Podcasts about pitch wars

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!This week, I sat down with debut author Noël Stark, who went from wrangling chaos behind the scenes in the TV and film world to wrangling words on the page, often in 15-minute bursts. Her novel, Love Camera Action, flips the script on Hollywood romance by spotlighting the crew, not the stars (and the 3 peppers on the spice scale are sure to attract an audience quickly.Inside the Episode:Why Noël intentionally wrote a love story about the people behind the camera.How it took her three years to finish her manuscript (and why that timeline is totally okay if not to be expected).The rollercoaster of Pitch Wars, querying 40+ agents, and the 18-month wait from “yes” to launch day.Choosing not to read reviews during launch (because sanity matters, and confidence is a fragile beast).Why she tailors content differently for Instagram vs. TikTok, and how showing up as her real self resonates most.What's next: a sequel that turns the spotlight on the actors from book one, and an intriguing speculative fiction project that has her lit up.  Awesome Email Templates for AuthorsFrom communicating with your launch team to building relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal readers.

Two authors from Mary's Harbour faced a panel of local publishers last month with their works in progress! We hear from Jeanette Russell and Nina Rumbolt-Pye about their experience at "Pitch Wars" last month.

How did author and writing teacher Sarahlyn Bruck's journey through unexpected twists and turns in the publishing world lead to her ultimate success as an author?  Today host Dara Levan welcomes Sarahlyn Bruck to discuss the intricate paths of the publishing world. Sarahlyn's setbacks, and ultimate success, reveal her belief in the power of perseverance and the crucial role of timing in the industry. Sarahlyn candidly shares her experiences with various publishing houses and the significance of persistence. You'll hear her views on feedback and encouragement as a writer, the intersection of writing and past careers, and the mental health benefits of running. With an emphasis on authenticity and positive reinforcement, Sarahlyn and Dara explore the transformative nature of writing and the vital support needed in creative endeavors. With heartfelt anecdotes and insights, this episode is a celebration of creative evolution and the enduring belief in oneself.  Sarahlyn Bruck writes contemporary, book club fiction—slice-of-life stories with heart and humor centered on friendships and family. She is the award-winning author of three novels: Light of the Fire (2024), Daytime Drama (2021), and Designer You (2018). Sarahlyn lives in Philadelphia with her family and is a full-time writing and literature professor at a local community college.  In This Episode:  (00:00) Intro to author Sarahlyn Bruck - perseverance, timing, and the lessons learned from agent feedback, challenges of finding an agent (09:34) Receiving feedback, balancing criticism with positive reinforcement, the crossover between storytelling and math(14:00) Running and walking for mental and physical health, exercise myths(18:00) “No bad kids” and enjoying your children's vibes and evolution(20:40) The evolution of the Every Soul podcast, (celebrating four years!)(22:35) Transforming personally before, during, and after writing a book, the Pitch Wars experience(27:05) Artists and the encouragement from loved ones, the importance of someone believing in your talents(31:00) Closing thoughts, how to get in touch with SarahlynLike and subscribe to hear all of our inspirational episodes! Resources: Sarahlyn Bruck Sarahlyn Bruck Links Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky at @sarahlynbruck Pitch Wars Comes to an End Sign up for Dara's Newsletter Listen to other podcast episodes Here Connect with Dara on Instagram and Facebook Visit DaraLevan.com 

The stakes are high and the nerves are too.. Writers NL is hosting their annual 'Pitch Wars" event... where real writers pitch real publishers for a chance to land a real book deal - all in front of a real audience. We get a preview from the executive director of Writers NL and the president and publisher of Breakwater Books. (Krissy Holmes with Jen Winsor; Krissy with Rebecca Rose)

Jenny Kiefer is a debut author, avid rock climber, and Kentucky resident. She also owns and manages Butcher Cabin Books, a horror bookstore in Louisville, KY, with her mother. Her background is in copywriting and journalism, and she is the recipient of the Miracle Monocle Editor's Award for Emerging Writers and four Society of Professional Journalism Awards. She was a 2021 Pitch Wars mentee and is a member of the Horror Writers Association.  NEWS: We have a Bookshop.org shop now! Find all of our favorite books at our shop–and help out small businesses.    More info about the Canadian museum exhibit here: https://www.orillia.ca/en/visiting/exhibits.aspx?_mid_=28224 (Opening October 5 until December 20, 2024 - Temporary Exhibit)   UP NEXT: This Wretched Valley  Buy our books here, including our newest Toil and Trouble.

Hey writers! I'm Jennie Nash — and this is the #amwriting podcast, the place where we talk about writing all the things: short things, long things, fiction, non-fiction, pitches and proposals. Today, we're going to dig into a part of the writing process that comes WAY before you write anything — which is giving yourself permission to write in the first place. So many writers are shut down by teachers, people who love them, critique partners, well-meaning editors and book coaches, perhaps the entire culture– and the impact of that shutting down can last for decades, if not entire lifetimes. In my Blueprint framework – a method of inquiry for starting a project -- the first question is why write this book? Why do you want to do this? It's amazing to me the number of times that the deep level why has to do with reclaiming a voice that was shut down. My colleague and friend Julie Artz was shut down when she was 25 and 20 years later she is finally grappling with what happened – and feeling a creative spaciousness that eluded her until now. She's been on the show before, but I invited her back to talk about this important topic. About Julie:Julie Artz is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman, Writers Helping Writers, AuthorsPublish, IWWG, ProWritingAid and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. She's built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. Connect with her on Instagram @JulieArtz and download her freebie on giving yourself permission. https://pages.julieartz.com/giveyourselfpermission It's hard to believe the summer is almost over, and in the next few weeks, we will be wrapping up our special Blueprint Challenge that we did here at the #AmWriting podcast. As a part of that challenge, anyone who signed up for and completed it will be getting a list of exclusive offers from Author Accelerator book coaches to help them with their blueprints.But if, as the summer closes, you're at a point where you feel like you could use some help from a book coach, we suggest you check out Author Accelerator's book coach directory. They've certified more than 260 book coaches in fiction, nonfiction and memoir, and one of them may be the perfect person to help you get your book back on track. Head to https://www.authoraccelerator.com/matchme to find the book coach that's right for you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, Everyone; on this episode of My Creative Life, I interviewed YA author Alex Samuely. Here is more about Alex: Alex Samuely works in corporate communications by day and writes YA by night. Her young adult contemporary fantasy novels draw inspiration from her favorite locations, because she strongly believes that setting is a character. Alex, a 2020 Pitch Wars alumna, can be found dreaming up story ideas after visiting quaint small towns, spooky forests, and places with a slightly eerie vibe. Alexi's X/Twitter Thanks for listening!

Finally we are able to release this incredible episode. Which is extra full of Big Magic for two reasons - first of all, because we got to chat with the incredible human that is THE Rosalie M. Lin. BUT ALSO!!! Because our intro features a chat that happened not even an hour after your Aussie cloaca queen Melanie HAD THE CALL WITH HER BRAND NEW AGENT!!! We can finally share it now the news is out!! So excited for you all to tune in. But first, here's more about Rosalie! Rosalie M. Lin is a Chinese-American writer from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has, at various points in the past decade, graduated with a degree in Comparative Literature, pole-danced in two Beijing nightclubs, and dropped out of a biomedical PhD program, before seriously pursuing her original dream of becoming an author. Rosalie was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2020. https://rosaliemlin.com/ About DAUGHTER OF CALAMITY :Jingwen spends her nights as a showgirl at the Paramount, one of the most lavish clubs in Shanghai, competing ruthlessly to charm wealthy patrons. To cap off her shifts, she runs money for her grandmother, the exclusive surgeon to the most powerful gang in the city. A position her grandmother is pressuring her to inherit…When a series of cabaret dancers are targeted―the attacker stealing their faces―Jingwen fears she could be next. And as the faces of the dancers start appearing on wealthy foreign socialites, she realizes Shanghai's glittering mirage of carefree luxury comes at a terrible price.Fighting not just for her own safety but that of the other dancers―women who have simultaneously been her bitterest rivals and only friends―Jingwen has no choice but to delve into the city's underworld. In this treacherous realm of tangled alliances and ancient grudges, silver-armed gangsters haunt every alley, foreign playboys broker deals in exclusive back rooms, and the power of gods is wielded and traded like yuan. Jingwen will have to become something far stranger and more dangerous than her grandmother ever imagined if she hopes to survive the forces waiting to sell Shanghai's bones. (from goodreads) Get your copy of DAUGHTER OF CALAMITY here: https://linktr.ee/rosaliemlin Add DAUGHTER OF CALAMITY to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195790991-daughter-of-calamity #OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #writing #publishing #RosalieMLin #daughterofcalamity #bookish⁠ ⁠#podcastsforwriters⁠ ⁠#writingcommunity⁠ ⁠#writingpodcast⁠ ⁠#writersofinstagram⁠ ⁠#writerspodcast⁠ ⁠#writeradvice⁠ ⁠#podcasting⁠ ⁠#podcasts⁠ ⁠#podcastersofinstagram⁠ ⁠#Query⁠ ⁠#querying⁠  #daughterofcalamity  #books #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #debutauthor #historicalfantasy #fantasybooks #aapiauthors #chineseamerican #2024debut

We could not be more thrilled to have Courtney's Pitch Wars mentee Elle Everhart with us on the pod! We talk about her incredible new book Hot Summer, finding balance between writing and life, reality TV dating shows, and Twilight! Buy Some Books! (affiliate links) Hot Summer by Elle Everhart Wanderlust by Elle Everhart In the Case of Heartbreak⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Courtney Kae ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Event of Love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Courtney Kae Change of Heart by Falon Ballard ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Right on Cue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Falon Ballard ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Just My Type⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Falon Ballard ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lease on Love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Falon Ballard ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All I Want is You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Falon Ballard

On this episode, writing expert Joel Brigham breaks down the components of a Query Letter as well as your First Pages - - the two most important things a writer seeking an agent needs (other than a completed manuscript, of course!).  Joel provides examples of what to do and what not to do, the ideal word count of a query letter, and what first pages must have to hook the potential agent (and future readers).Joel Brigham is a freelance editor who helps writers and authors at all stages of their careers find the hearts and souls of their stories. Joel is on the board of Revise & Resub, where he's served as an editor for the annual RevPit contest as well as its #10Queries events. In addition, he's provided countless first-10-page critiques through Writing Day Workshops, and he served as a PitchWars mentor in 2021.You can find Joel here: https://brighameditorial.com/ and on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/joelbrighamI love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

We learned about the new authors who have answered the call to pitch their stories in public to publishers for a chance to finally sign a book deal. We spoke with Jen Winsor from the Writer's Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, to sets the stakes for Saturday night's Pitch Wars at the Emera Innovation Exchange Conference Centre in downtown St. John's.

Today's guest is feminist noir crime writer Halley Sutton. She wrote the first draft of her debut novel, The Lady Upstairs, while getting her MFA at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. So we got into the pros and cons of MFAs for writers. And we also talk book #2 and how that's different since Halley's currently in the home stretch with her second novel, The Hurricane Blonde. Halley shared how Pitch Wars helped her first book find its footing, how she turned a rejection letter into an agent, the importance of a midpoint, and other sage advice for fledgling writers. Follow Halley on Twitter @halley_sutton and Instagram @halleysutton25.Order Halley's new novel The Hurricane Blonde, which the NYTimes called "enthralling."Welcome, writers and book lovers. The Bleeders is a new podcast about book writing and publishing. Make sure you subscribe to the companion Substack: https://thebleeders.substack.com/welcomeSUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW BLEEDERS YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR FULL-LENGTH INTERVIEWS. https://www.youtube.com/@bleederspodcastThe Bleeders is hosted by Courtney Kocak. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @courtneykocak. For more, check out her website courtneykocak.com.Hey writers! Trying to build your platform, but feeling a little overwhelmed, intimidated, or just plain lazy?⁠ I'm teaching a writer platform workshop through Write or Die Magazine and Chill Subs just for you on October 14th! In this 2.5-hour intensive, I will talk you through how to build a platform using podcasts, newsletters, social media, and more — and no, you don't need to start your own podcast. It recorded if you can't make it in-person, and you'll get a PDF of resources post-class. Sign up here: https://www.chillsubs.com/writeordie/workshops/how-to-build-platform-for

Today on Killer Women our guest is Rachel Howzell Hall. Rachel is the New York Times bestselling author of We Lie Here; These Toxic Things; And Now She's Gone; and They All Fall Down; and, with James Patterson, The Good Sister, which was included in Patterson's collection The Family Lawyer. A Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist as well as an Anthony, International Thriller Writers, and Lefty Award nominee, Rachel is also the author of Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes, and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. A past member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America, Rachel has been a featured writer on NPR's acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Killer Women is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #rachelhowzellhall #newyorktimesbestseller #thomasandmercer

Today on Killer Women our guest is Rachel Howzell Hall. Rachel is the New York Times bestselling author of We Lie Here; These Toxic Things; And Now She's Gone; and They All Fall Down; and, with James Patterson, The Good Sister, which was included in Patterson's collection The Family Lawyer. A Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist as well as an Anthony, International Thriller Writers, and Lefty Award nominee, Rachel is also the author of Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes, and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. A past member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America, Rachel has been a featured writer on NPR's acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Killer Women is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #rachelhowzellhall #newyorktimesbestseller #thomasandmercer

Do you have a book that's "No plot, just vibes"? We're here to support you! Join agent Taj McCoy to discuss how to feel good from Draft One to Done. We talk about how subconscious themes, sensory details, and putting new twists on familiar tropes can bring your work to life. We love how Taj talks about starting with the layers you know best first so that you have the motivation to continue--and start from a strong, confident place. Plus: When do agents read your synopsis? (Hint: We disagree!) We also talk about how to make your first page sing for contests, even when word count requirements vary and you want to end with a line of your choice--and then answer YOUR questions from Twitter. Want to meet with Taj? Head to https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/taj-mccoy. Oakland-born law grad, Taj McCoy, is committed to writing stories championing Black and biracial women of color, plus-sized protagonists, Black love, Black joy, and characters with a strong sense of sisterhood and familial bonds. Taj started writing as a small child, enjoying the success of her first publications in elementary school. Since then, her dream has always been to become a professional writer. As a law student, she attempted her first novels and joined the Twitter writing community. Though Taj has spent more than ten years working in higher education administration, she continued to pursue her goal and ultimately finished her first novel in 2018, securing her agent in 2019. Her Adult Fiction is published through Mira/HQN. Taj trained as an agent under Fuse Literary, having previously served as Pitch Wars mentor and co-program manager for Diverse Voices, Inc.'s DVdebut program before joining Rees Literary Agency in 2022. Taj aims to widen the entryway for marginalized authors into the publishing industry and to normalize Black joy, fat joy, celebrations of culture, and love without limitations. She represents Adult Fiction (contemporary, romance, romcoms, women's fiction, mystery/thriller), Adult Non-Fiction (memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, satire, empowerment), Children's Fiction (MG and YA contemporary, mystery, romance, thriller, fantasy), Children's Non-Fiction (historical narratives, picture books). When she's not writing or agenting, Taj may be on Twitter boosting other marginalized writers, trying to zen out in yoga, sharing recipes on her website, binge-watching her favorite reality tv, or cooking private supper club meals for close friends. Catch her producing and co-hosting the Fat Like Me Podcast, which celebrates body diversity in publishing and entertainment, or watch her join forces with several writer friends on Sundays for the Better Than Brunch video podcast.

We had such an amazing time talking with our fellow ⁠#PitchWars⁠ 2020 class alum, THE Regina Black ⁠@reginablackwrites⁠ 

Episode 196 Notes and Links to Rachel Howzell Hall's Work       On Episode 196 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Rachel Howzell Hall and the two discuss, among other things, her devotion to reading throughout her life, her love of crime writing and thrillers, the draw of her favorite writers, and ideas raised and dealt with in her writing, including themes of loneliness, identity, racism, traumas both historical and individual, gentrification, and fear.      Rachel Howzell Hall''s debut novel, A Quiet Storm, was published in 2002 by Scribner to great notice, and was chosen as a “Rory's Book Club” selection, the must-read book list for fictional television character Rory Gilmore of The Gilmore Girls.    She is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She's Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry- and Anthony Awards. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series as well as the author of the bestselling Audible Original, How It Ends.    Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR's acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs.    She lives in L.A. with her husband and daughter.       Buy What Never Happened   Rachel's Website   Review of What Never Happened from Kirkus Reviews  At about 1:20, Rachel talks about her mindset in the days leading up to the publication of What Never Happened on August 1, 2023; she also    At about 4:20, Rachel talks about the realism she seeks in her writing, particularly the book's ending   At about 5:30, The two discuss the book's bold opening   At about 6:15, Rachel gives background on her early reading and writing and love for LA, as well as her lifelong fascination with crime   At about 8:55, Rachel talks about the power of Stephen King's work, particularly It   At about 10:20, Rachel talks about her experience at UC Santa Cruz   At about 11:00, Rachel discusses representation in the work she read growing up, and her desire to reflect different realities in her work in her specific way   At about 13:30, Rachel cites Laura Lippman, Megan Abbott and Gillian Flynn as writers whose treatment of “complex female characters” inspires her and her own work; she also cites Dennis Lehane and his “twists”; Eric Larson (telegraphs) and Jon Krakeur, too, are nonfiction writers who have influenced her    At about 16:30, Rachel responds to Pete's question about how she sees genre and she highlights “sense of place” by Jordan Harper and Tod Goldberg   At about 19:20, Rachel talks in general and specifically about What Never Happened regarding writing the balance between plot/theme/allegory, etc.   At about 22:05, Rachel discusses the book's setting and seeds for the book, including the draw of Catalina Island for someone who grew up in Los Angeles    At about 24:15, Rachel talks about the pandemic and obituaries and their effects on the books   At about 25:15,    At about 26:40, Pete and Rachel discuss Southland and their shared love for the show, as Pete connects the show's in medias res to the book's beginning   At about 29:00, The two discuss complications in the book and important characters in Coco's life, including her spurned and threatening ex-husband   At about 31:55, Rachel talks about how the tragedies that Coco experienced affects her as a “people pleaser”   At about 33:45, Rachel and Pete give a little historical background on Catalina Island, its landscape and unique social climate; Rachel shares some interesting historical anecdotes and trivia based on her research and some of her rationale in building upon themes in the book with regard to the island   At about 39:50, Rachel vouches for the historical veracity of the racist wording used in the Avalon newspapers in the archives Coco searches in the book   At about 42:00, The two shout out Gwen, who Rachel calls “everyone's sassy aunty”    At about 43:00, Pete quotes a great line from Gwen   At about 44:00, Rachel characterizes Noah, and how he views Coco   At about 46:30, Pete lays out a series of crimes that terrorize the island in the book, in tandem with the beginning of the Covid epidemic; Rachel expands upon ideas of the despicable things done in quarantine   At about 49:00, Pete highlights the cascading problems and scares that complicate Coco's life as the book goes on   At about 50:15, Pete recounts an early scene with a cab driver that is prophetic   At about 51:30, Pete outlines some key themes of the book-racism, gentrification, etc.: and Rachel expands on ideas of classicism and ideas of loneliness, as well as Garden of Eden   At about 54:10, Pete and Rachel   At about 55:40, Pete asks Rachel about writing in different voices-obituary, narration, etc.,-as well as the genesis of the book's title   At about 58:50, Rachel imagines who would play Coco if a movie of What Never Happened took place   At about 59:35, Rachel talks about exciting future projects    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Check out the next episode, which airs on August 1 Chloe Cooper Jones is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine; She is also a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Feature Writing for “Fearing for His Life,” a profile of Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed the killing of Eric Garner, and the recipient of the 2020 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant and the 2021 Howard Foundation Grant from Brown University, with both grants in support of her 2023 book, Easy Beauty.    The episode will air on August 1.

Magical Realist Author Angel Di Zhang joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss recording her own audiobook, having an editor who gets your vision, Pitch Wars, writing books that you don't want, the joy in writing a perfect sentence, querying too early, the two sentence critique that led to a rewrite, and getting sidetracked by the wrong feedback. Angel Di Zhang was born in northeast China, and raised in China, England, Canada and the United States. She was educated in the joint BA-MIA program at Columbia University, and is a painter and an internationally exhibited fine art photographer. Angel lives in a secret garden near Toronto. Angel: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Indigo | US Purchase QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon Read the full transcript. If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqangeldz  This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

John M. Jennings is president and chief strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office, a $15 billion wealth management firm. He is an adjunct professor at Washington University's Olin Business School and writes on wealth management topics for Forbes. In his book, The Uncertainty Solution, Jennings uses mental models to create a latticework of wisdom that will help you evaluate investment decisions and investment advice and provides insight into broader aspects of our complex and uncertain world. https://johnmjennings.com/Meg Eden Kuyatt is a neurodivergent author and college-level creative writing instructor. She is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and the author of poetry books. When she isn't writing, she's probably playing Fire Emblem. Inspired by her experience living on the spectrum as someone who largely “passes” in society as neurotypical, Meg's book Good Different is an extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference from a promising new voice in children's literature. https://www.megedenbooks.com/Ellen Braaten, PhD, is Executive Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, and Visiting Professor at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Dr. Braaten is widely recognized for her expertise in pediatric neuropsychological and psychological assessment, particularly in the areas of assessing learning disabilities and attentional disorders. In her book, Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less, Dr. Braaten helps you understand the myriad biological, psychological, and social factors that affect motivation, and get to know your own child's unique strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits better. https://www.ellenbraatenphd.com/This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3240061/advertisement

Meg Eden Kuyatt is a neurodivergent author and college-level creative writing instructor. She is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and the author of poetry books. Her new novel, "Good Different," is a moving and unputdownable story about learning to celebrate the things that make us different.

Selah is an autistic 7th grader at a private school, and is navigating all of the expectations and social relationships of being neurodivergent. She's the main character in a middle-grade fiction book called Good Different, by Meg Eden Kuyatt, and Emily Kircher-Morris talks to her about life as an autistic author. Who was the inspiration for Selah? Was it difficult to write her story completely in poem form? What advice does Meg have for neurodivergent kids growing up today? It's all in episode 168, part of our celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. Here's the link for the summer camp program at Young Scholars Academy. Please use promo code YSANDP10 for 10% off, and to let them know you heard it on the Neurodiversity Podcast. Register today and get started on our free executive function course from the Neurodiversity University! It's set up for educator professional develop and continuing education credit. To get A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children (2nd edition) at a 25% discount, click here and use the discount code NDPOD25. ABOUT THE GUEST Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children's novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). BACKGROUND READING Meg's Linktree Website Instagram Facebook Twitter

Author and Poet Meg Eden Kuyatt joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss getting her first agent in high school, how writing is like gardening, holding your projects loosely, writing out of order, and regretting acting on impatience. Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children's novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023).  Meg: Query | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | Libro FM QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon Read the full transcript. If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqmegeden  This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the talented, Meg Eden Kuyatt on the show! @meden_authorMeg is the author of GOOD DIFFERENT. An extraordinary novel-in-verse for fans of Starfish and A Kind of Spark about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference.But first, a bit more about THE Meg Eden Kuyatt:Meg Eden is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at Anne Arundel Community College. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection Drowning in the Floating World (Press 53, 2020) and children's novels, most recently Good Different (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at https://www.megedenbooks.com/ or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal. You can order GOOD DIFFERENT here: https://linktr.ee/medenauthor Add GOOD DIFFERENT to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59023007-selah-s-guide-to-normal?ref=bk_bet_out #middlegradebooks #novelinverse #2023debuts  #Gooddifferent #MegEdenKuyatt #scholasticpress #mentalhealth #middlegrade #actuallyautistic #neurodivergent #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writer  #writing  #bookstagram #bookish

There is one thing that Lina Chern and I can wholeheartedly agree on and that's the importance of having fun during the writing process. If what you are writing isn't bringing you joy then, chances are, you aren't going to want to see it through. It took Lina a long time to find the joy in writing her debut novel, but when she did things changed for the better! Meet Lina Chern Lina Chern is an author who has had her crime fiction published in Mystery Weekly, The Marlboro Review, The Bellingham Review, Rhino, The Collagist, Black Fox Literary Magazine, and The Coil. She is a Pitch Wars alum and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her debut novel, Play the Fool.  Key Topics: Why writing a novel isn't always a linear process. The importance of getting some “wind in your sails” to keep your encouragement up. Why the support of a partner is critical for parents looking to write a novel. The role of fun in the writing process. Why new authors should not expect to be good right off the bat. How Lina manages writer's block. Buy Play the Fool Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jNQ7sj Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593500668 Connect With Lina Website: https://www.linachern.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChernLina Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linachernwrites/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-chern-162a4b8/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16168786.Lina_Chern?from_search=true&from_srp=true Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mia P. Manansala (MAH-nahn-sah-lah) (she/her) is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, came out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House and is the first in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. She is the winner of the 2022 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, 2022 Macavity Award for Best First Novel, 2022 RUSA Reading List for Mystery, 2021 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, 2018 Hugh Holton Award, the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship. She was shortlisted for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery/Thriller and the 2021 CHIRBy Award for Fiction by the Chicago Review of Books. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor.A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries and diverse romance, and cuddling her dogs Gumiho and Max Power.Mia won the Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color award in 2018.Website: https://www.miapmanansala.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MPMtheWriterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MPMtheWriter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpmthewriter/This podcast was recorded in May 2021.********The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is an annual grant of $2,000 for an emerging writer of color. Submissions are open through March 31. For more information, go to this website. https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/eleanortaylorblandYou don't have to be a member of Sisters in Crime to submit your materials for consideration. ********Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SINCnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

We had a magical time speaking with debut author and Pitchwars 2020 classmate, Lyssa Mia Smith @lsmittywrites !!! Lyssa always has the most encouraging and insightful things to say. And her debut novel REVELLE sounds AMAZING!!!!! We cannot wait for you to tune into this episode! A bit more about Lyssa Mia Smith: Lyssa Mia Smith is an author of romantic fantasies and a fan of all things magical and heart-wrenching. She has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an expertise in adolescent trauma. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives on Long Island with her partner and their two young children, who keep her busy hunting for insects against her will. Revelle is her debut novel. https://www.lyssamiasmith.com Preorder REVELLE here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/revelle-lyssa-mia-smith Add REVELLE to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59580983-revelle #podcastsforwriters #podcast #OfthePublishingPersuasion #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #pitchwarsalum #Pitchwars #pitchwars2020 #podcast #podcastlife #bookstagram #revellebook #lyssamiasmith

Today, Lori is interviewing Jumata Emill. They'll be talking about exploring social justice through multi-cultural experiences and his book The Black Queen. Jumata is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his B.A. in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He's a Pitch Wars alum and member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he's not writing about murderous teens, he's watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, La. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jumata Emill and Lori discuss: The importance and long-term effects of character representation in YA novels. Making social justice a relatable topic for young people through engaging and thought provoking prose. How the influence of real life experiences and conversations have woven together to create inclusivity in his work.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/446

Aspiring college students tend to commit abundant time and resources to learning all about specific schools and programs, yet remain oblivious to their own motivations and needs. Amy and Mike invited author Tracy Badua to comment on finding your authentic self in the path to college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is the concept of authenticity so central to discussions about life after high school? In what ways does a high-pressure academic environment impact a high schooler? What makes being rejected by a dream school so difficult for teens? What lessons can you share for students who feel that they “owe” their parents success? What advice should every teen take to heart about high school, college, and life? MEET OUR GUEST Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. According to her grandmother, Tracy inherited this love of the written word from her great-grandfather, a school teacher in the Philippines. To Tracy, this means writing is in her blood, and she continues this family tradition by telling stories with her own spin in an accessible, heartfelt way. Tracy's newest book is This is Not A Personal Statement?, released Jan 2023. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family time, and bites of her secret stash of candy. School and work brought her from California to Washington, DC, and back, and she now lives in San Diego, California, with her family. Tracy served as an Article Editor for the California Real Property Journal, was a Round 8 mentor for Author Mentor Match and 2021 Pitch Wars mentor, and is actively involved in the Filipino American lawyer community. She was awarded the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators first Out from the Margins Award and a Conference Choice Award at the 2017 San Diego State University Writers' Conference. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Find Tracy at https://tracybadua.com. LINKS This Is Not A Personal Statement RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INSANITY WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN ADMISSIONS? ADMISSIONS INSIGHTS FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITIES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

We are SO EXCITED to be chatting with the incredible Nikki Payne this week! We talk about her stunning debut, Pride and Protest, and all the things that inspired her book. We also chat about our Pitch Wars experiences, how reading romance gives us an avenue to talk about (and sometimes discover!) our desires, soap operas, and the politics of ugliness. Be ready to have your mind blown! Book Links! (affiliate links--which means when you buy a book from one of our links, you're helping to support the show!) Nikki's Book: Pride and Protest Courtney's Books: In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak Falon's Books: Lease on Love and Just My Type (P.S. We are still working on the finer details of podcasting so please be patient with us as we work to bring you the best sound possible!)

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda interviews debut author Sarah Zachrich Jeng about The Other Me, a mind-bending speculative thriller about a Chicago-based artist who suddenly finds herself living an alternate life in her Michigan hometown. Sarah talks about her brief career as a rockstar, her fan-fiction gateway into the writing world, and her character-development process. She also describes her publishing journey (it all started on Twitter's Pitch Wars!), her tricks for balancing writing, parenting, and a full-time job, and the “book two syndrome” she is currently experiencing as she works on her second project.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: bit.ly/3hMhBxkBookshop: bit.ly/3FQ3YVVSubscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can be a mom AND a writer. Julie is here to encourage and teach you.Julie Artz spent her young life sneaking into wardrobes searching for Narnia. When people thought that was creepy, she went in search of other ways to go on mystical adventures. Now she finds those long-sought doors to magical story worlds in her work as an author, editor, and book coach. An active member of the writing community, she volunteers for SCBWI and Pitch Wars and is a member of EFA and AWP. Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers, and a trio of naughty furry familiars.To download the free Tent Pole Scenes outline that she's so graciously sharing with the Moms Who Create listeners, click the link below. pages.julieartz.com/momswhocreatehttps://julieartz.comhttps://twitter.com/julieartzhttps://www.instagram.com/julieartz/https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieArtzhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56rNIxloFxfFAFeBqLQhywSupport the show

Such an emotional, full circle moment coming back to interview our dear friend Courtney from our Pitch Wars class of 2020! Courtney is just one of the most beautiful souls you'll ever meet and her book is a true joy-filled delight. We love the characters and story Courtney created so much, we couldn't resist dressing up as the main characters on the cover to surprise her for our interview. A bit more about Courtney: Courtney Kae (she/they) writes the sweet and steamy happily ever afters that give her queer little heart great joy. She lives in Southern California with her husband, child, and thoroughly spoiled cats. Some of her favorite things include: family movie nights, breakfast for every meal, devouring romance books, and attempting to keep her succulents alive. Courtney's debut novel, IN THE EVENT OF LOVE, will release on August 30th, 2022 with Kensington and Headline Eternal, and the sequel, IN THE CASE OF HEARTBREAK, will follow on April 25, 2023. She can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @court_kae. courtneykaebooks.com We CANNOT WAIT for her book IN THE EVENT OF LOVE to come out into the world (you can pre-order it here) Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer

SFF Author Erin Fulmer joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss the importance of community, realizing writing is not such a solitary pursuit, doing things out of order, marketing as a small press author, worrying about choosing the wrong path, and the pros and cons of going with a small press. Erin Fulmer is an attorney by day, author of science fiction and fantasy by night. A 2020 Pitch Wars alumna, she lives in Northern California with her husband and cats. CAMBION'S BLOOD, the second book in her urban fantasy series and sequel to her debut CAMBION'S LAW, is out now. Erin: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound Read the full transcript QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqfulmer Queries, Qualms, & Quirks asks published authors to share their successful query letter and discuss their journey from first spark to day of publication. This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

Young Adult Author Jamie Beth Cohen joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss the strawberry shortcake origin story, going against a mentor's advice, the ups and downs of going with a small press, having more to say than having time to write it down, and getting a lot out of Pitch Wars without having been selected. Jamie Beth Cohen is a writer, speaker, and storyteller who lives in Pennsylvania. Her words have appeared in The Washington Post, HuffPost, Salon, Teen Vogue, and several other outlets. She is the author of WASTED PRETTY and LIMINAL SUMMER. When not working, writing, or spending time with her family, she mentors an incarcerated writer and novice storytellers. Jamie: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Podcast | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound See full transcript. QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqcohen This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

You've been listening to the Night's End podcast which is a production of Dissonance Media. Love Potion was written by Julia LaFond and was narrated by Sarah Penn. Lara learns the hard way the repercussions of messing around with magic. Love Potion was written by Julia LaFond. Julia is a geoscience/astrobiology PhD candidate at Penn State, where she regularly attended the Creative Writing Club pre-pandemic. She's also a member of #TeamVelvetSteel (a group of YA writers who found each other through Pitch Wars). Her repertoire includes short and flash fiction, poetry, and science communication pieces. When she's not in the lab or writing, she enjoys reading, gaming, and advocating for disability rights. To connect with Julia, visit her website at  https://jklafondwriter.wordpress.com/   This episode was narrated by Sarah Penn. To hear more from Sarah, she is the lead character in the amazing podcast Rapture 518. Rapture 518 is a horror/psychological thriller Audiodrama produced in Canada. Dr. Sarah Penn is a resident physician, but she has not been at work for a few weeks. Part of this is because of the unpredictable outbreak that's turned mild-mannered pedestrians into flesh-eating sociopaths. People are much less predictable than the undead. Welcome to Rapture. Welcome home. You can search for it wherever you listen to podcasts.   Jimmy Horrors was performed by James Barnett. This episode was edited and produced by James Barnett.   If you aren't already aware, Night's End has released a horror-themed apparel line called, Stay Horrific. There are horror-themed t-shirts, mugs, dresses, socks, all the good stuff. Go and check it out now. Support the Night's end on Patreon to receive bonus content and merch: www.patreon.com/nightsendpodcast Or support us by purchasing directly from our shop: www.nightsendpodcast.com/shop Donations: www.ko-fi.com/nightsendpodcast   And as always, stay horrific everyone.

Today we have the incredible Emily Thiede @ektwrites as our guest on the show! We had so much fun chatting with Emily who is just so full of wisdom and insights about all the highs and lows of this wild writer life. Emily is the author of soon-to-be released YA fantasy, THIS VICIOUS GRACE. (add it to Goodreads here) A bit more about Emily: (http://ekthiede.com) EMILY THIEDE is the author of This Vicious Grace. A former public school teacher, Emily teaches creative writing and serves on the board for Writer House, a local writing nonprofit, and co-hosts the Basic Pitches podcast. An alumnus of PitchWars and Author Mentor Match, she loves mentoring aspiring authors, fostering kittens, and getting lost in the woods near her home in central Virginia. Emily spent the first half of her life in New Jersey and the rest in Virginia, so she talks fast but knows how to use “bless your heart” effectively. After a childhood reading in trees and dreaming of riding dragons, she loves to write stories with high stakes, lots of heart, “that's what she said” humor, and characters who cope with impending doom by bickering and bantering with friends and foe alike. Emily is represented by Chelsea Eberly at the Greenhouse Literary Agency Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer

Young Adult Author Margie Fuston joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss having both a great and a terrible Pitch Wars experience, ditching a PhD to write a book, selling a trunked novel after getting an agent, R&Rs, making the one change she said she'd never make, fear of social media, taking care of your mental and physical health. Margie Fuston lives in the woods of California and spends all her time wrangling a herd of cats and helping her nephews hunt ghosts, pond monsters, and mermaids. She's the author of Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things and Cruel Illusions. Margie: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqfuston This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

Young Adult Author Sarah Dass joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss letting go of a book to move forward, the importance of finishing books, her debut group, a disastrous first book, amassing 100 rejections, Pitch Wars, and getting published with your third book. Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. She works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. When she's not writing, she's reading or taking walks with her dachshund, Stella. Sarah's debut novel, Where the Rhythm Takes You, is inspired by her childhood, spent in a seaside hotel. Sarah: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqdass This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

Book Club Fiction Author Lyn Liao Butler joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss the book that started as a blog, dissecting her favorite books to learn to write, doing an R&R, not getting into Pitch Wars (for a great reason), reviving trunked novels, post-publication uncertainty, traveling for research, the importance of community, and the benefit of an agent in your corner. Lyn Liao Butler was born in Taiwan and moved to the States when she was seven. Before becoming an author, she was a professional ballet and modern dancer, and is still a personal trainer and fitness and yoga instructor. She is an avid animal lover who fosters dogs and volunteers with rescues. When she is not torturing clients or talking to imaginary characters, Lyn enjoys spending time with her FDNY husband, their son (the happiest little boy in the world), and their three stubborn dachshunds; sewing for her Etsy shop; and trying complicated yoga poses on a stand-up paddleboard. So far, she has not fallen into the water. Lyn: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqbutler This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

Amish porn led Sarah Burnard to romancelandia and she hasn't looked back. But, Amish porn aside, she struggled with writing the naughty bits. To get comfortable, she wrote a “dirty, sexy, filthy” book, which got her into Pitch Wars and landed her an agent! See, filth works!  Listen to the end, when I read a sneak peek naughty bit from Sarah's “dirty, sexy, filthy” not-yet-published book Batteries Not Included. Connect with Sarah:Twitter @SarahABurnard Instagram: sarah_burnardWeb: SarahBurnardAuthor.com  

Mia P. Manansala is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. She is the winner of the 2018 Hugh Holton Award, the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment  Mia P. Manansala Borrow Mia's Tita Rosie's Kitchen series from our catalog Website: miapmanansala.com  Twitter: @MPMtheWriter Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: jaxpubliclibrary.org  Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary  Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary  Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary  YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl  Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net

Anna and Emily spend time talking about Pitch Wars and their latest projects. Info About Pitch Decks Anna's Instagram

Rachel Howzell Hall is the critically acclaimed author of the Amazon Charts bestseller These Toxic Things and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize-nominated And Now She's Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards. Also author of the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends, Rachel is a New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, She's received nominations and acclaim for They All Fall Down, an homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, and for Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series.Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR's acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.comFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/rachel.h.hallTwitter @RachelHowzellInstagram @rhowzellhallWebsite www.rachelhowzell.com*****************Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SINCnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrime

Today's guest is Lyssa Mia Smith, author of REVELLE!✨ A YA fantasy pitched as a “magical Moulin Rouge in the Prohibition era” by Harper Collins/Blazer&Bray (early 2023). Aside from just being an especially wonderful human, Lyssa's writer journey and industry knowledge are so raw and insightful, talking to her felt like writer therapy, a master class and food for the creative soul. Some more about Lyssa: (Lyssamiasmith.com) Lyssa Mia Smith writes stories with magic and kissing for young adult and crossover adult readers. She was selected for Pitch Wars twice (2018, 2020) for speculative stories with romantic twists, and is thrilled to be giving back to the organization that helped turn many of her dreams into reality by serving as a 2021 mentor. She is the winner of the YARWA Rosemary Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction (2019). When she's not writing (or staying up far too late reading), she's eating all the best bagels in New York with her partner and their two young children. You can find Lyssa on instagram: @lsmittywrites and on twitter: @LSmittyWrites Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer

This week's guest on Of the Publishing Persuasion is none other than my incredible co-host, THE Angela Montoya!!!! Talking all about that INCREDIBLE BOOK DEAL NEWS!!! Angela Montoya is a Round 5 Author-Mentor Match mentee and was selected to be a mentee in Pitch Wars 2020. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated activist and poet laureate Jose Montoya and lives in Northern California with her family. She is represented by Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Jill Grinberg Literary Management Her

Romance Author Ruby Barrett joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss having your best friend as your first reader, Pitch Wars, learning about story structure, the importance of feedback, being inspired by a tweet, jealousy vs envy, the benefit of your friends getting published before you, how unemployment lead to her new career, how music inspires her writing. Ruby Barrett (she/her) writes steamy romances about big feelings. She is the author of HOT COPY, and the forthcoming THE ROMANCE RECIPE. She lives in Ottawa, Canada with her daughter and her husband. Ruby: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | IndieBound | Libro FM QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqruby Correction: CrossFit athlete Katrin Davidsdottir went on to win the event discussed on this episode. This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show.

Young Adult Author Kyrie McCauley joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss finding a supportive community early on, sobbing at her first edit letter, writing about tough topics, writing at the zoo, Pitch Wars, the mountains and valleys of publishing, and what she misses about querying. ✦ Kyrie McCauley is the author of If These Wings Could Fly and We Can Be Heroes. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her family, three rescue cats, and a dog that eats books and is never sorry. ✦ Kyrie: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM ✦ QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon ✦ If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqkyrie ✦ This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show. ✦

In this first episode of a two-part series, I talk about why HSPs struggle so much with creative rejection through the lens of my recent experience of entering the PitchWars competition (see E41 about my writing journey for more on that). If you are an HSP and feel it has held you back from pursuing your creative dreams, rest assured you are not alone! I'm right there with you. I don't sugarcoat things in this episode. I talk about how and why HSPs have difficulty managing the stress of putting their work out there into the world. It's not just about the possibility of rejection. HSPs have fewer emotional "spoons" and when an added stress like putting their work out there enters their life, everything can become less manageable. This episode will help you better understand the HSP experience, whether you yourself are an HSP or know someone who is. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where I'll go into detail about coping techniques that help me deal with creative rejection as an HSP! TranscriptWould You Like to Support My Work?Sign up for my newsletter!Buy me a coffee! You can give me a one-time donation using this link. Become a Patron of Stepping Off Now!

Horror Author Jessica Lewis joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss going from self-insert fanfiction to original fiction, the support of NaNoWriMo buddies, entering all the publishing contests, Pitch Wars, the pressure of writing for money, mental health, and trouble coming up with titles. ✦ Jessica Lewis is a Black author and receptionist. She lives with her way-funnier-than-her grandmother in Alabama. When she isn't writing or working, she enjoys watching cooking or HGTV-type home shows and playing farming sims. ✦ Jessica: Query | Website | Twitter | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM ✦ If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqjessicalewis ✦ This page includes affiliate links. Please use them if you'd like to support the show. ✦

Science Fiction author AJ Super joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss not getting into Pitch Wars, how far kindness can take you, a successful query letter that is not perfect, how long it takes to put out a good book, mental health challenges, and taking measured risks. ✦ Angela/AJ Super is a 2021 debut author. Her space opera, Erebus Dawning and its sequel, A Star Reborn have recently released from Aethon Books. She lives in Kansas with her husband and fuzz-brained kitties. ✦ AJ: Query | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | LibroFM | IndieBound ✦ QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon ✦ If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqajsuper