talked about: - A peek at his next book, about New York City in the 17th century- Looking to historical figures as role models–and why his is Abraham Lincoln- Why he wishes he could clone himself a la Michael Keaton in “Multiplicity”- Why he's done writing about World War II- The historical time period he wants to devote his next five books to- Balancing the drive for historical accuracy with a book that reads–and sells–well- The series he stayed up late to finish (surprise! It's historical)- His really tantalizing sounding ideal meal Connect with Samuel at samuelmarquisbooks.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part of my interview with Samuel Marquis, author of numerous books of history and historical fiction, including his newest, "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal."Samuel's previous book "'Blackbeard" won the Kirkus Reviews Book of the Year Award and his articles have been published in "History Central," "Writer's Digest," "The Lazy Historian," and "The Good Men Project," among other outlets.Today I'm talking with Samuel about what I call inner stuff–thought processes, internal dialogues, confidence–all that fun stuff!We covered:- Why villains are so fun to write (hint: it's not because they're evil)- Empathizing with folks who lived centuries ago and did things that we consider to be horrible today (like attending a public hanging on your wedding day, which Captain Kidd and his wife did)- His least favorite part of the writing process- Dealing with the nagging fear that you're not accurately portraying history- Looking for historical figures who were ahead of their time (because they make great characters)- Why Captain Kidd isn't the murderous pirate he was made out to be- Deciphering primary historical records–the handwriting, the different spellings (this was a really fun peek into the realities of writing about history)- Anchoring your research in the work of well-respected historians- How the idea that if you work hard things will come easily is a myth- Why he played competitive lacrosse until he was sixtyConnect with Samuel at samuelmarquisbooks.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm speaking with Samuel Marquis, author of twelve books that cross genres, including American nonfiction-history, historical fiction, and suspense books. Samuel's newest book, “Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal” comes out in May and is about Samuel's ninth great grandfather, legendary pirate Captain William Kidd. His other books include “Blackbeard: Birth of America,” a Kirkus Reviews Book of the Year, “Soldiers of Freedom,” and “Lions of the Desert.” All told, his books have over 25,000 Amazon and Goodreads reviews.By day, Samuel is a hydrogeologist and has served as an expert witness in several multimillion-dollar class action litigation cases about groundwater contamination.We covered:- Building what he calls a “hybrid career” out of multiple interests (science, history, and writing)- The similarities between science writing and literary historical writing- Letting your early work stink- Developing your own voice- The importance of resilience, because building a writing career is like “climbing mountain after mountain”- Really fascinating insight on how geology and history are intertwined, and how having a scientific mind helps write history- Infusing historical writing with character development- Making time for everything when you have two jobs and a family (“I'm just always busy”- Finding inspiration in your family treeConnect with Samuel at samuelmarquisbooks.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this third and final part of my interview with Katy Bowman, a biomechanist and leader of the “movement” movement, we get a peek at her next project, the life changes she's envisioning, and what she learns from birds. (This episode is a re-broadcast, in honor of the release of “I Know I Should Exercise, But…”) We covered: - The author who inspired Katy to think about living life differently - Her desire to write a more beautiful book - The connection between clutter and creativity, and why she's staring to work on getting rid of physical things and clear obligations out of her schedule, too - Why clutter is a hindrance to creative work - Her family's mission statement - The recent book she picked up in an airport and ended up staying up until 4am to finish - Exactly what goes in her morning beverage and exactly when she drinks it - Why 5:30 am is her favorite time of day - A plug for checking out the "dawn chorus", i.e., listening to birds in the morning and learning a little bit about what those early morning songs are communicating Visit Katy at nutritiousmovement.com or follow her on Instagram @nutritiousmovement For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Big thanks to our sponsor, AquaTru.com. Use promo code KATE to save 20% off a reverse osmosis water filter and support this podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest, biomechanist Katu Bowman, is the author of 12 books on movement, including the bestselling “Move Your DNA” and her most recent book, “ I Know I Should Exercise, But...” Katy is also the founder of Uphill Press, an independent publishing company that has sold more than 300 ,000 copies of its books and had them published in 16 languages. Today we're talking about all the inner stuff that goes into Katy's writing, the thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, likes, dislikes, resistance, et cetera, including: - Why she'd rather start a new project than promote a project that is already finished - How remembering that writing books is an opportunity for her to process her knowledge helps her not get too wrapped up in how well a book is received - The similarities between non-constructive feedback and farts - What she tells herself when her inner critic is chiming in - Unhitching your age from how you feel in your body - How getting older has impacted her creative urgency and output - The self-care approach that helps her choose what to eat, understand the way her mind works, and even introduced her to her husban (This episode is a re-broadcast, in honor of the release of “I Know I Should Exercise, But…”) Visit Katy at nutritiousmovement.com or follow her on Instagram @nutritiousmovement. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Big thanks to our sponsor, AquaTru.com. Use promo code KATE to save 20% off a reverse osmosis water filter and support this podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is biomechanist Katy Bowman, author of twelve–count ‘em, twelve–books that explore how to improve health and boost well-being through movement, including the best-selling “Move Your DNA,” as well as her newest, “I Know I Should Exercise, But….” Her back catalog includes “My Perfect Movement Plan,” “Rethink Your Position,” “Movement Matters,” “Dynamic Aging,” “Grow Wild,” “Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief,” “Diastasis Recti,” “Don't Just Sit There,” “Whole Body Barefoot,” and “Alignment Matters.” In fact, Katy has published so many books that she founded her own independent press, Uphill Books. She has also been named one of Maria Shriver's Architects of Change for her work to change the way we move and understand our need for movement, and is the founder of the movement education company Nutritious Movement, based in Washington state, where she lives. (This episode is a re-broadcast, in honor of the release of “I Know I Should Exercise, But…”) We covered: - How writing a book is really an exercise in processing everything she's learned for herself (in addition to being a way to communicate information) - Finding the kind of writing that feels like a downhill flow instead of an uphill slog - Matching your output to your phase of life - How to find the quiet you need to write in a noisy world - Balancing the necessity and allure of technology with a hunger for real-world, in person, nourishing experiences (what she calls “nutrient-dense” experiences) - How she works movement into her writing process - How walking boosts creativity - How she makes the most of her mornings (and why she doesn't have coffee until she's done this one thing each morning) Visit Katy at nutritiousmovement.com or follow her on Instagram @nutritiousmovement. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Big thanks to our sponsor, AquaTru.com. Use promo code KATE to save 20% off a reverse osmosis water filter and support this podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final installment of my talk with Allegra Goodman, author of the newly released novel, “Isola,” a historical novel about a young French woman purposefully marooned on an island off the coast of Quebec inspired by true 16th century events, we find out what's currently brewing for Allegra and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately. We talked about: - The nonfiction book she currently stayed up too late reading - An amazing story about how her mother stood up for herself in the 1970s–and how that example inspires Allegra to this day - A sneak peek at her next book, which is currently in the copy editing phase - Her dreams for her work in the next ten years (super inspiring!) - The historical novel she carried around with her so she could read whenever she had a few quiet minutes - The very specific snack that keeps her going - The Maggie Rogers song that she feels captures the essence of Isola Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of my interview with Allegra Goodman, author of the recent Reese's Book Club selection, “Isola” as well as “Sam,” “The Chalk Artist,” “Intuition,” “The Cookbook Collector,” “Paradise Park,” and “Katterskill Falls.” Today, I'm talking with Allegra about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that influence your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. - How she thinks of being a writer like being a performer “in the theater of a reader's imagination” - Why starting a new project is the hardest part–and how she gets herself through it - How she trusts her inner critic to offer constructive criticism - The one part of the writing process that really makes her nervous - How she got past being pigeon-holed as a writer of a certain genre and built a career on writing many different types of stories - Making the shift from being intimidated by studying the great works of literature to being inspired by them - Why now is the best time of her career - How living to be older than her mother was when she died influences Allegra's work and her life - How it's OK to have multiple different voices as a writer Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm thrilled to be talking with Allegra Goodman, author of numerous novels including her newest, “Isola,” which was a Reese's book club selection, and her first, “Katterskill Falls,” which was a National Book Award finalist. Allegra also wrote two story collections, “The Family Markowitz” and “Total Immersion,” as well as a novel for younger readers, “The Other Side of the Island.” Allegra's fiction has appeared in “The New Yorker” and has been anthologized in “O. Henry Awards” and “Best American Short Stories.” She was raised in Honolulu and now lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. We covered: - Getting published for the first time as a freshman in college by an encouraging editor who “discovered” her - How it's a love of writing, and not a drive to be published, that will sustain you over the long-term - Learning to build patience and endurance when going from writing short stories to writing novels - Her case for setting very low daily writing goals - Why she doesn't ascribe to the “shitty first draft” school of thought - Her daily and weekly writing routines - How having grown children makes those routines possible - Why she only works on shorter pieces one day per week - The specific times when she'll listen to a podcast—and when she'll choose to keep her ears podcast-free - The nightly ritual that helps her get started on work the next day - How non-digital activities feed her creative process - The benefits and mechanics of writing two books at the same time Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of the Finding the Through Line interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” I discovered Jane through her Substack newsletter called Jane's Calamity, where she writes about being a writer, aging, failing at mindfulness and having too much Tupperware among other things. Today, we're going to find out what's currently brewing for Jane and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately. - Moment of respect for creatives who are doing work in multiple genres - The beauty of a personal writing retreat - Figuring out the recurring themes in your work (which can only happen when you continue to produce work!) - The link between majoring in anthropology and becoming a novelist - Preparing mentally for her twins to leave home and go to college - The (perhaps unlikely) dream: Letting go of the copywriting work - The Netflix series she devoured - An ode to half-caff coffee - The 10,000 calorie meal she'd request if someone wanted to dazzle her tastebuds Connect with Jane at janeroper.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's part two of my interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” Today I'm talking with Jane about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work. - How reading her own work used to be embarrassing, and how she got over it - Feeling like the worst person in the MFA program - When your inner critic tells you your work is shallow - The quotes she's written on Post-It notes that are hanging above her desk and help talk her through crises of confidence - Feeling like the silliest person in the room - Letting go of the idea that one day you'll “make it” and then everything will flow - Realizing there's no award for doing things perfectly and letting go of that drive to be a super-achiever - How letting go of some body issues also freed up her work self Connect with Jane at janeroper.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Jane Roper, author of a novel, “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and the memoir “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” Jane's essays and humor have appeared in places like Salon, McSweeney's, Poets and Writers, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. And it's been included in the anthology, “Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today's Best Women Writers.” Jane is also a freelance copywriter and brand strategist. A graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, Jane currently lives just north of Boston in a drafty Victorian with her husband, teenage twins, and two cats. We covered: - Figuring out that humor was part of her writing skillset - Finding the right mix of copywriting work and more creative writing - Why hiking and indoor rock-climbing are key parts of her writing practice - Her plug for writing every day (even for 12 minutes) - Resisting the urge to beat yourself up after your writing is rejected - Why she doesn't check social media or email in the morning - Getting to the point in parenting where family time is more joy, less hustle Connect with Jane at janeroper.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories. Her work has been supported by fellowships from McDowell, Yaddo, and other residencies in Grants, and she was a Tennessee Williams scholar in fiction at the Sewanee Writers Conference. Today we find out what's currently brewing for Paula and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, We covered: - The upside of winter - Why she's looking for American kestrels (a small raptor) every morning - A longing for sheep - Getting less frustrated by setbacks - The books she stays up late reading with a flashlight so as not to wake her husband Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com. There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part two of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop,” in which she documents her attempt to restore 200 acres of retired farmland while wearing the wrong footwear, getting conflicting advice, and having essentially no idea what she's gotten herself into, but finding her way through it anyway. Today I'm talking with Paula about what I call inner stuff, trying to bring the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work out into the light. We unpacked: - Making the switch from fiction to non-fiction–and how that changes the conversations you have with readers to be less about the work, and more about you - How working as an editor can make writing harder - Allowing yourself to blurt, stare off into space, meander, and walk away - Editing and revising as procrastination - How writing about failure is more interesting than writing about success - Staying active and strong as you get older - A love letter to scientists - Why planting native plants in your yard is so impactful - Her favorite cheesy 70s songs Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com. There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Paula Wyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's book is a blend of memoir, natural history, and conservation science, and it's a chronicle of her attempts to restore 200 acres of farmland long gone to seed in the Blue Ridge Mountains, despite the fact that she never excelled at gardening. Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories that won praise from “The New Yorker” and a starred review in “Publishers Weekly.” Paula's stories have appeared in “McSweeney's Quarterly,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Southampton Review,” and her nonfiction has been featured on NPR, in “The Washington Post”, and “The Rumpus,” among other places. We covered: - How having a pet praying mantis as a kid is directly related to her naturalist exploits - In praise of doing deep dives into random subjects - How a manageable dream of restoring a small meadow to its natural state ballooned into rehabbing a 200-acre mountaintop - The novel she was writing that she can't even remember what it was about now - How hearing a young Howard Stern shaped her career path - The power of doing deep dives - Turning scribbles and bad doodles into a book - A plug for using the writing software Scrivener Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com. There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of the brand new book “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City that is inspired by both Cynthia's own upbringing on the Upper East Side during the 80s and the infamous Preppy Killer. Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City and her short fiction has been published in “Open City,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Sun,” has earned a Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in Coolest American Stories 2024. We covered: - The 90s soundtrack that's helping Cynthia get into her next project (which is set in the 90s) - The three writers whose example inspires Cynthia on her own path - Her burning desire to have a house with a yard and, most importantly, a tree - The Max show she's bingeing, her elaborate daily diet soda ritual, the best day of the week, and the fast food meal she's craving Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of a hot-off-the-presses coming-of-age-novel, “A Gorgeous Excitement,” we cover what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. We unpacked: - Learning how to tolerate the discomfort of sharing your work - And how to ignore the voice that tells you nobody cares what you have to say - How she came to imagine that inner critical voice as a “shit bird” - Why she could work on one sentence for years - Why she'd rather stay home than travel some place new - How getting older has made her a better writer (and a worse sleeper) - How she's re-wired the idea that it's bad to draw attention to yourself Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm talking with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City. “A Gorgeous Excitement” is inspired by Cynthia's own 80s upbringing on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as the infamous Preppy Killer, a former prep school student who killed a girl in Central Park in the summer of 1986 and who frequented a bar called Dorian's, where Cynthia spent many nights drinking with friends. Her work has won the Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in the Coolest American Stories. Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City where, fun fact, I took classes with her in the early 2000s. We covered: - The award she won in second grade that hooked her on the writing life - How she stumbled into teaching writing - Writing as a “weird compulsion” - The plus sides of working on a novel for nearly 10 years - The daily rituals that help her write - The time management technique that helps her get unstuck - Why catching up with a friend helps her write - How living a boring life leaves more space for the work Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we come up on the end of the year AND this podcast's one-year anniversary, I wanted to share the things from the last six months of interviews that are still sticking with me--a little tour of the a-ha moments and insights that have made a lasting impression. It's a little walk down memory lane, a little like re-reading your journal well after the fact. I also have some news to share and a teeny tiny but very meaningful request to make. PLUS, if you have a writer you'd like me to interview--maybe it's you!--you can message me on Substack (search for Finding the Throughline) or email me at kate@katehanley.com. Thank you as ever for listening! And, this is your last chance to take advantage of my discount code on AirDoctor air purifiers, which work amazingly well at filtering out all kinds of icky things so your lungs don't have to and are whisper quiet. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the Finding the Throughline interview with Laura Belgray, author of the national bestseller Tough Titties, a collection of essays that is essentially a permission slip to be a dork, a sometimes-unspiritual slacker, a late bloomer and, ultimately, unapologetically you. Laura is the founder of Talking Shrimp and co-creator of The Copy Cure with Marie Forleo. She has been featured in Elle, Fast Company, and Business Insider, and has written for Bravo, HBO, Nick at Nite, VH1, and more. Today, we find out what's currently brewing for Laura and what she knows at this moment about where her personal throughline is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching and listening to lately We covered: • Crawling out of a pit of despair after the election results • Continuing to build her email list in the modern world where there are so many more things vying for our attention • How she is not a visionary or planner—yet has achieved many amazing things anyway • David Sedaris as the author who first introduced her to a genre/structure of book that is a collection of essays and also memoir. • Her love of fiction and lack of confidence she will be able to write one someday, though she would love to • How she would love to win Powerball so she could write whatever she wants • How she wouldn't have written a fraction of what she'd written if she didn't write as a way to eat and make money • Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufy Thorpe--the last book that she could not put down. • Spaghettini pomodoro at Scarpetta, with plenty of extra butter Connect with Laura at talkingshrimp.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the second part of my conversation with guest Laura Belgray, author of “Tough Titties,” a hilarious, bestselling collection of NYC-flavored life lessons that Laura's own husband calls a “loser Sex and the City.” Today I'm talking with Laura about what I call inner stuff–the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it We covered: • How writing a book was one of the hardest things she's ever done professionally • The tough feedback her editor initially gave her • The aftermath of the criticism that led to crying, pacing, and writer's block • A friend's metaphor of mountain climbing helped her to start working on her book • The experience of dealing with anxiety and people pleasing tendencies when writing a memoir • The dangers of self-comparison which can lead to despair and nonproductivity • Learning to borrow from authors she loves without trying to be them or feel disappointed because she doesn't have the exact same talents they have in the same way Connect with Laura at talkingshrimp.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Laura Belgray, author of the national bestseller Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You're the F-ing Worst. Laura is also an internet-famous copywriter, founder of Talking Shrimp, and co-creator, with Marie Forleo, of The Copy Cure. Laura started her writing career at Spy Magazine, New York Magazine, and then VH1 before starting her own copywriting and teaching business almost by accident. That business went on to earn a million dollars the year she turned 50–an achievement Laura wrote about for “Business Insider.” Fun fact: Laura taught Sherman Helmsley, aka George Jefferson from The Jeffersons, how to moonwalk. We covered: • How she finagled a job for herself that involved her watching a lot of TV (one of her favorite things to do) • Why getting paid to ‘'write emails to friends'' is her dream job • How inspiration comes from writing--not the other way around • The magical powers of writing on the fly • Her morning routine which includes iced coffee, a walk outside, and dicking around • The website she swears by to get her writing every day • How she deals with bouts of talker's block on social media Connect with Laura at talkingshrimp.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final part of my conversation with Susan Merrell (author of Shirley: A Novel, teacher in the MFA in Creative Writing & Literature at the Lichtenstein Center of Stony Brook Southampton, and co-creator, with the novelist Meg Wolitzer, of the BookEnds Fellowship novel revision program) we talk about where her personal throughline is leading her next and she shares how she's been writing two different books for the last eight years (OMG). We covered: • Her two current book projects: one about a man haunted by a story he's read and another about living full-time in a “vacation town” thought to be abandoned in winter • Real estate privilege • The books she includes on her writing syllabus and why • Finding inspiration in everything, including cereal boxes • Giving up the plum nature of her current life vs chasing the dream. • Her friend's philosophy—whatever move you make tends to be the one your feet took you to • Why silence is her pick-me-up of choice • Her friend's magnificent roasted chicken Connect with Susan at susanscarfmerrell.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this second part of my interview with Susan Merrell, author of Shirley: A Novel, teacher in the MFA in Creative Writing & Literature at the Lichtenstein Center of Stony Brook Southampton, and co-creator, with the novelist Meg Wolitzer, of the BookEnds Fellowship novel revision program, we talk about what I call inner stuff–the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. We covered: • Really cool, serendipitous story about how she came to write a novel about the iconic American writer, Shirley Jackson • How she deals with her inner Achilles heel: shame • Meditation as the answer to everything • How the need for validation drives many writers to produce more (this was truly fascination and made me think, hmm, maybe I just don't have a drive for validation, and maybe that's not a good thing?) • How teaching students makes her feel ‘'ridiculously happy'' • How the publishing industry doesn't necessarily support the right books Connect with Susan at susanscarfmerrell.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Susan Scarf Merrell, author of Shirley: A Novel, which became a major motion picture. She's also the author of A Member of the Family, and The Accidental Bond: How Sibling Connections Influence Adult Relationships. Susan teaches in the MFA in Creative Writing & Literature at the Lichtenstein Center of Stony Brook Southampton, and she is the co-creator, with the novelist Meg Wolitzer, of the BookEnds Fellowship novel revision program. Susan's essays, book reviews and short fiction have appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Washington Post. Fun fact: she brushed her hair and changed out of her sweatshirt for this interview, which inspired me to do the same! We covered: • How she first became a published author as a child • Her mother (Maggie Scarf), a psychology journalist who worked on books about Antarctica and Jane Goodall • Her alternative fantasies to writing, like being a swimmer or opening a bakery • How she was a copy editor in the right place at the right time and talked her way into a job as a research professor which eventually earned her a tenured position • The value of a what she calls a vomit draft • How a lot of the times she's working on her writing, she's not actually sitting at a desk and writing—she's baking, or walking, or swimming Connect with Susan at susanscarfmerrell.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final installment of the Finding the Throughline interview with James Beard Award-nominated journalist Hannah Selinger (whose book, Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, will be released in 2025 and is available for pre-order now), we talk about what's coming up next for her as well as what she's been reading, watching, and eating, including: - The badass Martha Stewart documentary - “Health and Safety,” a memoir by Emily Witt, staff writer at “The New Yorker” - Her invention of the term #Scandivol - How “The Real Housewives” series rope you in - Her best friend who gives her major writer's envy - Her goal to get off the hamster wheel of freelance - Why she hopes her book “Cellar Rat” will piss people off - The most pleasurable books she read this year - An ode to French vanilla coffee creamer, McDonald's french fries, and the Indigo Girls Connect with Hannah at https://www.hannahselinger.net/ or on Instagram @druishamericanprincess. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to my interview with Hannah Selinger–James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle journalist, Certified Sommelier, about-to-be memoirist, and–surprise!-someone who just sold her first novel. In this episode we really get into the nitty gritty of the mindset it takes to build a career as a journalist and author. We covered: The amazing feeling that happens when a longer piece of writing falls into place How starting the actual writing or a new piece gives her the heebie jeebies Fighting imposter syndrome after reading another writer's stellar work Loudmouth troll shitposting on Instagram The devolution of journalism and how to navigate it Scraping by at lousier pay rates, and the enormous stack of W2s it generates The fallacy of people telling her it wasn't possible to make a living as a writer Staying afloat in an industry that frequently experiences large scale layoffs Yes, Virginia, you can sell a novel to a publisher Connect with Hannah at https://www.hannahselinger.net/ or on Instagram @druishamericanprincess. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Hannah Selinger, a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle journalist who is also a Certified Sommelier. Hannah's work has appeared in a long list of prestigious places, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Wine Enthusiast, Al Jazeera, and more. Her book Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, will be released in 2025 (and it's available for pre-order now). Fun fact: Hannah has traveled to 25 countries and currently lives in Boxford, Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, two dogs, and one Russian tortoise. We covered: The sad tale of woe that happened when one of Hannah's family tortoises got sick and died How taking a gap year after graduating from college led Hannah to work in restaurants for a decade Why she decided to become a certified sommelier Creating imaginary restaurants to put on her resume in order to land a job at a Bobby Flay restaurant What it felt like to have a piece published in the NY Times Modern Love column How getting that prestigious clip did NOT magically result in her getting an agent How the task of making a living as a writer is so very different from the artful, leisurely writing romanticized in graduate school How many of her dreams that seemed completely delusional ended up coming true–10 years later. How she partners with PR agencies to generate story ideas Her personal essay about being an American Jew who is against the war in Gaza that's coming out on EatingWell.com in a few weeks Starting the morning with a pitch Connect with Hannah at https://www.hannahselinger.net/ or on Instagram @druishamericanprincess. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final part of my interview with Antonia Angress, author of "Sirens & Muses," we peek at what's coming around the bend for her and I get her answers to my fast five questions. (Note–this episode is a replay. We'll be back to new episodes next week, yay!) We talked about: - The novels about motherhood Antonia is reading to prepare for when her baby is born - The pressure on young women authors to be likable, available, and approachable - The two writers Antonia looks to for inspiration on being successful while “resisting the machinations of publicity that can devour you” - Getting better at not squandering time, vacuuming the rugs - The Pulitzer finalist Antonia devoured in a couple of days - What it's like when your husband becomes a Swiftie in his 30s, when you've been on board since your teens For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

n this episode I'm talking with Antonia Angress, author of “Sirens & Muses” and a 2024 NEA Creative Writing Fellow about the squishier side of creativity–the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. (Note–this episode is a replay. We'll be back to new episodes next week, yay!) - The part of the writing process that Antonia relishes - The specific point in the book-writing process where Antonia focuses on making her sentences pretty - How she only kept “a few paragraphs” from the first draft of her second novel (!!) - Adapting to the public speaking portion of being a writer - The thing her graduate school professor told her when she was halfway through writing her first novel and having a crisis of confidence - The two things that can happen after her inner critic has told her the stuff she's writing is no good - How she views her first novel, looking back - The “toxic narrative” about how you have to suffer for your art - Continually working to be OK with resting (especially as an about-to-be mother) - Antonia's plug for therapy For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I am talking to writer Antonia Angress. Antonia is the author of "Sirens & Muses," which starts off as a campus novel set at a New England art school, but then blooms into an exploration of the intersection of home and belonging versus individualism and seeking to stand out, set in the New York City art scene during the Occupy Wall Street era. "Sirens & Muses" was named one of the best books of the year by Glamour Magazine and won the Minnesota Book Award, and Antonia was recently named one of the NEA's 2024 Creative Writing Fellows. I loved the book and I love that I get to ask Antonia my list of mildly invasive questions about why and how she does her particular creative work. (Note–this episode is a replay. We'll be back to new episodes next week, yay!) We covered: - The advice she gives about the stuff you write that you end up deleting - The fact that publishing a book “really doesn't change your life” - The importance of that feeling of being alone with your work - The daily writing goal that keeps Antonia going (spoiler: it's very small) - How she manages her ‘internet junk food' diet - The practice that gets her ready to write - What motivational phrase is on the Post-It note above her computer For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final part of my interview with Palestinian-American, award-nominated memoirist, Nada Samih-Rotondo, we covered: - A preview of her second memoir, which has a central theme of earthquakes, both the geological variety and the personal kind (it sounds amazing I cannot wait) - The allure of folk tales and fairy tales - The joy of going down a research wormhole - Nada's current obsessions–turtle migration, and early African-American history in Rhode Island - Getting over the very human desire for external validation - Nada's beautiful vision of a free Palestine - The YA novels Nada can't put down - Oat milk matcha lattes (and why Nada hope they give her a green mustache at the coffeeshop) - The perfection of a Sunday morning and navigating the kitchen when you're the only parent home - Nada's favorite Palestinian dish (come to full show notes on Substack for a link) For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I'm talking with Nada about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it, including: - How her least favorite part of writing (sharing her work) becoming her most favorite part - The type of reader feedback that fills her heart and lights her up and fuels her to create - Feeling out of step with the world–and being OK with that - Being the only Arab kid around in the 90s - Nada's plea–that we wake up from the collective illusion of separateness - Finding points of connection, particularly with people you disagree with - Astrology talk! (She's an Aries sun with a Pisces moon–equal parts ready to charge into a fight and to contemplate quantum physics.) For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Nada Samih-Rotondo, a multi-genre Palestinian-American writer, teacher, and mother, who recently published her first book, a memoir called All Water Has Perfect Memory, which has been shortlisted for the 2024 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, Nada immigrated to the U.S. at the age of six to Rhode Island. Her work has been published in the The Master's Review, Squat! Birth Journal, and Gulfstream Literary Magazine. We talk about: - How Nada started writing her novel during the pandemic while teaching from home and homeschooling three kids - Developing patience with the publishing process - Reading as a vital part of feeding your creativity - Writing in coffee shops (especially when you have kids) Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning–there's at least one swear word in today's episode and it's coming up quick. If you're listening with sensitive ears--either yours or someone else's--within earshot, this is your heads up. My guest this week is award-winning journalist and author, Paulette Perhach. Paulette has written two essays that have gone viral, including “A Story of a Fuck Off Fund,” which was included in the anthology Freshman Year of Life. Paulette is also the author of the book “Welcome to the Writer's Life,” host of a virtual writing salon that's called A Very Important Meeting, and a one-on-one writing coach. We talked about: - Her semi-famous roommate in NYC (where she moved two months ago) - Why people who are making their way outside the corporate world are her heroes - Why she's planning to quit ghostwriting and make all her money from her own writing and programs - The gift she received from a client that has her rethinking her revenue streams - Dealing with the loss that can accompany transformation - How practical jokes relate to her desire to earn more money - The series she's re-watching - The best sound in the world Connect with Paulette at pauletteperhach.com or on Instagram @paulettejperhach. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is award-winning journalist and author of the book “Welcome to the Writer's Life,” Paulette Perhach. Paulett's work has appeared in The New York Times, Elle, and Slate, among many other places. She also hosts a virtual writing salon called A Very Important Meeting, teaches many online writing classes, and works with folks one-on-one as a writing coach. We talked about: - How being a Peace Corps volunteer is like being the village idiot, and why that's a good thing - Acclimating yourself to the vulnerability of writing (sometimes very) personal stories - Thinking about the long tail of having your work findable on the Internet and the possible ramifications of that - The link between ADHD and financial (mis)management - Getting over the idea that if you don't have a degree in English literature, you're not qualified to be a writer - Getting more stuff done when you approach your work with self-love rather than self-flagellation - The website that's like eBay for businesses that reminds her life could still go in a lot of different directions - Why she thinks the shows Californication and Sex and the City are harmful to wannabe writers - The wild story of how she figured out she had ADHD, and how that diagnosis has changed her reality - Her class for writers with ADHD Connect with Paulette at pauletteperhach.com or on Instagram @paulettejperhach. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is award-winning journalist and author, Paulette Perhach. Paulett's work has appeared in The New York Times, Elle, and Slate, among other places, and she's written two essays that have gone viral, including “A Story of a Fuck-Off Fund,” which was included in the anthology Freshman Year of Life. Paulette helps others make their way as writers, with her book about writing, called Welcome to the Writer's Life; her five-time-a-week virtual writing salon that's called A Very Important Meeting; various online writing classes; and as a one-on-one writing coach. Fun fact, Paulette keeps a running list of her rejections NOT receive her MFA from Iowa, Columbia or Syracuse. We covered: - Balancing being a writing teacher and coach with also being a working writer - The writer's software she created as a direct response to having ADHD - How joining the Peace Corps shaped her as a writer - Continuing to dream bigger - What it's like to have an essay go viral - The software she developed to help writers get organized - Her tips and tricks for making sure you do your writing–and more importantly, finish your writing - How she outsmarts her fear - The importance of tracking your writing metrics - The trick to setting deadlines for yourself that you'll actually honor - Why Paulette might be the next Weird Al - The writer's conference Paulette never misses (I had never heard of it! Meet you there?) - A rundown of all the writing tools she uses, from software to notebooks Connect with Paulette at pauletteperhach.com or on Instagram @paulettejperhach. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my talk with historian Kenneth C. Davis, New York Times bestselling author of “America's Hidden History,” “Don't Know Much About History,” a whole series of “Don't Know Much About” books. As part of his mission to get more people to read more books, Kenneth has just published THE WORLD IN BOOKS: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction – a curated journey through fifty-two of the most significant short nonfiction works ever penned, from ancient times to the present day. We talked about: - What determines whether Ken has had a good day or a bad day - Learning Italian with his wife, and the many, many doors it has opened in their lives - The well-known historical author who taught Ken that history is about humanity, and not just dates and battles - Why Italy plays such a big role in his plans for the future - The HBO series he and his wife can't stop binge watching - Ken's recipe for the perfect cup of coffee (Italian roast, of course) Connect with Ken at https://dontknowmuch.com/. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part 2 of my interview with Kenneth C. Davis, author of the brand new book THE WORLD IN BOOKS: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction – a curated journey through fifty-two of the most significant short nonfiction works ever penned, from ancient times to the present day. Kenneth is also the author of Don't Know Much About® History, which spent 35 consecutive weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and gave rise to the Don't Know Much About® series of books and audios, which has a combined in-print total of some 4.7-million copies. We covered: - How the editing process reminds him of the myth of Sisyphus - Why his inner critic sounds a lot like Joseph Conrad and E.B. White - A chills-inducing pep talk for reading - The harm caused by the idea of American exceptionalism - Re-examining American's history through a lens of equity - Comparing our current political climate to 1968 and drawing parallels Connect with Ken at https://dontknowmuch.com/. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today my guest is historian Kenneth C. Davis, New York Times bestselling author of “America's Hidden History,” “Don't Know Much About History,” and a whole series of “Don't Know Much About” books, proving that Americans don't hate history — they just hate the dull version they slept through in class. As part of his mission to get more people to read more books, Kenneth has just published THE WORLD IN BOOKS: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction – a curated journey through fifty-two of the most significant short nonfiction works ever penned, from ancient times to the present day. We covered: - A quick history of the paperback–how did I not know this?? - The amazing line a bookstore co-worker told him that changed his life - The family roadtrips to historical places he took as a kid that made history come alive for him, and how he strives to do the same thing for others in her books - Great, succinct reason why books matter - The morning routine that launches him into writing each day - A peek at what it's like for a writer to be married to an editor Connect with Ken at https://dontknowmuch.com/. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part 3 of my interview with Jeremey Dauber, a processor of Jewish literature and American studies at Columbia University and the author of the new book "American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond,” which chronicles the rise and enduring grip of fear and horror throughout American culture and American history. As “J.A. Dauber,” he is also the author of the YA novel "Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain," and his new middle grade novel, currently titled "Press 1 For 1nvasion," is coming out in 2025. In this final installment, we talked about: - The seminar he's teaching in the spring that's giving him a great excuse to watch shows and movies set in the 1980s (with lots of recommendations) - The two Stephens whose bodies of work inspire him - His thoughts on how to “re-enchant” students and the world on the humanities - The BBC show and his wife can't stop watching once they start - The niche music genre he listens to when he wants to get psyched up - The gameshow mash-up he'd like to see For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to my interview with cultural historian and Columbia professor Jeremy Dauber, author of the newly released book "American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond." As “J.A. Dauber,” he is also the author of the YA novel "Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain," and a new middle grade novel, currently titled "Press 1 For 1nvasion," that will come out next year. Today I'm talking with Jeremy about what I call inner stuff–the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. We covered: - Finding the right balance of being comprehensive and not overwhelming–or boring–the reader - The parts of publishing a book that get easier the more you do it - The privilege of working in a field where you can keep getting better and better (as opposed to, say, baseball, where your performance will peak) - Some frank talk about how parenting impacts your work (loved hearing this from a man!) - A plug for offering babysitting at conferences and not holding events during the dinner hour - Taking aim at the myth of the creative genius, and that good work just flows - And while we're at it, debunking the myth of the difficult genius For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Dauber, author of the newly released book "American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond” and professor of Jewish literature and American studies at Columbia University. As “J.A. Dauber,” he is also the author of the YA novel "Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain," and his new middle grade novel, currently titled "Press 1 For 1nvasion," will be published next year. We covered: - The childhood obsession with aliens and ghost stories that never went away - The key career advice he got from the former head of DC Comics - Approaching your career as if you were cross-training at the gym - How teaching helps him as a writer - Why he loves writing YA more than contemporary adult fiction - How he's come to embrace the revision process - Reframing failure as a lack of success - Why he's in the “write every day” camp - The nicest compliment he got from an editor - Why he tries to stop writing for the day in the middle of a scene or a thought, and not at the end For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the Finding the Throughline interview with Vanessa Lillie, whose books include “Little Voices”, “For the Best,” and her newest book “Blood Sisters” and co-author Young Rich Widows as well as its sequel which is coming out next year, Desperate Deadly Widows. In this final installment of our interview, we talk about where her current throughline is leading her next. Why she's so excited about Indigenous storytelling right now Many recommendations for books, shows, and movies by Indigenous creators A preview of her sequel to “Blood Sisters” Her forays into screenwriting How you get more rejection once you're in the door Keeping an open mind and being very open to failing The Netflix feminist thriller she stayed up too late watching A recipe for bomster scallops that I will be trying Connect with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessalillie For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Finding the Throughline: Conversations about the Creative Process where today's guest is thriller author Vanessa Lillie, whose books include “Little Voices”, “For the Best,” and her newest book “Blood Sisters,” a thriller about two missing Indigenous women and the Cherokee archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs who is searching for them which was a Good Morning America Buzz Pick and USA Today national bestseller. She's also the co-author of a fun 80s mystery romp “Young Rich Widows” as well as its sequel which is coming out next year, “Desperate Deadly Widows.” An Oklahoma native, Vanessa is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma living on Narragansett land in Rhode Island. Today I'm talking with Vanessa about the mindset side of writing, or what I call inner stuff–the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it, including: - Fighting erasure by weaving her family's story into her books - The thrill and the total fear of writing about your culture and worrying about getting it wrong - How Vanessa steadies herself when that anxiety crops up - Embracing the challenge of writing a page turner - Dealing with the fear that your current work isn't as good as your previous work - Seeing ideas as a butterfly that come and sit on your shoulder (from Elizabeth Gilbert's book “Big Magic” - Why it's so vital to get clear on why you are the right person to tell this story - Why being in her 40s feels like such a relief - Some frank talk about early motherhood–and why it was a theme in her first novel - Letting go of the idea that your success is within your control Connect with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessalillie For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices