Podcast appearances and mentions of bianca marais

Clues, chaos, and clever prose—Bianca Marais makes murder must-read. Today's guest brings mystery, mischief, and masterful storytelling to every page she pens. Whether she's guiding writers through the highs and horrors of publishing or spinning a whodunit with a clever twist, Bianca Marais knows how to keep readers hooked and hearts engaged. Her latest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder, blends charm, clues, and chaos into a delightful mystery that proves Bianca is as versatile as she is visionary. She's also the voice behind one of the most beloved writing podcasts out there—The Shit No One Tells You About Writing—where she helps aspiring authors navigate their own creative journeys with humor, honesty, and heart. #BiancaMarais #AMostPuzzlingMurder #CozyMystery #AuthorInterview #OnTheAirWithFlorenza #PodcastSpotlight #WritersOfInstagram #WritingCommunity #TheShitNoOneTellsYouAboutWriting #BooksAndClues

Clues, chaos, and clever prose—Bianca Marais makes murder must-read. Today's guest brings mystery, mischief, and masterful storytelling to every page she pens. Whether she's guiding writers through the highs and horrors of publishing or spinning a whodunit with a clever twist, Bianca Marais knows how to keep readers hooked and hearts engaged. Her latest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder, blends charm, clues, and chaos into a delightful mystery that proves Bianca is as versatile as she is visionary. She's also the voice behind one of the most beloved writing podcasts out there—The Shit No One Tells You About Writing—where she helps aspiring authors navigate their own creative journeys with humor, honesty, and heart. #BiancaMarais #AMostPuzzlingMurder #CozyMystery #AuthorInterview #OnTheAirWithFlorenza #PodcastSpotlight #WritersOfInstagram #WritingCommunity #TheShitNoOneTellsYouAboutWriting #BooksAndClues

Sara and Nicole catch up on November reading3 we liked, 2 we didn't and 1 we are looking forward to!Books mentioned:Incidents Around the House -  June 25, 2024 Del RayThree Body Problem - May 1, 2006 Tor Books, Liu CixinCan't Spell Treason without Tea - Rebecca Thorne September 15, 2022, Bramble Shady Hollow (Shady Hollow, #1) Penguin Random HouseThe Spellshop by Sara Beth Durst, published by Bramble in July 2024The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel,  Haruki MurakamiThe Girl In His Shadow and The Surgeon's Daughter by Audrey Blake,the first two books in the Nora Beady series. Published bySourcebooks Landmark in 2021 and 2022You Are Here by David Nicholls published by Harper in May, 2024Witches of Moonshine Manor by Bianca Marais, published by Mira in2022The Ex-Hex by Erin Sterling published by Avon in 2021The Booklovers' Library by Madeline Martin published by HanoverSquare in Sept. 2024TELL ME WHAT YOU DID by bestselling and award-winning author Carter Wilson (on-sale January 28; Poisoned Pen Press)Support the show

Ted is joined by Bianca Marais, author of the bestselling The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, and the Audible Original The Prynne Viper.Alternatively, we could've just told you that Ann Patchett (yes, that Ann Patchett) has declared “Bianca Marais is a genius.”When she's not authoring, Bianca co-hosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published.Her work in progress is a novel titled A Most Peculiar Tale, Indeed. A closed-room mystery chock-full of puzzles for readers to solve, it has been pitched as “Glass Onion meets the magical family equivalent of Succession” and will be published by Mira in early 2025. Just a couple of weeks removed from sending her manuscript to her editor, Bianca talked with Ted about plotting versus pantsing (i.e., flying by the seat of yours), how she approaches editing her own work before her editor sees it, letting your books tell you what they want to be, managing multiple points of view and backstories, and entertaining your readers while still making them think. She also shared a most outstanding wrinkle to the puzzle-solving in A Most Peculiar Tale, Indeed, that serves the dual purpose of keeping down the publisher's printing costs.Find Bianca Online:Website: biancamarais.comPodcast: The Shit No One Tells You About WritingWorking Drafts episodes and info for requesting transcripts as well as more details about Ted and his books are available on his website, thetedfox.com.

Thank you for listening over the years and helping us reach our 200th episode! To celebrate this milestone, we invited special guests to call the Book Cougars hotline and recommend two forthcoming books they can't wait for all of us to read. This idea was inspired by Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness, hosts of the podcast Books on the Nightstand, who had a segment called “Two Books We Can't Wait for You to Read.” Chris and Emily met through Books on the Nightstand; their sunset inspired our sunrise. As an homage, we were thrilled to have Ann and Michael contribute to the segment along with other guests that have been featured on the podcast over the past seven years including Amy Tector, Andrea Wang, Bianca Marais, Caroline Leavitt, Davina from BookBrowse, Fiona Davis, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Jennifer Savran Kelly, Jenna Miller, Rachel Barenbaum, Kelcey Ervick, Luanne Rice, Jung Yun, and our Mystery Man – John Valeri. We asked our author friends to shout out their new or forthcoming books. Your TBR List just might explode! #SorryNotSorry And that's not the only exciting segment in this episode. We crunched the numbers and share our Listener Top Ten Reads of 2023. They are: Tom Lake – Ann Patchett Hello Beautiful – Ann Napolitano Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store – James McBride Yellowface – R.F. Kuang The Reading List – Sara Nisha Adams Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt The Fraud – Zadie Smith Unlikely Animals – Annie Hartnett Signal Fires – Dani Shapiro Absolution – Alice McDermott The Postcard – Anne Berest As always, we share what we're currently reading, what we've read, and Biblio Adventures we've been on. Emily visited White River Books and the Carbondale Public Library in Colorado. She also attended Aspen Words featuring Ann Patchett in conversation with Elizabeth McCracken. Chris paid her respects to the Barnes and Noble closing in Naperville, Illinois (they're opening a new format store in nearby Oswego), and visited one of her favorite used bookstores, The Frugal Muse in Darien. She also attended Biography International Organization's Biography Lab, an online forum about the craft. If you're in the Connecticut area, join us on Friday, February 2nd at 5:30 pm ET at Bank Square Books for the launch of Luanne Rice's new book Last Night. Then on Sunday, February 11th at 5 pm ET, Chris's wife Laura Thoma will be reading from her work-in-progress as part of the Chester Arts & Literary Weekend. Reminder: our first quarter readalong book is Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. All the books we mention in this episode are in the show notes at https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2024/episode200. Thanks again for listening, and Happy Reading! Chris & Emily

Brea and Mallory discuss balancing reading with other hobbies, give advice on what to do when a bookstore sends you two of the same book, and recommending books for spooky season. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsors -EarthBreezewww.earthbreeze.com/GLASSESDipseawww.dipseastories.com/GLASSES Links -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Slack channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!Books Mentioned - Lone Women by Victor LaValleThornhedge by T. KingfisherAkata Witch by Nnedi OkoraforThe Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

The Book Cougars are thrilled to welcome Laurie Lico Albanese, author of HESTER, our second readalong for Scarlet Summer. Laurie dishes on Hawthorne, shares her inspiration for Isobel, and talks about her writing process. Don't miss our Author Spotlight with Laurie at the end of the episode. Other highlights include: In our “Just Read” segment we talk about DEER SEASON by Erin Flanagan, THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna, THE RED GARDEN by Alice Hoffman, THE WITCHES OF MOONSHYNE MANOR by Bianca Marais, and two short stories: “The Profile” by Willa Cather and “The Wehrwolf” by Alma Katsu. We recap our two-day Biblio Adventure to the Berkshires that included finding Hawthorne's Little Red Cottage, a tour of The Mount, a visit with librarian Nynke Dorhout, an author event with Stacy Schiff in conversation with André Bernard, and a truncated hike up Monument Mountain. In Upcoming Jaunts, we're heading to Salem, Massachusetts to visit The House of the Seven Gables and other Hawthorne historic sites on Wednesday, 8/30. We're also planning on attending a conference on our home turf here in New Haven, Popular Romance Fiction: The Literature of Hope at Yale University on September 8-9th. We hope you enjoy the episode!

Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. Bianca Marais is the author of three novels, the latest being the bestselling THE WITCHES OF MOONSHYNE MANOR. She's a cohost on the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, and has won an Excellence in Teaching Award for teaching creative writing through U of T's SCS. In this episode you'll hear about: Bianca's perspective on writing with rage in the face of injustice The concept of "windows and mirrors" when it comes to representation How Bianca has seen herself change over time Bianca's writing process with her agent, Cece Lyra Bianca's take on the writer's arc How "biltong" is not a "bull's tongue." You can find us on our website and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast.  For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe here.  Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!  A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.  As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.  Be brave, stay beastly! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storybeastpodcast/message

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, and Carly Watters. We'll be taking an inside look at the publishing industry. Before diving in, I wanted to make a quick note. Our wonderful guests are the co-hosts of a fantastic podcast that has a particular word in its title. It would be impossible to talk about their show without saying this particular word, so consider this a heads up that there will be salty language in this episode. If you're listening in public or have little ones around, now would be the time to put on some headphones. Bianca Marais is the author of the bestselling The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, as well as the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, and the Audible Original, The Prynne Viper. She taught at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies where she was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing in 2021. She is the co-host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published. You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram.   Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, representing adult fiction and non-fiction. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors' careers, and she is actively looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over one million downloads.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   Carly Watters is a SVP and Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and the sitting VP of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents. Carly Watters has a BA in English Literature from Queen's University and a MA in Publishing Studies from City University London. Her masters thesis was on the social, political, and economic impact of literary prizes on trade publishing. She began her publishing career in London as an assistant at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. Carly joined Toronto-based P.S. Literary Agency in 2010 and has sold over 100 books during her career. She represents award-winning and bestselling authors in the adult fiction and non-fiction categories, and select children's books. She is known for her long-term vision for her authors and being an excellent collaborator with a nose for commercial success. She has close ties to publishers in the major markets, is a member of the AALA, and works directly with film agents to option film and TV rights to leading networks and production companies. Her clients' books have been translated into 40 languages, optioned for TV and film, adapted into podcasts, and have been on every bestseller list from coast to coast, including the New York Times, USA Today, the LA Times, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail. Carly is also an annual judge for the Women's Fiction Writing Association Rising Star Award. The popular writing podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which Carly is the co-host, has over one million downloads.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, Carly Watters, and I discuss: Common myths about writing and publishing and what's actually true Writing groups, beta readers, and how to find them What happens after you sign on the dotted line Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/466

In Episode 106 of Book Talk, Etc. Tina and Renee chat with author and podcaster Bianca Marais. They also share what they've been loving lately, their latest reads, and have book talk about writing, reading, and podcasting. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to FOLLOW /SUBSCRIBE on your podcast app so you never miss an episode!**If you enjoy our commercial free podcast please consider supporting us on Patreon!  We have great bonus episodes including: Books we DNFed, What's in the Mailbag, + Criminally Booked! Plus, we host fun Zoom events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Book Talk Book Club, a private Facebook group & a lively DISCORD where you can interact with other patrons all for just $5 a month!Bianca's Books Hum If You Don't Know the Words If You Want to Make God Laugh The Witches of Moonshine Manor The Prynne Viper Lily and the Octopus | Stephen Rowley Loving Lately 4:58 Marvelous Mrs Maisel (B) 5:23 The Last of Us -Tv Show (B) 6:45 Wondercide (R) 6:44 Mooncat Nail Polish (T)  Top Coat10:45 Book Talk 31:08 Blood Sugar |Sasha Rothchild 36:09 Lessons in Chemistry The Thursday Murder Club Still Life | Sarah Winman 37:15 Thirst for Salt | Madeline Lucas 38:11 Beware the Woman | Megan Abbott Girls and Their Horses | Eliza Jane Brazier Latest Reads 41:17 Big Gay Wedding | Byron Lane (B) Pebble & Dove | Amy Jones (B) Remarkably Bright Creatures 42:20 Drowning | T J Newman (T) The Day I Died | Lori Radar-Day (R)

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Mary are discussing: Bookish Moments: a great library newsletter and a reading milestone Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: taking a look at the feminist rage trope and diving in hard The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:26 - Bookish Moment of the Week 1:40 - Milwaukee Public Library on Instagram 4:21 - Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann 5:07 - Current Reads 5:17 - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley (Mary) 10:06 - Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylen (Kaytee) 14:00 - Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult  15:19 - Join the CR Patreon to hear Kaytee's spoiler filled discussion on Mad Honey w/Sarah from Sarah's Bookshelves Live 17:09 - Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Mary) 17:22 - Good Omens by Niel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 21:35 - The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton (Kaytee) 22:48 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 24:46 - Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston 25:43 - Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (Mary) 28:00 - Storygraph 31:44 - The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff (Kaytee) 32:02 - Fabled Bookshop 35:48 - Deep Dive: Books that Unleash our Feminist Rage 38:51 - The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff 40:11 - Circe by Madeline Miller  40:36 - The Power by Naomi Alderman 40:40 - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 41:52 - Vox by Christina Dalcher 42:04 - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  42:09 - The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins 42:10 - The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell 42:11 - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 42:27 - Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente 43:09 - Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson 43:35 - When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill 45:15 - The Change by Kirsten Miller 47:43 - Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski 48:36 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 49:26 - The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by BIanca Marais  52:26 - Meet Us At The Fountain I wish publishers or creators would create specific ASMR rooms alongside the publishing of a new novel. (Mary) 53:05 - The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling I wish we could “gamify” our reading lives. (Kaytee) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

In today's Books with Hooks,  Jessica and Kate join Carly and CeCe who critique their work, in the process discussing  the important difference between a reader's curiosity about what happened before your pages started versus curiosity about what is going to happen in the novel; knowing exactly what you want your readers to be thinking  after reading your first pages; the issues with having a protagonist that is too self aware at the beginning of a novel; the requirements when choosing between  single and dual POVS; and the concept of the 'ick' factor.After which, Bianca chats with Amber and Danielle Brown, twin sisters and co-authors of Someone Had To Do It . They discuss the synergy between co-authors as they're developing characters and story; turning a script into a novel; making social and cultural commentary entertaining; drawing from your own life experiences; humanizing a really unlikable character to make them compelling; incorporating perfectly timed backstory; what to look for when choosing an editor and agent; and knowing when to say no to edits.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Amber and Danielle can be found at www.amberanddanielle.com and on Instagram at @amberanddanielle

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each critique two query letters, in the process discussing WWII fatigue in the industry; the importance of the butterfly effect in time travel stories; how to compress plot in your query; packing in as many compelling elements as possible; and reading a perfect query letter.After which, Bianca chats with Brad Smith, author of Copperhead Road, about how Bob Dylan, moonshine, and the origins of stock car racing inspired Copperhead Road; his experiences publishing with a small Canadian indie press; surprising the reader in the opening chapter; the importance of causality; how writing a book is like building a house; and killing your darlings.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Brad can be found at www.bradsmithbooks.com

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe analyze two query letters each, and in the process discuss what constitutes a long query, in respect of word count; how statements in dialogue shouldn't be made simply to tell the reader something; avoiding vague references in queries; and getting a submission that reads like a published book. After which, Bianca chats with Alexa Martin, author of Better Than Fiction, about her journey to publication; writing teacher books; planting curiosity seeds and having the reader be an active participant instead of spoon-feeding them everything; character arcs and how they are so integral to the character's wants/needs; flipping genre tropes; Story Genius, character misbeliefs, the third rail, and causality; and putting hooks in your books.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Alexa can be found at www.alexamartin.com and on Instagram at @alexambooks 

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are left unsupervised as they critique two query letters each, in the process discussing the best way to frame your novel if it has series potential; the difficulty of marketing a quiet novel right now; how you should open your novel; matching query tone and novel tone to your genre; and the importance of readers being invested in your characters.After which, Bianca chats with one of the bestselling authors of all time, Jeffrey Archer, about his latest novel, Next in Line; his 14-draft process; how he writes a story in 45 days and finishes a book in a year; writing what you know; plot twists vs. reveals; manipulating the reader; fictionalizing historical figures; the two levels of research; and magic moments in storytelling. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Jeffrey can be found at www.jeffreyarcher.com and on Instagram at @jeffrey_archer_author

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by two authors, Melissa and Elizabeth, whose work they critique. In the process, they discuss ensuring each that timeline in a dual timeline is its own story; keeping scenes condensed to keep propelling the story forward; mentioning the pandemic in contemporary fiction; baking in subtle references to things instead of explaining them to the reader; finding ways for a character to interact with other characters, especially when we'll be spending a lot of time in their head; making small cuts to decrease word count; how not naming dramatic moments that change everything could mean losing agent request opportunities; telling the reader what's going to happen vs letting them theorize; and ensuring you surprise the reader with something in the first chapter.After which, Bianca chats with Jennifer Hillier, bestselling author of Things We Do in the Dark, about writing away real-world fears and anxieties; how she writes and includes/doesn't include backstory; how she structures her novels without the use of an outline; having no ego when receiving critiques; and the importance of planting curiosity seeds.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Jennifer can be found at www.jenniferhillierbooks.com and on Instagram at @jenniferhillierbooks

In today's Books With Hooks, Carly and CeCe look at two critiques each, discussing the importance of using sharp specifics and strong interiority; ensuring there's tension and stakes in the first pages; having distinct character voices; dropping hints but leaving them unanswered; challenges with omniscient POV; keeping all the metadata together in one paragraph; stories within stories slowing down the pacing; leaning into complicated emotions and revealing contradictions from the get-go; and making intentional stylistic choices, especially in literary fiction.After which, Bianca chats with Amita Parikh, author of The Circus Train, about choosing comps; hitting the sweet spot to get agents' attention; what to do if you keep getting rejections; adding tension and conflict and stakes to a novel that's not working; writing at a scene and chapter level; writing historical events as a backdrop, not a history lesson; and not allowing your character to have the benefit of your hindsight when dealing with historical times/events.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Amita can be found at www.amitaparikh.com and on Instagram at @amita_parikh 

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each look at one submitted query letter, after which they each discuss a query letter that they ended up representing as an example of what grabs their attention. They discuss redacted titles; explaining POV in a query letter; putting the hook front and center; coincidences in the story; too much internal and not enough external in the first pages; dual POV in a query letter; tension leaks and starting with proper interiority and not narration.After which, Bianca chats with Felicity George, author of A Lady's Risk , about regency romance and what the genre is; how she tackles getting the language of that era correct; her novel's inciting incident and the key event; Felicity's reasoning for her POV choice; and her road to publication.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Felicity can be found at www.felicitygeorgeauthor.wordpress.com, on Instagram at @FelicityGeorge_romance and Twitter at @elizabethwelke

In today's Bonus Episode, Carly and CeCe answer all your questions and Emilie Sommer from East City Book Shop gives you comp titles. After which, CeCe chats with Susie Yang, author of White Ivy, which was a Books with Hooks Book Club pick in the spring.CeCe and Susie discuss fairytale elements and omniscient POV; how suspicious writers make the best writers; what it's like to work with an editor after getting a book deal; Susie's experience as a debut author; craft resources she uses; writing many different versions to get to the right one; and having an unsettling ending. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting, www.biancamarais.com and www.carlywatters.com Susie can be found at www.susiebooks.com and on Instagram and Twitter at @susieyyang 

In today's Books with Hooks, Jael Richardson (author of Gutter Child) joins Carly and CeCe to critique query letters. During the segment, they discuss starting in the right place; using time stamps to make it easier for the reader to ground themselves; ensuring there's interiority with the narrating character; the web effect in query letters; clarifying the emotionality of the main character; teasing the tone/vibe of the book in the query letter; starting a book with a letter; ensuring your query letter voice matches what's in the pages; and how to make good choices about where you begin and how you get there.After which, Bianca chats with Christina Romeril, author of A Christmas Candy Killing, about the expectations of cozy mysteries; using Pinterest for inspiration; using a map for your setting to help maintain consistency; creative writing procrastination; using the resources available to become a better writer; setting up red herrings, planting clues, etc; and using a spouse or friend to help with accuracy in details. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.Christina can be found at www.christinaromeril.com and on Instagram at @christinaromerilwriter

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by Jennifer and David, two authors who submitted their work for consideration. During the segment, they discuss whether you should have themes in a query letter; query letter vs proposal for memoirs; having something happening every five pages; letting the reader ask the question before you answer it as the author; keeping passive plot points out of the query letter; showing connections between important characters; showing a very clear goal in the opening pages;  using an emotional entryway into the story; adding another clue every time you dangle the carrot for the reader; the contrast between vague thoughts and specific visuals;  creating a synopsis for your first five pages; and goal and power imbalance, and giving very clear reasons/stakes below the surface in the opening pages.After which, Bianca chats with Jordan Aaronson, a Marketing Manager for the Penguin Publishing Group at Penguin Random House. They discuss what a marketing manager does at a big publishing house; the acquisitions process in a publishing house; how important comps are at the acquisition stage; factors considered when deciding on advances; the importance of platforms; how important TikTok can be authors; the difference between marketing and PR; how marketing and PR budgets are decided; trends in the market; how to stand out to publishers to make them want to buy your book; advice for emerging writers; and how publishing is changing for the better.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.Leftie's podcast can be found at: https://leftie-aubes-writing-podcast.simplecast.com/  

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each review two query letters, in the process discussing overexplaining and taking the readers out of the scene; leaning into your scene from a reader's perspective; having a very clear idea of the major dramatic question that is specific to the protagonist's plot journey; prioritizing a character's interiority over their noticing other characters' reactions to things; avoiding head-hopping; ensuring specific details are where they need to be placed; starting in the right place; making sure your character has a goal of some sort in the opening pages; connecting with zingy social commentary in a story; and  integrating setup within the action of the story.After which, Bianca chats with Richard Osman, multi-million copy bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club series, about why his novels have appealed to such a wide demographic; how he came up with his premise; why he chose the POV structure for the novel that he did; writing social commentary subtly; techniques for making readers connect with so-called unlikeable characters. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.Richard can be found at @richardosman on Twitter.Leftie's podcast can be found at: https://leftie-aubes-writing-podcast.simplecast.com/

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss being clear about your age category and details of the plot; keeping the query letter short; fleshing out character dynamics and not focusing too much on worldbuilding; connecting with a character, as opposed to the world, in the opening pages; a children's picture book query letter; including some illustrator notes; exploring darker themes in a picture book; symbolism in children's books; kidlit411.com; using lists in query letters; keeping the metadata at the top of the letter; having a domino effect in the query letter; including active emotion in the opening pages; and adding surprise to your pages.After which Bianca chats with NYT bestselling Jonathan Evison, author of Small World, about the process of writing a very complex 400+ page novel; writing outside the purview of your personal experience and using sensitivity readers; understanding others' experiences through empathy and showing that in your writing; the research that goes into huge books that span generations; how to narrow down what research is needed and stay out of the rabbit holes; knowing when to reveal information throughout the story; and always be thinking about your reader.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.Jonathan can be found at www.jonathanevison.netLeftie's podcast can be found at: https://leftie-aubes-writing-podcast.simplecast.com/

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss keeping secrets from the reader vs. keeping them from the character; choosing a variety of comparable titles and authors; relatability to what the character is going through; ways to make a story believable; interiority and emotionality in the characters; not giving too much in the opening pages; revealing information in the right order; how themes don't sell books, hooks sell books; and writing longer scenes and starting at the right place.After which, Bianca chats with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, bestselling authors of The Personal Librarian, about finding a writing soulmate; recognizing and respecting each other's strengths; recognizing when a story can't be fully told from a perspective that the author doesn't share; connecting on a human level in a writing duo, always respecting and supporting each other; not burying the lead, which is also important when querying; having backstory at the beginning; finding your way into a story; and how you learn from everything you write, regardless of whether you take it out. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting. Marie and Victoria can be found at www.authormariebenedict.com and www.victoriachristophermurray.com

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca, Carly and CeCe answer all your burning questions about writing and publishing. After which, Bianca chats with Elizabeth Held, creator of the What to Read substack, who answers your first batch of comp title requests. Followed by a chat with Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop who answers the second batch of comp title requests.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comEmilie can be found on Instagram at @emiliegsommer and East City Bookshop can be found at @eastcitybookshopElizabeth can be found on https://whattoreadif.substack.com and on Twitter at @ElizabethHeld 

In today's Books with Hooks, we're joined by guest agent, Emmy Nordstrom-Higdon from Westwood Creative Artists who looks at four submissions. During the segment, Emmy discusses executing the world-building in a way that's accessible to readers, and ensuring you're also covering your characters' conflicts, goals, stakes, etc. in a query; keeping your query letter under a page; ensuring something happens plot-wise and that there's voicey-ness in the writing sample; having wonderful line-level writing but focusing on the wrong things on a scene level; an efficient query letter formula; differentiating the voices of the characters; including enough voice in the query, but not as much as what's in the pages; and a fantastic example of an MG query letter and opening pages.After which, Bianca chats with John Galligan, author of Bad Day Breaking, about following and then breaking the “rules” of writing; the 'show, don't tell' lightbulb moments; how to stop talking to ourselves and start talking to our readers; getting into the psyche of your characters; what genre has the most effective prologues and how to know you're doing it right; using adjectives and adverbs the right way; creating character voice in third person; and tips for crossing gender, race, etc. boundaries to create empathy in characters and in readers—without crossing lines.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comJohn can be found at www.johngalligan.com 

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe review a resubmission and in the process discuss an impressive author paragraph; writing the subtleties of familial relationships; the difficulties of a plot that hinges on a secret that isn't revealed in the query; and an example of a very good hook.After which, Bianca chats with the NYT bestselling Deanna Raybourn, author of Killers of a Certain Age,  about purposefully choosing a setting and location for a story; when to decide on a dual-timeline structure and how to maintain good pacing with both; knowing which flashbacks belong and which ones to cut; pulling the story apart until the puzzle pieces fit together; differentiating between similar characters; and coming up with unique ways to kill fictional people!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comDeanna can be found at www.deannaraybourn.com and on Twitter and  Instagram at @deannaraybourn  

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss the target audience for a coming of age novel; the pitfalls of the early 2000s as a setting; the importance of your major dramatic question in a query; the issues with setting your novel up as part of a duology or series; and writing 'leading' dialogue.After which CeCe chats with Jessie Stephens, author of Heartsick: Three Stories About Love, Pain, and What Happens In Between about what made her proposal successful; how Jessie's background in media helped with publishing her book; the tenuous connection between having a large following on social media and selling copies; publishing without an agent and the pros of having one now; the impressions of the offer Jessie got for her first book; the ways in which she was naïve when she began writing; and Jessie's new book. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comJessie can be found at www.mamamia.com.au and on Instagram at @jessiestephens90

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by Nurin and Layne who submitted their work for critique. During the segment, they discuss a romance query that succeeds in delivering ample stakes; whether you should include mentorship programs in your query; the importance of having movement in an opening scene; needing major dramatic questions for each main character in a novel; and the importance of inner life.After which, Bianca chats with Amanda Quain, author of Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel, about her transition from indie bookseller to debut author; the inspiration behind Accomplished (and yes, it includes the Jonas Brothers!); “rules" when creating adaptations of classic literature; advice for writers of YA; fanfiction and RPGs; character interiority; and how conversations are like a tennis match. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comAmanda can be found at www.amandaquain.com and on Instagram and Twitter at @quainiac

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe look at two queries each, in the process discussing what is meant when agents want specificity in a query, particularly when it comes to world building; the hurdles of writing a book centered around trauma or featuring particularly traumatic scenes; using fewer comps for greater agent interest; the use of interiority in a query letter; advice on how to successfully write in the omniscient POV; curiosity seeds not being watered; and the difficulty with starting your pages with a character's regular day.After which, CeCe interviews Bianca about her upcoming novel, The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. During the conversation they discuss an author working collaboratively with an agent; character development and naming with an ensemble cast; planting curiosity seeds to keep the reader turning pages, the concessions that need to be made with regards to plot when you focus on character development; getting confused as to which character's heads you're in when writing in omniscient POV; and which editorial notes Bianca most feared and how she worked on them. CeCe also challenges Bianca to see who's going to dance on Twitter! Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.com 

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss having a strong sense of place in your work; an example of a good prologue; when it can work to put comps at the end of your query;  examples where you can be too detailed in a query; the idea of stakes going in both directions; and the perfect query letter.After which, CeCe chats with Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom Spring, about how she began her fiction writing journey; the genesis of her debut; using memoirs and collections of oral histories to do research for your historical fiction novel; how her agent found her; leaving your “writing fingerprint” around for people to discover; starting with a sneaky prologue; books that start conversations; and letting the story be bigger than you. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comMelissa can be found at www.melissafu.com, Twitter at @MelissaLFu, and on Instagram at @MelissaFuWriter

In today's special Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by guest literary agent, Jenni Ferrari-Adler who represents Susie Yang (whose novel, White Ivy,  was the #BookswithHooksBC pick for June).  Jenni helps Carly and CeCe evaluate three query letters, in the process discussing leaning into specificity;  sprinkling backstory info rather than dumping it in;  setting up your bombshell moments with the right information; and the importance of emotionality in sample pages. CeCe and Jenni also illustrate how subjective agent opinions can be when reading pages and how the process works when an editor is evaluating a manuscript.After which, Bianca chats with author, Kath Jonathan,  and freelance editor, Lisa Rivers,  about how an author can maximize their interaction with a freelance editor. In the chat, they discuss what kind of info an editor likes to see from the author; breaking up a book into quarters for edits; making point-form notes for each chapter; handling the emotional turmoil after getting edits back; how editors push for the emotional truth and elevation of a manuscript; determining if a scene really needs to be there (get out your highlighter!); how to know when you're ready to approach an editor; and how endurance and fight can help you meet your goals. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comKath can be found on Instagram at @wolverleighgardensLisa can be found on Instagram at @ lisarivers.editorial and you can email her at thewriterstrek@gmail.com 

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca is joined by guest interviewer Kira Mahoney who interviews Daniel Kalla, author of The Darkness in the Light, about why he addresses important medical issues in his books; when being too medically authentic is not a good idea; finding information but also knowing when not to include it; how to create good dialogue between multiple characters all at once; deciding on making a story a dual-POV; and writing thrillers and historical fiction.After which, Bianca chats with Valerie Francis, host of The Story Nerd Podcast, about the various types of writers in relation to writing theory, an exercise that listeners can use in their writing to improve it, using exposition as a tool; studying film to understand story; and the ways Valerie's podcast can help emerging authors. Finally, Carly and CeCe answer your questions!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comDaniel can be found at @danielkallawrites on Instagram, and at www.danielkalla.comValerie can be found at @valerie_francis on Instagram and Twitter, and at www.valeriefrancis.caKira can be found on Instagram at @kiramahoney 

In today's Books with Hooks , Carly and CeCe each critique two query letters. In the process, they discuss stories with magical elements and why the author chooses that specific world as the vehicle for the story; the importance of not revealing too much about a character's ending state of interiority in a query letter; creating believable inner life; delivering on humor; and writing a dual author query.After which, Bianca chats with Tess Gerritsen, NYT bestselling author of Listen to Me about transitioning from romantic suspense to medical thrillers and crime novels; the secret to her longevity in a difficult industry; changing publishers to avoid the death spiral; what it's like spending 22 years with the same characters; approaching characterization; including subtle social commentary in your novels; and her advice for emerging writers. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comTess can be found at @tess.gerritzen on Instagram, and at www.tessgerritsen.com

In today's Bonus Episode, CeCe chats with Zibby Owens, podcaster, publisher, CEO and author of Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature. They play two truths and a lie (the writing version); discuss a  strategy for turning memories into memoir; and Zibby's writing and publishing advice for emerging writers. After which, Bianca chats with Samantha M. Bailey, bestselling author of Watch Out for Her about sewing curiosity seeds; writing messy first drafts; being aware of your writing crutches;  choosing your tenses intentionally; and what it's like to be a bestselling author. Finally, Bianca chats with Natasha Omokhodion-Kalulu Banda, award-winning author of No Be From Hia, about the challenges of writing a multi-POV, multi-timeline debut novel; ensuring the voice grows with the character from child to adult; inciting incidents—on and off the page; and working with editors before you query. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comZibby can be found at @zibbyowens on Twitter and Instagram, and at www.zibbyowens.comSamantha can be found at @sbaileybooks on Instagram and Twitter, and at www.samanthambailey.caNatasha can be found at @tashomokhodian on Instagram

On today's Books with Hooks segment, Carly and CeCe are joined by Caroline and Sammy who submitted their work for critique. During the discussion, Carly and CeCe remind us to lean into specificity in opening pages; the importance of plausibility as well as newer comp titles; the ‘movie trailer' trick for dealing with interiority; avoiding generic interiority; and advice for researching the speech patterns of characters from a different time period.After which, Bianca chats with Riley Sager, NYT bestselling author of The House Across the Lake, about having various pen names; pivoting as a writer; making setting a character in and of itself; showing vs telling, particularly in the thriller genre; the benefits of not giving too much away and making readers do the work; and writing an effective prologue. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comRiley can be found at @riley_sager on Twitter and @riley.sager on Instagram, and at www.rileysagerbooks.com

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca chats with Lidija Hilje, an Author Accelerator certified book coach about differentiating between genres; how to use her genre guide; the differences between literary, upmarket, book club, and women's fiction; how literary fiction moves a story deeper, not forward; what “postcard” scenes are and how to use them; as well as Lidija's editing and book coaching services and upcoming summer group coaching intensive.After which, Bianca chats with Kailey. Creator and Community Manager of Write or Die Tribe, about how critique is just like sex; services that Write or Die offers like mentorships, upcoming classes, Small Press Corner, upcoming contests, and literary magazines open for submissions; not underestimating the power of getting acceptances in literary magazines and small presses to boosts your bio; interviews and articles that are resources for writers; as well as remote job opportunities.Finally, Bookstagrammer, Katy Stanekvitz, of @KatyisReading, joins us to give you comp titles!Find us on our socials: Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing Facebook: @tsnotyaw Website: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comLidija can be found at lidijahilje.comKailey can be found at @writeordietribe and Twitter, and at www.writeordietribe.comKaty can be found at @katyisreading on Instagram and Twitter

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe look at the same 3 queries, discussing a technique for discerning whether your plot points are too internal; the difficulties of having a very emotional character in an opening scene; and the importance of plausibility in plot. Carly and CeCe also fight over a query in a good way!After which, Bianca chats with May Cobb, author of My Summer Darlings, about how to make a prologue successful; peppering a novel with present day interludes instead of a dual timeline narrative; the pressures of the sophomore novel; and the experience of working with a freelance editor.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing Facebook: @tsnotyaw Website: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comMay can be found at @maykcobb on Twitter and @may_cobb on Instagram, and at www.maycobb.com

In today's Bonus Episode, Femi Omotade joins us as a guest interviewer to chat with Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood, to chat about tropes and elements that are not as prominent anymore in romance; reflecting a world in which there are authentic, diverse characters without appropriating voices that aren't your own and without it feeling like tokenism; writing sex scenes; what Ava learned from writing the first book that she's using in writing her second of a two-book deal; and Ava's recommended reading for tips on how to write a good romance novel.After which, Bianca chats with Georgia Clark, author of Island Time, about how genres can be in flux; keeping up with your genre and current books in your genre; writing an ensemble cast; non-fantasy world-building; and using and omniscient narrator for setting the scene/tone in a prologue.Finally, Carly and CeCe answer your publishing and writing questions in this jam-packed Q & A session.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comAva can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @avawilderwrites and her website is www.ava-wilder.comGeorgia can be found at @georgialouclark on Instagram and Twitter and her website is www. gerogiaclark.comFemi can be found at @thebookalert on Instagram

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe evaluate the same three query letters, and in the process, they offer solutions for when your novel doesn't seem to have any similar comps; remind us of the importance of story-forward curiosity; and explain what's necessary in historical fiction to ensure the feel of a certain time period.After which, Bianca chats with Isabel Cañas, author of The Hacienda, about the inspiration for the book; carefully choosing your comps; the archetypes of the gothic novel; overturning canons deeply rooted in English literature; writing modern takes on 19th century settings; when writing feels like a fever dream; overcoming rejection and writing what you're passionate about; pivoting when it comes to genre; writing in sprints; allowing some degree of pantsing so that characters can have agency, because your subconscious knows what it's doing; and how having no agent is better than having a bad agent.   Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing Facebook: @tsnotyaw Website: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.com Isabel can be found at @Isabelcanas_ on Twitter and Instagram, and at www.isabelcanas.com   

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca chats with Hannah Orenstein, author of Meant to Be Mine, about drawing on personal connections for characters; getting an opening chapter to work by breaking the rules about interaction and dialogue; and shutting up your inner critic and allowing yourself to write your stories!After which, Bianca chats with Philippa East, author of Safe and Sound, about structuring your first chapter intentionally; the importance of contrast and juxtaposition; whether you come at your character from the inside or outside; and putting yourself inside your character's mind.Finally, we're joined by Bookstagrammer Katy Stankevitz, of @katyisreading, who gives you comp titles!Find us on our socials: Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing Facebook: @tsnotyaw Website: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.com Hannah can be found at @HannahOrens on Twitter and Instagram, and at www.hannahorenstein.com Philippa can be found at @philippa_east-author on Instagram and at @philippa_east on TwitterKaty can be found at @katyisreading on Instagram and Twitter

In today's Books with Hooks, we're joined by two authors who submitted their work for critique. In the segment, Carly, CeCe and Bianca discuss when it's appropriate for a character to be a curmudgeon; the difference between situational grumpiness vs global grumpiness; the importance of vulnerability when dealing with an unlikeable character; the need for your query to show multi-dimensionality in your novel; and the difficulty of having a dangerous situation right at the beginning of your pages.After which, Femi Omotade interviews Tara M. Stringfellow, the author of Memphis. In their discussion, they address Tara's goals with Memphis, how it explores themes of forgiveness and how it's a celebration of the beauty of Black people; the pressure to give a real place and characters the authenticity they deserve; creating voice-y characters in a multigenerational novel; humanizing villains; writing moments of Black joy; and an author's level of involvement in the cover design process.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comTara can be found on Instagram at @tarastringfellow and her website is www.tarastringfellow.comFemi can be found at @thebookalert on Instagram

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca chats with Carley Fortune, author of Every Summer After,  about setting a book in Canada; her journey to publication; the importance of reaching out to fellow authors for beta reads and critiques; structuring a dual timeline; upping the stakes and tension when you allude to a secret so readers don't get bored waiting for the big reveal; and making writing a part of your daily routine.After which Bianca chats with Roz Nay, author of The Hunted, about Roz's new writing school for kids and adults; finding writers who's work you really admire and who you feel that their work will elevate your own; how to establish voices-ness; how to know when you've got the story and characters right; and where to glean ideas for the next book.Finally, Emilie from East City Bookshop joins us to give you comp titles!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comCarley can be found at: www.carley fortune.com and at @carleyfortune on Instagram and Twitter.Roz can be found at @roznay1 on Twitter and at @RozNay on Instagram. Her website is www.roznay.com Emilie can be found on Instagram at @emiliegsommer and East City Bookshop can be found at @eastcitybookshop

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each discuss the same three queries, unpacking why queries are meant to be short and sweet; the difference between a setup and a reveal; agent burnout and pitching the most exciting info about your novel ASAP; and upping tension by subverting character expectations in the first few pages. Also, Carly surprises us by advocating for a prologue, and Carly and CeCe disagree on one of the queries!After which, Bianca chats with Emma Straub, author of THIS TIME TOMORROW and owner of Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, about a smart strategy for dressing for tour, her inspiration for her most recent novel; planting clues and foreshadowing through your manuscript; the importance of writing well at a line level; and how Emma's unpublished works helped her on her journey to publication.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comEmma can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @emmastraub and her website is www.emmastraub.com

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca chats with Hanny Mary McKinnon, author of NEVER COMING HOME, about how to write characters that we root for even though they're bad; pacing at a scene or chapter level; adding in “sparkly touches” during the editing/revision stage; how to ensure a reader won't want to put your book down; and knowing when a scene or chapter isn't enhancing your story After which, Bianca chats with industry expert, Jane Friedman about how the publishing industry is faring; the lack of diversity in and social dynamics of the industry; current trends in publishing; how BookTok has been driving book sales; self-publishing vs traditionally publishing; thinking long-term when you're making the decision about which publishing route you want to take; and all of Jane's resources available for writers.After which, Carly and CeCe answer all of your burning publishing questions!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comHannah can be found at @hannahmarymckinnon on Instagram and @HannahMMcKinnon on Twitter, and at www.hannahmarymckinnon.comJane can be found at @janefriedman on Instagram and Twitter and at www.janefriendman.com

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each critique two query letters. In the process they discuss closing the distance between narrator and reader; ensuring the reader knows exactly who to root for and what the hook is; how secrets in a query letter must carry inherent stakes with them; voice-y hybrid second person; and planting curiosity seeds.After which, Bianca chats with Stacey Swann, author of Olympus, Texas, about a ‘scaffolding' writing technique; incorporating mythology into your writing; Stacey's writing process and journey to publication; being intentional with your opening pages; and the secret to incorporating backstory.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comStacey can be found at @staceyrswann on Instagram and @StaceySwann on Twitter, and at www.staceyswann.com

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca first chats with Jessica Payne, author of Make Me Disappear, about getting "the call"; how long the editorial process can take before going on sub; how publishing is like dating; how to tell when you're close to getting offers of representation; writing under contract while launching a debut; and establishing relationships with Bookstagrammers and a potential launch team before you've sold the book.Bianca then talks with Amy Jones, award-winning author of Every Little Piece of Me about writing as rewriting; saving your deleted work; how drafting a novel is like building a house; place-holding chapters and  scenes; and drafting mode versus revising mode.After which Carly and CeCe answer your burning questions.Finally, Emilie Sommer from East City Bookshop gives you comps titles!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comJessica can be found on Twitter at @authorjessicapayne and on Instagram at @jessicapayne.writer and at www.jessicapayne.netAmy  can be found on Twitter at @amylaurajones and Instagram at @amlaujo and at www.amyjonesauthor.comEmilie can be found on Instagram at @emiliegsommer and East City Bookshop can be found at @eastcitybookshop

In today's Books with Hooks, we're joined by Paige and Rianne who submitted their work for critique. Carly and CeCe discuss how to make your query properly voicey and following the ‘language' of your novel;  cornering your protagonist to create tension; the need for a personified antagonistic force in your query/novel; and the need for active emotions.After which, Bianca chats with Emily Henry, NYT Bestselling author of Book Lovers, about developing characters; the progress made in the romance genre; writing as an inherently political act; what draws Emily to writing about publishing; and Emily's advice for writing good dialogue and witty banter. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comEmily can be found at @emilyhenrywrites on Instagram and at www.emilyhenrybooks.com

In today's Bonus Episode, CeCe chats with Sarah Cantin, Executive Editor at St. Martin's Publishing Group and the editor of the #BookswithHooksBC pick, The Ballerinas. They discuss what made Sarah fall in love with the submission for The Ballerinas;  what “pre-empt” means in an offer/deal; instantly knowing the genre vs pondering the straddling of two genres; the ratio of submissions vs offers; what to do when a book doesn't sell as well as you thought it would; likeable unlikeable protagonists; and Sarah's book recommendations. After which, Bianca chats with Susie Orman Schnall, the award-winning author of We Came Here to Shine, The Subway Girls, The Balance Project and On Grace. They discuss hiring a professional editor to put your best foot forward for querying; rejections from publishers and the importance of talking about them; understanding the hook of your novel; how to manage the anxiety of being a writer; trusting in your agent's capabilities; and allowing yourself to feel shitty, but also remembering to measure your successes and celebrate them as you keep going.Finally, Emilie Sommer joins us from East City Book Shop to answer your comps questions!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.comSarah can be found at @sarahgcantin on TwitterSusie can be found at @susieormanschnall on Instagram and at www.susieschnall.com Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at @eastcitybookshop on Instagram and at @eastcitybooks on Twitter 

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each review two query letters. In the process, they discuss being specific with hooks and ensuring that you're labeling/branding novel genres correctly; how to create plot points that will make a novel more upmarket/pacey; how emotionality builds tension; the ways in which your author bio should relate to the plot/idea of your book; dealing with the tropes of upmarket women's fiction; and pages that deliver on tension.After which, Bianca chats with Courtney Maum, author of the memoir The Year of the Horses, about advances from publishers; sticking with your book baby even if it means going to a different, smaller publisher; figuring out how to approach a memoir after writing fiction; the difference between memoir and recollection; the guiding principal in a memoir; and incorporating misrememberings into your memoir.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com Courtney can be found at @cbmaum on Instagram and @cmaum on Twitter