Two writers, Shawn Smucker and Maile Silva, married to each other, explore the highs and lows of creativity, publishing, and the writing life.
Listeners of The Stories Between Us that love the show mention: writing life, great encouragement, published, homeschool, love the honesty, writers, candid, struggles, parenting, encouraged, regardless, dreams, vulnerable, encouraging, coffee, mom, creative, experiences, wife, relatable.
Today, Maile and Shawn talk about entering a new stage of life and how it's led them into a season of paring back on various things...including the podcast. Also, if you're a writer, do you ever have permission to simply quit writing? We love you all. Thanks for listening.
Today we talk with Kate Motaung about the emotional investment of writing a memoir, why she's chosen to self-publish a few of her books, and red flags that might lead her to encourage someone not to self-publish...at least not yet. Kate really is a wise and encouraging voice in the publishing world. For more about Kate, head over to her website.
Today we're talking with Jennifer Grant, author of the best-selling children's book, Maybe God is Like That Too and Finding Calm in Nature. She talks about all the anxiety kids live with these days--division, sorrow, and loss--and the healing and soothing power of nature.
"If I'm not able to make a living by writing...do I quit writing?" Today, in the second part of our conversation with Douglas McKelvey, we explore the idea of writing only for the money . . . and how that can quickly go sideways. We also talk about how, when he ended up doing small side jobs just to pay the bills, he ended up asking himself the question above, and how he answered it.
In honor of the passing of our dear friend Leslie Bustard, whose memorial service is this coming weekend, we having compiled all three of the podcast episodes we recorded with her over the years. The first was recorded in February of 2021, the second in April of 2022, and the third in November of 2022. Leslie was an author, a reader, a publisher, and an encourager. As you'll find in these episodes, she was also someone who clung to hope. As Douglas McKelvey wrote of her, she was "a poet and a poem." It is a great honor to offer these three episodes to you as one episode today.
Do the things I believe hold up even in the worst circumstances? Today, we speak with author and song-writer Douglas McKelvey about some of our favorite authors, including Cormac McCarthy and William Gay, and whether or not the violence and darkness in them can have redemptive value. Doug is the author of Every Moment Holy. This is part one of our conversation.
Three weeks ago, Maile gave up eating sugar, and it's had a profound impact on her creativity. Which leads us to consider how addictions in general impact our ability to write, and the various ways we can get unstuck when our writing feels like its source has been blocked. Check out Seth Haines' books HERE.
Today Maile and I talk about our freelance life, the benefits and drawbacks of such a life, and why we keep trying to cobble together a life doing the thing that we love: telling stories. Also, how do you know when to abandon a difficult project and when to keep working? For Shawn's recent substack post on the same topic: Living a Life That Has No Rational Explanation
Today we talk with author Erin Bartels about why she waited seven years for a traditional publishing contract instead of self-publishing, how working for a publisher shaped her writing journey, and where she finds the time to do everything (hint: she doesn't). We also talk about what it's like writing books for Christian publishing houses when you're not sure your books fit in that niche. To find out more about Erin and her books, head over to her website.
What happens when a writer makes it into the publishing world...and then decides that kind of writing life isn't for them? Today we're talking with author Michelle Derusha about her journey through publishing, the highs of signing contracts for four traditionally published books...and what happens when our first forays into that world are marked by disappointment. She explains how publishing crushed her writing soul and how she rediscovered herself...by walking away and journeying back into the heart of who she is.
Why do I keep writing? When all of my greatest writing dreams and goals remain unfulfilled, why not call it a day and spend my time on something else...like curling, perhaps? Today Maile and I talk about a weekend spent with some of our favorite writer friends and how it feels to realize the first 30,000 words of a novel in progress aren't right (and facing a complete restart). We drill down into why we keep writing, even when our greatest hopes and dreams go unfulfilled. If you're wondering why you keep writing, why you keep creating, or if you're feeling discouraged about the creative journey you're on, this one's for you.
How does a poet become a poet? Here is one of the many roads available, and it's shared by extraordinary poet Malcolm Guite: deciding to be a poet as a young man, then becoming a teacher, then a priest, where for seven years he didn't write poetry. Then burnout. And a bishop who told him to take a sabbatical. We offer this episode with huge thanks to Square Halo Books. This was recorded in front of a live audience at their recent conference, where Malcolm Guite was the keynote speaker. Also, our online writing community at The Stories Between Us is now open for registration from 2/20 - 2/26! And it's free to join. Just head HERE to find out more. Episode photo by Lancia Smith.
Today we talk with Jen Pollock Michel about our experience of time: the anxieties, the passing of it, the keeping of it, and so much more. In a world and a life where time feels like a scarce resource, how can we find peace in the time we're given? Is productivity really the only grid for the good life? Find out more about Jen Pollock Michel and her new book, In Good Time, over at her website.
Why do we stop asking questions? What's the relationship between curiosity and silence? Lore Wilbert is one of the most thoughtful writers I know. Today, she talks about the importance of asking (and receiving) honest questions, her relationship with social media, and how she's changed as a writer since her first book. Lore Wilburt's most recent book, A Curious Faith, invites readers to go beyond pat answers and embrace curiosity, rather than certainty, as a hallmark of authentic faith.
Recently, when Shawn shared his concerns with Maile, that he would never be able to write the book he wanted to write, that it was beginning to feel like all of life was just him practicing writing...she got really honest and told him what she felt was his greatest weakness as a writer. And they're still married. Today, we're talking about the voices in our head and how they can sometimes keep us from creating what we're meant to create. Maile also gives a little update on her manuscript, which is out on submission.
Today we talk with editor Stephanie Smith about what it means to "tell it slant" and why the strategy is so important for creative folks as we go about making our stuff. We also talk about her experience of having a pandemic baby and how motherhood has impacted her creativity (hint: it has to do with perfectionism). You can sign up for Stephanie Smith's incredibly helpful and insightful Slantletter HERE.
Today Lisa-Jo talks about the complexity of writing memoir when the story centers around the people who we love. We find it remarkable, how our parents resurface in us, the lives we live, and the ways we are. Finally, we work through six of Lisa-Jo's favorite memoirs and what these writers have done so well in the writing of their beginnings. The five: Sean Dietrich's Will the Circle Be UnbrokenMichelle Zauner's Crying in H-MartAnn Voskamp's WaymakerTony Woodleaf's Somewhere More HolyJessica Willis Fisher's Unspeakable Tara Westover's Educated
After a series of heartbreaking losses, Amanda Held Opelt set aside the book she was working on and instead delved into the world of grief. She had been to war zones, Ebola hotspots, and the aftermath of significant tragedies . . . but with her own tragedy, she realized she was just a beginner, a novice, when it came to grief. Today she shares with us how she explored her grief in a real and human way while writing her book, A Hole in the World.
Do you know the #1 Christmas movie according to Rotten Tomatoes? Today we're talking about the wildly varying tastes found in the world, how this fact should be encouraging to us as creatives, and how the difference between faithful lives and distracted lives will make all the difference in the long run.
If you need a jolt of encouragement, this podcast is for you. Today we're talking with author Mitali Perkins about empty-nesting, the grief and opportunity that comes with change, and a few of the practices that contribute to her creativity. Why are intergenerational friendships important? And what does the Litany of Humility have to do with writing?
Today we have a great conversation with Bryan Allain about the publication of his middle grade book, Lake Mason and the Super Q Trials. He tells about this journey to book two in the series, why he writes, and what happened when a few relatives tried to guess how many copies he sold of book one. We also talk about the loss of his son Parker to accidental overdose and how grief exists alongside creativity. It's a great conversation, I hope you'll listen, but even more than that I hope you'll order a copy of Bryan's book.
Maile and Shawn decide on their three favorite books of 2022. Shawn's favorite is no surprise to those of you who have been listening to the podcast. Maile's favorite has, dare she say, changed her life. Shawn also throws in a few honorable mentions. Plus, a fun announcement! A list of books mentioned in the episode, in no particular order: The Witch Elm by Tana French Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr Rembrandt is in the Wind by Russ Ramsey The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Circe by Madeline Miller Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell This is Happiness by Niall Williams All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer A Kraken for Christmas by J.B. Emerson Lake Mason and the Super Q Trials by Bryan Allain
Today, Martha shares the story of her long and winding journey to publication, releasing her debut novel at the age of 65. There are valuable lessons that come with that kind of perseverance. What if we as writers can begin to see rejection as ordinary, as simply part of the process? What if our goal, instead of getting published, was to get 100 rejections every year? Would that increase our capacity to live through this writing life? Finally, Martha offers a writing practice that has served her well through the years. Martha is the author of the new novel, The Three Muses.
Hannah Anderson came to writing through desperation. Her husband Nathan grew up in a home full of creative people and loved to draw. Today we're talking about how they collaborate (while raising children together), engage in the practice of waiting, and their new Advent book, Heaven and Nature Sing. Nathan doubles down on his commitment to live Christmas trees, and we share memories about the days when our families would rent VCRs to watch movies. We really enjoyed our conversation with them.
We couldn't wait to talk with Sean Dietrich about his new book, You Are My Sunshine, but let's be honest, what we really couldn't wait for was having his wife Jamie on the podcast. She claims she's never been on a podcast with Sean before, so I guess that makes us ground-breaking? Move over Diane Sawyer--The Stories Between Us is where you can find the never-before-heard debut interview with Jamie Dietrich. And she spills all the goods on Sean, including the fact that he never knows the terms of his writing contracts (only she does) and her tactics to get him writing again if he's falling behind.
Let's talk about place and belonging! Essayist and children's author Patrice Gopo joins us today to explore what it might look like to use our imagination when considering other people's stories. What if we made room for the unexpected? How are we connected to the places where we started? Patrice Gopo is an award-winning essayist and the author of books for adults and children. Her essay collection, All the Colors We Will See, was Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her debut picture book, All the Places We Call Home, was inspired by one of the essays in her collection. As the child of Jamaican immigrants who was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Patrice often writes about racial identity formation, immigration experiences, and the beauty of living a multifaceted life. You can find out more about Patrice and her books HERE.
Leslie Bustard is a poet, a publisher, and a gatherer of creative people. Ned Bustard is an artist, a writer, and a publisher. Of course, they are both much more than that, but today we take some time to dig into beautiful and difficult topics with them: the releasing of new books, how art is completed, and the role cancer has played in their creative lives. Head here to find out more about their books as well as their upcoming conference, Ordinary Saints (where we'll be doing a live recording of our podcast!).
Today we have a special announcement to make: our online writers' community, also called The Stories Between Us, is now open to any writer who would like to join. And it's free. But registration will only be open for two weeks, so check it out. You can find out more about the community HERE. We also talk about being voluntarily brainwashed, what Maile's been reading, and a podcast that Shawn's enjoying.
At 16 years old, he had a weekly comic in the Lancaster paper. At 19, he had finished writing his first middle grade novel. Now, numerous books and years later, Adam Perry is trying something new: he's written a horror book for kids (or historical supernatural--you be the judge). Adam has a lot of fun and practical things to share about his creative journey. And you can still pick up his latest book, Ghosts Come Rising, in time for Halloween!
Today the wonderful Sarah Westfall joins us to talk about community--is digital community real? Is it good? Is there anything we can do to bring it to a more complete place? She also talks about her long and winding (and ongoing) publishing journey and how a devastating loss opened her eyes to her own need for community. Check out more of Sarah's writing at Human Together.
Maile talks about what she's returned to that is making all the difference in her creative life, as well as why she wasn't crazy about the beginning of one of Shawn's favorite books. There's a brief update on Maile's book submission process. Michelle DeRusha's Seasons of the Soul enters the conversation. And the children are home from school. Fun all around!
We're back! We're talking about a book that has challenged the way we prioritize writing in our lives, a book that has reminded one of us about the kind of writing we actually want to do, and we're asking for wisdom about a very important topic: how to get your dog to stop eating off the counter.
In this, our final episode of the season, we talk about how, occasionally, hard things happen in life that change our creative direction. The key, we think, is to pay attention, to ground ourselves in this present moment, and to be on the lookout for beauty, even in the midst of devastation. We may or may not come back to record another season. Either way, thanks so much for listening--your encouragement and kind notes through the years have been so generous. And keep writing.
What now? That's the question Shawn and Maile explore after Shawn's recent check-in with his agent. Unimpressive book sales make it difficult for an author to continue to receive offers on new books, so what do we do if we find ourselves in this situation? We have to figure out, are we going to keep going?
Shawn finds an 8-year-old goal he set way back in 2014, so he and Maile spend some time talking about it. Maile shares her perspective when it comes to goal-setting in the midst of raising six children. Welcome to the Smucker dinner table! They also talk about a scary experiment Shawn is going to be doing over at shawnsmucker.substack.com. Plus, a few books they're enjoying these days.
Graduation is in the air. Today we're talking about our own high school and college graduations, what our hopes and expectations were as young writers, and what we would tell our 18-year-old selves about setting out on the writing journey.
Today we're reflecting on having reached the age where we have a high school graduate, what we're reading and watching, and, perhaps most importantly, that one thing that can transform your creative life.
Today we're talking about a recent interview we watched with Anthony Doerr, author of the Pulitzer-prize winning book All the Light We Cannot See, along with the recent Smucker household favorite, Cloud Cuckoo Land. In Doerr we see a writer who only a few books ago wondered if anything would become of his writing career, someone who still has a childlike giddiness about story-telling. And we wonder...is it enough to write for the fun of it? Could it be the complexity of his novels arises from his commitment to fun and whimsy?
Today we're talking with author Devi Laskar about why a timed writing practice is so helpful, how she settled on second person for the point of view of her newest novel Circa, and how she gets past the negative voices in her head.
When Katy's fiance called off their engagement a week before the wedding, she was thrown into a tailspin. But in the ensuing weeks, months, and years, she discovered a strength in herself she didn't know was there. So she decided to write a memoir about it. Today Katy tells us how she decided what to include in her story, how the process went, and how she managed to get her first draft written.
This week after seeing how a plant-loving friend tried to play down her love for her little green buddies, Maile and I are exploring why we as creative people often try to diminish the creative work we do instead of embracing it.
Russ Ramsey, author of the new book Rembrandt is in the Wind, has had an influence on Shawn's life in two very concrete ways, so it's an honor to have him on the podcast today, where he talks about having urgent heart surgery at the age of 40, why he thinks it's important to compare an artist's early works with their later creation (think suffering), and where he's finding hope in his creative life. You can find his new book HERE.
Two years living with Stage 4 melanoma. Organizing a conference based around CS Lewis and the Inklings. Now, writing a new book. Today we're talking with Leslie Bustard about the invigorating beauty of life, how cancer has opened her eyes, and what she hopes for her new book, Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children. Check out Leslie's blog HERE. Order Wild Things and Castles in the Sky HERE. For more information on their 2023 conference, head HERE.
Well, that was a weekend. Today we're talking about family life, navigating tough conversations with our kids, and...good book endings. Maile just finished reading a great book, so we talk about what makes a good ending. What makes a good book ending for you?
Today we have the great pleasure of talking Elrena Evans, author, dancer, and creative person extraordinaire. We talk about the road to her most recent book, A Special Grace: Prayers and Reflections for Families with Special Needs, how to write about your own family, and what's bringing her hope in the midst of a book release.
In perhaps our most vulnerable episode ever, we're talking about taking chances, living life in unpredictable (and sometimes inexplicable) ways, and, in the words of Ethan Hawke, "playing the fool." Specifically, we share about our life as two freelancers, finding work, and occasionally (almost) running out of money. This one is real, folks. Proceed with caution.
Today we start off by talking about a book Maile recommended to Shawn, a book he finally started reading this week and is loving. We also talk about how, for the writer, nothing is wasted--no sadness, no hardship, no joy, and no time, even when we're not writing, is wasted. It all becomes part of us, and part of the things we create.
Today we're reflecting on spring, new beginnings, and why it's important to appreciate where we are, today, without looking too far ahead. Also, this present age's gluttonous obsession with approval. And where we're seeing signs of hope in our own creative journeys. As discussed on this podcast: - Maile's blog! - Shawn's Video of a Novel
Today we talk with talented writer and Nine Month Novel graduate Rachel Vaughn about writing and why she's taken a break from pursuing traditional publication. We also ask why, after already writing eight or nine novels, she decided to join us for our Nine Month Novel Class. Speaking of which...registration closes on Friday, March 4th! Find out more about the class here: https://www.thestoriesbetweenus.com/the-nine-month-novel
Today we're talking about the value of work done in secret. Is there any? What if the things we do never see the light of day? We also talk about some new things we're up to, namely Maile's blog and Shawn's video journal of the novel he's currently writing. Check out the links for those below. Maile's Blog: https://www.thestoriesbetweenus.com/blog Shawn's video journal: https://shawnsmucker.substack.com Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi A House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Today we talk with cozy mystery author Andi Cumbo-Floyd about the major twists and turns her writing life has taken in the last few years, the difference between cozy mysteries and regular old mysteries, and who some of her favorite mystery writers are. Attention indie authors! Andi is a good guide. Mentioned in the podcast: - Louise Penny - Fiona Grace - The book, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, by Elle Cosimano
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