Podcasts about writers

It’s time for our favourite 10 books from 10 years of ‘Tea or Books?’! Rachel and I have looked through the books we read for the first ten years of the podcast and have each picked our ten favourites –

About This Episode For over 100 years, teens from throughout the country have participated in a storied American tradition – the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Originally conceived in 1923 as a way to celebrate student artists at a time when most awards focused on athletic achievements, the Awards have gone on to become the nation's longest-running scholarship and recognition program for creative teens and have served as the launching pad for some of the most well-known and respected artists and writers of the last century, including the likes of Robert Redford, Sylvia Plath, Richard Avedon, Andy Warhol, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Zac Posen and Amanda Gorman. In today's episode, host Billy DiMichele is joined by Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Karlotta Frier and Anyango Mpinga, two professional artists and national jurors for the 2025 Scholastic Awards, and Nia Cao, a teen writer and recipient of the 2025 New York Life Award, a sponsored Scholastic Award that recognizes outstanding works dealing with grief. Each of these interviews will explore a particular component of the Scholastic Art & Writing Award—from a work first being submitted through to a national winner taking a bow on the incomparable stage of Carnegie Hall. Listen to hear more about what makes a program like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards so special, so enduring, and so necessary. Resources About the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: https://www.artandwriting.org/ About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: https://www.artandwriting.org/the-alliance/ About the New York Life Award: https://www.artandwriting.org/scholarships/new-york-life-award Gallery of teen work recognized in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: https://www.artandwriting.org/gallery/ More listening: Scholastic Reads! Celebrating 100 Years of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Highlights Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers “More than anything else, when we talk to teenagers and ask why did you enter the program? It was really about the opportunity to share their work, to have their work celebrated, particularly in their home communities, or even on the stage of Carnegie Hall. That's a really extraordinary thing for a young person who's at a crucial moment in their creative development and really thinking about what's next for them. So that recognition is really important.” “We also see the Scholastic Awards as being almost like a big national tailgate party for art and culture. What we're doing is bringing communities together all around the country to celebrate these young people who are doing extraordinary things in their art and writing.” “When you think about the fact that one out of every four high schools in the country has a young person who enters this program, we can rightfully say that we are conducting a celebration of creative teens on a truly national scale. And when we award 2-3,000 national medals, that really is a recognition of some of the very finest creative work that has happened anywhere in this country over the past year by teenagers.” “With 103 years of Scholastic Awards under our belt, that makes us a unique repository of teen creativity. We can tell a story about what young people were thinking about, and what was on their minds when they were making art and writing over the course of these past 100 years, and that's something that's unique to this program.” “The work that I find tends to resonate most powerfully with our jurors is the work that expresses a unique point of view. So young people who have the courage to really put themselves out there and to go beyond a classroom assignment or a sense of the expected, that's always the best path, not just to winning a Scholastic Award, but to really developing as a creative. To remember to always be true to yourself first.” Karlotta Frier, professional artist and 2025 national juror [On what intrigued her about participating as a juror] “I got invited and didn't know it was going to be so much fun and feel so important to me…Winning an award was really important to my path…and that experience of being seen by someone else other than my mom who always believed in me this whole time, but somebody else, in New York [meant] maybe I can do this.” Anyango Mpinga, professional artist and 2025 national juror [On the message she would want Scholastic Awards participants to hear] “I just want them to know that their voice is valid and to not change for anyone…If you're really connected to who you are, and this is your creativity, the best thing you can do for yourself is cultivate that creativity and become even better than you were yesterday, and stick to it, and make that your voice…you have to stick to your guns, and you have to fight for yourself.” _Nia Cao, teen poet and recipient of the 2025 New York Life Award _ “[My poem] was a really important work to me, and it was the first time that I processed [my uncle's] death. Applying for the New York Life Award, it wasn't something that I hesitated about. This is something that really resonates with my poem and with my work, and I think it was something that really tied into his legacy.” “It's validating to be acknowledged and know that my poem resonated with someone, and it feels as if the judges are saying to me, ‘I see you, I hear you.'” Special Thanks Producers: Allyson Barkan and Anne Sparkman Sound engineer: S. Shin Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl

Francesca Simon is the legendary author of over 60 books for children, including the global bestselling Horrid Henry series, which has been translated into 27 languages. She talks to us about early rejection, finding fame, reinventing her voice to write librettos, and her first foray into adult myth-based novels. Francesca was appointed MBE in 2023 and continues to advocate for literacy and storytelling across generations.RESOURCES & LINKS

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Léo Silva.Leo Silva spent over twenty-eight years on the frontlines of the global war on drugs as a special agent with the DEA. Leo's journey took him from the alleyways of Fronton Street to some of the most dangerous corners of North America, leading high-impact investigations against the Zeta and Gulf Cartels.He served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA's Monterrey office, overseeing complex, cross-border operations that resulted in hundreds of high-value arrests and multi-million-dollar asset seizures. Over the course of his decorated career, he also held leadership roles in McAllen, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico—pioneering collaborative missions with Mexican authorities and helping rewrite the playbook for modern narco enforcement.Now, Leo has turned his attention to storytelling. His debut memoir, Reign of Terror, offers a powerful, unfiltered look at the reality behind the headlines—a world of corruption, courage, and the personal cost of justice. The book has gained traction internationally and has been translated into Spanish for a Latin American release.Leo is truly the real deal. This is a guy who has worked undercover numerous times in America and went after some of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels. Please enjoy my chat with Leo Silva. In today's episode we discuss:· Having no diplomatic immunity and not being allowed to have a firearm while working in Mexico hunting down drug cartels.· The different drug cartels in Mexico that were active while Silva was working there.· The Zeta drug cartel.· The horrifying Bengal Tiger incident.· How Silva navigated the corruption and the levels or tiers of Mexican police and how he worked with them?· Using shock and awe! Creative ways to get to the Cartel bosses.· The house of hell and torturing people.· The Casino Royale fire. What was the motive?· What was the endgame for the dismantling of the Zetas?· What happened to Acapulco?· What do you think is the future of Mexico? It seems like cartel violence is starting to hit tourist areas now.· How Mexican cartels started with bootlegging during Prohibition.All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Head on over to Leo's website to learn more about him and his work.Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's rewind and join Sandy and Terry as they chat about how writer, actor, and director Mike White (The White Lotus) came up with the hit movie, “The School of Rock,” which has been loved by audiences and critics alike. "School of Rock" played a role in boosting Black's profile and stardom, highlighting his comedic and musical talents to a broader audience. The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.Executive Producer Kristin OvernCreator/Producer Sandy AdomaitisProducer Terry SampsonMusic by Ethan Stoller

What is the Source of Creative Genius? with Eric Wargo Eric Wargo, PhD, an anthropologist, is author of Time Loops, Precognitive Dreamwork and the Long Self: Interpreting Messages From Your Future, From Nowhere: Artists, Writers, and the Precognitive Imagination, Becoming Timefaring: Time Travel & the Human Future, and most recently Where Was It Before the … Continue reading "What is the Source of Creative Genius? with Eric Wargo"

A Novel.Get all the news you need by listening to WBZ - Boston's News Radio! We're here for you, 24/7.

Weekly Conversations With The Last Honest Politician. A Political Giant And A Comedian Walk Into A Kitchen.Get all the news you need by listening to WBZ - Boston's News Radio! We're here for you, 24/7.

A Novel.Get all the news you need by listening to WBZ - Boston's News Radio! We're here for you, 24/7.

AI is changing the content game—but how do writers keep their creativity, voice, and humanity intact? In this episode of SmartBug on Tap, host Julia Bye chats with SmartBug copywriter Rebecca Corgan about how content creators can embrace AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini without compromising authenticity. From overcoming blank-page syndrome to building powerful second-brain workflows, Rebecca shares how she integrates AI into her writing process—without letting it take over. Learn where AI shines, where it falls short, and how to strike the right balance between efficiency and originality. Whether you're a writer, marketer, or ops leader curious about the future of AI-powered content, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Send us a textIn today's episode, I am chatting with Karen Nelson. Karen is the author of The Sunken Town and the co-founder of the nonprofit Writing by Writers. During her long career in nonprofits she has protected open space, funded cancer research, trained people to complete endurance events, and helped writers bring their work into the world. When not organizing writing workshops, she can be found hiking with her dog, reading, traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and hosting dinner parties. She writes for various publications and is at work on her next novel.Episode Highlights:How Karen started Writing by Writers and the services they provide to support writers.Her passion for cooking and hosting monthly dinner parties as a creative outlet.The writing journey behind The Sunken Town and the years it took to complete.How she decides which books to read in print versus on audio.Her book flight featuring suspenseful literary novels set in academia.Connect with Karen Nelson:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Cynthia Newberry Martin on Reading and Belonging (to Something Bigger) (Ep. 29)Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson RawlsI Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca MakkaiCowboys are My Weakness by Pam HoustonColored Television by Danzy SennaBook FlightThe Secret History by Donna TarttThe Lake of Dead Languages by Carol GoodmanSpecial Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha PesslSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

Send us a textHannah and Laura are finishing up the final third of Dead Beat by Jim Butcher and Laura is immensely proud to have finally guessed a plot point correctly, while Hannah's not convinced that Harry should aim to live to 500. They also chat about television that hits too close to home, a newly released novella, and a television series that doesn't leave its viewers hanging.**This episode contains SPOILERS for Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Spoiler section begins at: 37 min 55 secs. ***CW for the episode: discussions of violence, murder, capitalism, colonialism, death, blood, gore, vampires, slavery, zombies, necromancy, dog attacksMedia Mentions:Dead Beat by Jim Butcher The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi Squid Game---Netflix Sinners---HBO Max The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler The Fall Is All There Is by C.M. CaplanMammoths at the Gate by Nghi Vo The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo The Bear---Hulu Stranger Things---NetflixThe Umbrella Academy---Netflix Petition by Delilah Waan Support the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Graham Charkosky to talk about her forthcoming memoir, Living Proof (October 21, Little A), a book written and shaped over years of writing and rewriting.At just 11 years old, Tiffany lost her mother. For decades, she believed it was an unexplainable tragedy, until a DNA test unearthed information that changed everything. That discovery didn't just reshape her understanding of her mother's death; it also made her question what she might unknowingly pass on to her own children.INSIDE THE EPISODEThe emotional (and editorial) decision-making around what belongs in a bookHow long it took for her story to find its true shape (and why)The surprising speed of her publishing deal once it all came togetherHow do we process loss as kids versus adults? And what happens when new information forces us to reinterpret our past?Tiffany's story is as deeply personal as it is universally relatable. 

“I'm afraid to ask for an extension. I don't want my editor to hate me.” I hear some version of this at least once a week in author communities, and it makes sense that it's a common fear! We care so much about our books (and the future of our careers) that we can become hyper-vigilant to anything that might get in the way of potential success. But! Your editor does not hate you. I promise. In today's episode, I'm sharing 3 useful reframes that will help you let go of that fear the next time it pops up. *** The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here. DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

Catherine Con Morse's debut novel, The Notes, is a 2025 Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Honorable Mention for Young Adult Fiction, a 2026 Panda Book Award nominee, and was shortlisted for the CRAFT First Chapters contest. Her newest book is The Summer I Remembered Everything (April 2025). A Kundiman fellow, Catherine received her MFA from Boston University, where she taught undergraduate creative writing for several years. Her work appears in Joyland, Letters, HOOT, Bostonia, and elsewhere, and has been a finalist for the Beacon Street Prize and the Baltimore Review fiction prize. While writing The Notes, she was one of the inaugural Writers in Residence at Porter Square Books, where she enjoyed writing in the back office and eating croissants with her cafe discount. In high school, Catherine attended the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, a public arts boarding school, where she was as intrigued with her teacher as Claire is with Dr. Li. Catherine continues to play and teach piano today. Most recently, she taught English at Choate Rosemary Hall, and lives in the Connecticut River Valley with her husband and daughter.Katherine Shizuko Suyeyasu brings 25 years of experience teaching in Oakland, Berkeley, Union City, and the Philadelphia area at the upper-elementary, middle, and graduate school levels. The majority of her teaching career allowed her to work with and learn from multilingual middle schoolers in the Humanities classroom. She is currently a co-director of the Bay Area Writing Project.

Catherine Con Morse's debut novel, The Notes, is a 2025 Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Honorable Mention for Young Adult Fiction, a 2026 Panda Book Award nominee, and was shortlisted for the CRAFT First Chapters contest. Her newest book is The Summer I Remembered Everything (April 2025). A Kundiman fellow, Catherine received her MFA from Boston University, where she taught undergraduate creative writing for several years. Her work appears in Joyland, Letters, HOOT, Bostonia, and elsewhere, and has been a finalist for the Beacon Street Prize and the Baltimore Review fiction prize. While writing The Notes, she was one of the inaugural Writers in Residence at Porter Square Books, where she enjoyed writing in the back office and eating croissants with her cafe discount. In high school, Catherine attended the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, a public arts boarding school, where she was as intrigued with her teacher as Claire is with Dr. Li. Catherine continues to play and teach piano today. Most recently, she taught English at Choate Rosemary Hall, and lives in the Connecticut River Valley with her husband and daughter. Katherine Shizuko Suyeyasu brings 25 years of experience teaching in Oakland, Berkeley, Union City, and the Philadelphia area at the upper-elementary, middle, and graduate school levels. The majority of her teaching career allowed her to work with and learn from multilingual middle schoolers in the Humanities classroom. She is currently a co-director of the Bay Area Writing Project. About The Write Time The Write Time is a special series of NWP Radio, a podcast of the National Writing Project (NWP), where writing teachers from across the NWP Network interview young-adult and children's authors about their books, their composing processes, and writers' craft. You can view the archive at https://teach.nwp.org/series/the-write-time/

This week Danielle and Kristine learn how to survive a catastrophic factory accident and Shawn Carlow joins us to share his experiences rescuing some cats!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our Summer 2025 series, Beside Still Waters, focuses on the places where creativity brings life into a world fatigued by brokenness and division. From jazz to Jane Austen and in between, this season we'll focus on the ways literature and the arts can refresh and challenge our inner lives—and connect us with the Creator of the good, the true, and the beautiful.Today's guide is the author and professor Diana Glyer. She'll be talking about the lives and work of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their beloved community known as the Inklings.In this episode drawn from an online conversation held in February of 2021, Diana focuses on how creativity thrives within small clusters of like-hearted people. We hope you enjoy reflecting on the potential of your own friendships and communities to be culture-shaping. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community, by Diana GlyerBandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings, by Diana GlyerThe Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. TolkienCharles WilliamsC.S. LewisShakespeareOwen BarfieldHugo DysonOut of the Silent Planet, by C.S. LewisJerry RootThe Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis Related Trinity Forum Readings:On Friendship, by CiceroThe Golden Key, by George MacDonaldThe Oracle of the Dog, by G.K. ChestertonThe Lost Tools of Learning, by Dorothy Sayers Related Conversations:Suffering, Friendship, and Courage: What Lewis & Tolkien Teach Us About Resilience & Imagination, an Online Conversation with Joe Loconte

N.K. Jemisin is a New York Times-bestselling science fiction and fantasy writer. She's a Brooklynite, the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the first author to win three Best Novel Hugos in a row. We talked to her about Octavia Butler's influence on her writing, and how she processes the present moment in her own fiction.You can read a transcript of this episode on our website, and check out our booklist with titles from Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and more! 

Dr. Stacey Hettes joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about therapeutic writing and how she crafted a memoir about childhood sexual abuse without revictimizing herself, metabolizing childhood trauma, inviting readers into our physiological response, the role of our limbic systems, deciding whether to share specifics about abuse in our manuscripts, italicizing difficult material for readers so they can decide, approaching a story of child sexual abuse in a protective way, putting therapy into our memoirs, demonstrating our character's progress in our narrative, remembering we can write beautifully about hard things, and her new memoir Dispatches from the Couch.   Also in this episode: -sharing a memoir with family -the amygdala and child trauma victims -deciding whether to share specifics about abuse   Books mentioned in this episode: -Bodywork by Melissa Febos -Wintering by Catherine May -Writing a Woman's Life by Caroline G. Heilbrun -Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor   Professor Stacey Hettes teaches biology and neuroscience to undergraduates eager to enter the worlds of science and medicine at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Riverside, and is the youngest winner to date of the Milliken Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science. Her classes are difficult because life is difficult. They are also full of wonder, joy, and triumph because, like her students, she is a hard-working seeker. She relishes in shared struggle and shared discovery, even when the topic is long-buried child sexual abuse. Reemerging from the shadows of her past was only possible once she resolved to carry the story found in her Debut memoir, Dispatches from the Couch, into the light. Connect with Stacey: Website: https://www.staceyhettes.com/ Facebook: Stacey Hettes, https://www.facebook.com/stacey.hettes Instagram: @staceyhetteswrites, https://www.instagram.com/staceyhetteswrites/ If you'd like to know more about Wofford College: https://www.wofford.edu/ Books may be purchased from all major outlets   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Writers Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan talk about their awesome new book Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin. They about this early Norman Osborn story. It's a homecoming for these two writers who are longtime Crawlspace fans. We're so happy for their success. If you'd like to watch the video of this broadcast, click here.  https://www.youtube.com/live/jRpL0PE5ZbE?si=30F5-mmcT0FG0jZx Are you a Crawlspace patreon member? Sign up to support the site and get free stuff!  https://www.patreon.com/crawlspace Be sure to visit our main page at: http://www.spidermancrawlspace.com Be sure to follow us on social media Facebook https://www.facebook.com/officialcrawlspace Twitter https://twitter.com/crawlspace101 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialcrawlspace/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/spidermancrawlspace

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about TikTok, must-read magazines, and AI translation. Then, stick around for a chat with Tess Sharpe!Tess Sharpe: Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural northern California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of formerly feral cats. She is the author of Barbed Wire Heart, the critically acclaimed YA novel Far From You and the upcoming Jurassic World prequel, The Evolution of Claire.She is also the co-editor of Toil & Trouble, a feminist anthology about witches. Her short fiction has been featured in All Out, an anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell. 

Brittany “Bea” Jackson illustrated the New York Times bestselling picture books, “Parker Looks Up,” about America's First Lady, and LeBron James's “We Are Family,” and her own “Lilly's Dream,” which she both wrote and illustrated. She is a former grand prize winner of the Illustrators of the Future Contest and was published in “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 24.” She has been a judge since 2021. We discuss how she developed her style as a self-taught artist, having begun as a fan fiction artist. We also discussed how she was discovered by a major publisher finding her through social pages. Visit www.beagifted.com/

The New Yorker has said that Amy Bloom “gets more meaning into individual sentences than most authors manage in whole books.” She is the author of five novels: White Houses, Lucky Us, Away, Love Invents Us and – most recently – I'll Be Right Here. She's also authored three collections of short stories: Where the God Of Love Hangs Out, Come to Me (finalist for the National Book Award), and A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You (finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award). In 2022, she wrote the widely acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, In Love. I'll Be Right Here spans over 80 years and a kaleidoscopic cast of characters (including a few real-life historical figures). We follow them from France to Poughkeepsie, through unconventional relationships, partnerships, and family unions and Amy accomplishes it all within a compact 200 pages. As always, we want to know how she does it. Amy joins Marrie Stone to talk about the novel and how she researched this real and fictional cast of characters. She talks about the best advice she ever received about writing from her father, her inventive use of lists, her use of different forms and structures (including using scripts, epistolary chapters, lists, and more), and why she's always writing in different genres. She saves some of her best advice and insights for the end of the interview, so be sure to stick around. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds of past interviews on our website. You can help out the show and indie bookstores by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. It's stocked with titles by our guest authors, as well as our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. It's perfect for writing. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on July 8, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-BarrettHost: Marrie StoneMusic: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Welcome, writers and book lovers. The Bleeders is a podcast about book writing and publishing. Make sure you subscribe to the companion Substack: https://thebleeders.substack.com/welcomeToday's guest is Margo Steines, author of ⁠Brutalities: A Love Story⁠. In this episode, we discuss Margo's experience as a dominatrix, sex work then vs. now, the toxic societal pressures on women's bodies in the 90s and how that resulted in eating disorders for both of us, her stint as a high-rise welder, advice she would give her former self about an abusive relationship, what it was like to be pregnant during the pandemic, how she feels about motherhood, and more. Follow Margo on Instagram ⁠@redstateblues⁠.For more episodes like this, search Private Parts Unknown wherever you listen to podcasts or visit privatepartsunknown.com.The Bleeders is hosted by Courtney Kocak. Follow her on Instagram @courtneykocak and Bluesky @courtneykocak.bsky.social. For more, check out her website courtneykocak.com.Courtney is teaching some upcoming workshops you might be interested in:Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network and Business: https://writingworkshops.com/products/start-a-newsletter-to-supercharge-your-platform-network-business-zoom-seminarLand Big Bylines by Writing for Columns: https://writingworkshops.com/products/land-big-bylines-by-writing-for-columns-zoom-seminarThe Multi-Passionate Writer's Life: https://writeordiemag.com/workshops/p/the-multi-passionate-writers-lifeHow to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought: https://writingworkshops.com/products/how-to-build-a-platform-for-writers-who-shudder-at-the-thought-zoom-seminarCreating Your Podcast: https://www.roadmapwriters.com/products/creating-your-podcast-0Podcasting for Writers: How to Start, Sustain & Grow Your Podcast: https://writingworkshops.com/products/podcasting-for-writers-how-to-start-sustain-grow-your-podcast-4-week-zoom-workshop

Original Release Date: Monday 14 July 2025Description:   Dean and Phil begin by remember "Live Aid" at 40, before celebrating an influential rock star, a chart-topping R&B performer, a journeyman actor with countless credits, a "The Dukes of Hazzard" funnyman, and the composer responsible for all the music of "The X-Files" in "Celebrity Deaths". Then, Dean answers a question from a listener, revealing his favorite two episodes of "The Lone Gunmen", both the one he most enjoyed watching and the one he most enjoyed making. Phil reviews two current theatrical releases: 28 Years Later and The Life of Chuck. Dean reviews the recent smash hit Sinners. Finally, in their ongoing reappraisal of the entire "Mission: Impossible" film franchise, Dean and Phil compare notes on the series' 5th installment, "Rogue Nation" and the episode ends in a cliffhanger, setting up a future disagreement about the 6th M:I film!

How do you write a great query letter, find the right agent, and stand out in today's crowded submissions inbox? In this special compilation episode, four top literary agents: Ed Wilson, Lucinda Halpern, Madeleine Milburn & Sam Copeland, share their honest advice on getting signed, writing marketable books, and navigating today's publishing industry.*Timestamps:Ed Wilson - 1:01Lucinda Literary -  19:11Madeleine Milburn - 37:20Sam Copeland - 48:47 ABOUT THE LITERARY AGENTS Ed Wilson is a literary agent and director at Johnson & Alcock, a London-based literary agency with a diverse and developing list of authors of fiction and nonfiction. He represents everything from award-winning literary fiction to bestselling crime, science-fiction, and fantasy. Ed's profile at Johnson & AlcockEd's Twitter accountJohnson & Alcock's submission guidelinesFull LWS episode: #071: Ed Wilson — Submitting to Agents & Navigating Publishing, Junior vs Experienced Agents, How to Follow up with Agents, Smaller vs Larger Literary Agencies*Lucinda Literary is a New York literary agent and the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. *Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published AuthorLucinda LiteraryFollow up question? Get in touch with Lucinda here.Full LWS episode: #96: Lucinda Halpern — How to Get Signed With a Literary Agent, Unlock Your Book's Big Idea, Query Letter Essentials, Unconventional Ways to Engage With Beta-Readers*Madeleine Milburn has been responsible for discovering some of the highest-selling and award-winning contemporary authors who consistently hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, including Nita Prose (The Maid), Costa Book Award winner and bestseller Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine). She represents bestselling crime and thriller brands including C.L. Taylor, C.J Tudor, Mark Edwards and Teresa Driscoll.WebsiteSubmitting your work to the Madeleine Milburn AgencyFull LWS episode:  #064: Madeleine Milburn — Catching an Agent's Eye & Building an Author-First Agency*Sam Copeland was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the 2020 and 2021 British Book Awards and selected for the Bookseller's Most Influential People in Publishing in 2020. He welcomes e-mail submissions and can be contacted on sam@rcwlitagency.com. He is also a children's author.  His Charlie Changes series was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book of the Year shortlistedSam Copeland RCW Literary AgencyFull LWS episode: #118: Sam Copeland — How to Catch The Eye Of A Literary Agent, Compelling Pitch Letters & Writing Funny Children's Fiction For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

On today's episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me, Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Léo Silva, for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.Leo Silva spent over twenty-eight years on the frontline of the global war on drugs as a special agent with the DEA. Leo's journey took him from the alleyways of Fronton Street to some of the most dangerous corners of North America, leading high-impact investigations against the Zeta and Gulf Cartels.He served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA's Monterrey office, overseeing complex, cross-border operations that resulted in hundreds of high-value arrests and multi-million-dollar asset seizures. Over the course of his decorated career, he also held leadership roles in McAllen, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico—pioneering collaborative missions with Mexican authorities and helping rewrite the playbook for modern narco enforcement.Now, Leo has turned his attention to storytelling. His debut memoir, Reign of Terror, offers a powerful, unfiltered look at the reality behind the headlines—a world of corruption, courage, and the personal cost of justice. The book has gained traction internationally and has been translated into Spanish for a Latin American release.Leo is the real deal. This is a guy who has worked undercover numerous times in America and went after some of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels. Please enjoy my chat with Leo Silva. In today's episode we discuss:· I would like to thank Chris Feistl for setting up this intro. If you'd like to check out my interview with Chris, a retired DEA agent with a compelling story to share, head over to episodes 217 and 218.· How he got interested in a career with the DEA.· How playing golf in high school helped his future career in the DEA.· Serving mobsters in a restaurant where he worked as a kid.· Being a full-time musician before joining the DEA.· You were one of the only Spanish speakers when you were an agent in Texas?· Being a new DEA agent and going undercover buying heroin.· How he kept his sanity and your identity while doing UC work.· Some of the scariest moments as an undercover agent?· Going to work in Mexico as a DEA agent attempting to shut down ruthless drug cartels.· His relationship with the often corrupt Mexican police and how difficult it was to extradite criminals.All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Head on over to Leo's website to learn more about him and his work.Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Jack the Ripper to JonBenet Ramsey.Get all the news you need by listening to WBZ - Boston's News Radio! We're here for you, 24/7

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This week we've got a new Pope, turn our Death Industry coverage on it's head, there are no serial killers, a killer gets killed poorly, a Bryan Kohberger update, and so much more!   Follow/subscribe at http://Twitch.tv/audiowoolnetwork to know when we go live first.  Hot tip of something to cover? Email byron@frightday.com, subject line “Casual Frightday”. Send us physical things: Frightday LLC PO Box 372 Lolo, MT 59847 Want to see the video? http://youtube.com/frightday Want even more? Join the Frightday Society, at http://thefrightdaysociety.org You'll have access to all Screamium content (Behind the Screams, It's Been a Weird Week, A Conversation With..., Toast to Toast PM with Wine Kelly, Cinema Autopsy, the Writers' Room, bonus episodes of Captain Kelly's Cryptids & Conspiracies, Byron's Serial Corner, and so much more!  You'll also be part of our interactive community dedicated to the advancement of horror, hauntings, cryptids, conspiracies, aliens, and true crime. All things frightening.  Keep our mini-fridges full of blood...I mean...not blood...normal things that people drink...by going to http://shop.frightday.com  Theme music by Cemeteries Produced by Byron McKoy Follow us in the shadows at the following places: @byronmckoy @kellyfrightday @frightday

On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. First, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jim Vertigo, John Seewer, Jessica Eturralde, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren:                                                        Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I'm Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. Natasha: But first, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. Warren: In a complaint filed Thursday (July 3) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, lawyers for Lorraine Zielinski said she went to leaders at the megachurch in LA's Sun Valley neighborhood, where MacArthur is the longtime pastor, seeking counseling for her troubled marriage and was told her conversations would be kept confidential. According to the complaint, she told counselors she was afraid for her safety and the safety of her daughter, alleging that her then-husband was physically abusive. Her lawyers said church leaders pressured Zielinski to drop her request for a legal separation. When Zielinski tried to resign as a church member, pastors put her under church discipline for failing to follow their counsel, according to the complaint. They also allegedly told her to either come to a meeting with church pastors or details of her counseling would be made public to the congregation. Natasha: What happened? Warren: According to the complaint. “When Plaintiff did not attend the meeting, GCC made good on its threat and shared information gained through confidential communications relating to her marriage with GCC membership,” “GCC also misrepresented parts of these communications, painting Plaintiff as a bad actor in the marriage and the party at fault for the marital dispute. GCC also omitted Plaintiff's husband's desire to remarry and dissolve the marriage.” Natasha: Church members were also allegedly asked to pressure Zielenski to submit to church leaders and to reconcile with her husband, according to the complaint. Warren: Lawyers for Zielenski said the church violated her right to privacy and her right to free association, disclosed private facts, painted her in a false light, breached confidentiality and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Grace Community Church did not reply to a request for co...

In this episode of the 78644 Podcast, host Steven Collins sits down with Eric Beck, Director of Gaslight-Baker Theatre, to talk about the 24 Hour Play Festival where seven original plays are written, directed, rehearsed, and performed all within a single day. This year's event featured something new: a play written by a kid and directed by a 9-year-old. The episode also highlights a haunting behind-the-scenes short film shot by local filmmaker Brandon Gray in the spirit of David Lynch. It's a celebration of community creativity, rapid storytelling, and pure theatre magic. From late-night writing sessions to quick-turn performances, this episode captures the energy and spirit of a unique Lockhart tradition.Guest in This Episode:Eric Beck - Director of the Gaslight-Baker Theater, discussing the 24 Hour Play Festival.What's Inside:The complete process of creating seven plays in 24 hours, from draw to stageHow a 9-year-old directed his peers in an all-kids productionThe evolution of the festival and how it's grown since 2021The artistic lens Brandon Gray brought to the festival through filmThe teamwork and joy that fuel this one of a kind theatrical eventEpisode Highlights:[00:28] - What is the 24 Hour Play Festival?[01:06] - Writers draw actors, write overnight, and send scripts by morning[02:08] - A kids play directed by a 9-year-old steals the show[02:54] - The origin and growth of the festival[03:46] - How the Baker Theatre adopted the format[04:11] - Props, costumes, and keeping it simple[04:54] - Thoughts on Brandon Gray capturing the event in David Lynch style[06:01] - New format helped sharpen the plays[07:09] - Not a contest: just pure collaboration and support[07:30] - Short film by Brandon Gray: “True North”Follow Our Guests:Eric Beck: https://www.instagram.com/ersatzdog/ Gaslight-Baker Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/gaslightbaker/ https://www.facebook.com/GaslightBaker/ / https://mygbt.org/ Brandon Gray: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.gray.984/ https://www.instagram.com/graybeardfilms/ Follow our Host:Steven Collins: https://www.instagram.com/deadmanonline This Episode is Sponsored by:Wella Foods: https://www.instagram.com/wellafoods/Thunderbird Bar: https://www.instagram.com/thunderbirdbar/ PrintingSolutionstx: https://www.instagram.com/printingsolutionstx/ Gaslight-Baker Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/gaslightbaker/ Courthouse Nights: https://www.instagram.com/courthousenights/ Crystal Glaze Photography: https://www.instagram.com/crystalglazephotography/ Gray Beard Films: https://www.instagram.com/graybeardfilms/ Texas Hatters - HishatLady: https://www.instagram.com/hishatlady/ Follow 78644 Podcast:Website: https://www.78644podcast.com/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/78644-Podcast/100089192381124/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/78644podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@78644PodcastSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/78644/exclusive-content

What if the reason you haven't written your novel has nothing to do with how many hours are in your day?"I don't have time to write" might be the most common excuse that stops aspiring authors before they even start. But here's what I've learned after working with hundreds of writers… It's not about how much time you have that matters. It's about what you do with your limited time that counts.In this episode, you'll hear from three busy writers who had every legitimate reason to put their writing dreams on hold—yet didn't. Meet Maddie, a mom of four kids aged one to six who wrote her first draft while juggling pregnancy, a newborn, and a copywriting career. Rhonda, a clinical pharmacist who transitioned from competing in 14-hour triathlons to writing an 80,000-word manuscript. And Mark, a former college administrator, worried it was too late in life to learn how to write a novel. None of them found magical extra hours in their day. Instead, they discovered something far more powerful: how to make their limited writing time more effective.In this episode, you'll learn:[03:00] How a mom of four young children completed her first draft in just six months of actual writing time, including taking a year-long break for pregnancy and a newborn, without losing momentum[06:25] Why one debut author discovered that following a proven framework didn't create a cookie-cutter novel—it actually freed him to be more creative and original[09:35] The mindset shift that helped a 45-year-old clinical pharmacist transition from grueling 14-hour triathlons to completing her first 80,000-word novel[13:20] Why having limited writing time can actually make you a more effective writer, when you know exactly what to write in each sessionReady to stop using "no time" as your excuse? Join Maddie, Rhonda, Mark, and hundreds of other busy writers who've discovered that you don't need more hours—you need a better plan. Get on the waitlist for the next open enrollment of my Notes to Novel course and get my complete, step-by-step framework for writing a story that works. Don't miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished draft you're proud of!

Deb Miller joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about how her memoir began as a family project, being surprised to have become an author, discovering and latching onto a framework, using an “e” structure, what we recognize during the process of writing, focusing on our behavior and patterns, leaning into generational shifts, the women's movement and breaking society's norms, connecting with readers on a personal level, innovative ways to market and launch a book, promoting a message not ourselves, becoming the hero of our own story, and her new memoir Forget the Fairy Tale & Find Your Happiness.   Also in this episode:  -finding a marketing hook -creating new relationships and working them -living your own fairy tale   Books mentioned in this episode: -Wild by Cheryl Strayed -High Hopes: A  Memoir by Anne Abel   Deb Miller is the author of Forget the Fairy Tale & Find Your Happiness, a memoir that explores her personal journey toward self-reliance and strength, using the evolution of Disney princesses as a metaphor for her own transformation. A passionate advocate for personal empowerment, Deb's writing encourages readers to question societal expectations and discover their own path to happiness.Having visited nearly 50 countries as a corporate executive, she is now on a mission to visit all of our national parks. A part-time marketing professor, Dr. Miller lives in Redmond, Washington, and can be found outside landscaping, walking her energetic Auggie, or hanging out with her three kids and grandchildren. Degrees: BS Purdue University, MBA University of Dayton, DBA City University of Seattle. Also a CPA. She is former VP of marketing and communication for several Fortune 500 companies.    Connect with Deb: Website: https://forgetthefairytale.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-deb-miller-acc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forget_the_fairy_tale/ Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Fairytale-Find-Your-Happiness/dp/1647429226/ Simon and Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Forget-the-Fairy-Tale-and-Find-Your-Happiness/Deb-Miller/9781647429225   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Murph & Markus - Hour 2: The history of writers/media members taking comments out of context, Larry Baer joins the show, & Will Clark responds to Will Flemming's comments on DeversSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murph & Markus - Hour 2: The history of writers/media members taking comments out of context, Larry Baer joins the show, & Will Clark responds to Will Flemming's comments on DeversSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Violence is in the air after Luigi Mangione assassinated CEO Brian Thompson and became a hero of the Left. It's in the air by politicians who now want protesters to get messy, to get bloody. All for a necessary photo op, they believe will finally, at long last, turn the public against Donald Trump.Mangione, as it turns out, was a useful weapon in this war. Back in December, novelist and co-host of America This Week, Walter Kirn, foresaw the connection and predicted the rise of a young, charismatic populist. Sound familiar?Kirn saw something much bigger. He could see the connection between what Mangioni represented to the Left and the gathering storm that would ultimately find its way toward Zohran Mamdani and the current wave of populist revolutionaries.From the New York Post:The NCRI study traces the cultural shift back to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly by Luigi Mangione, in December 2024. What followed, researchers say, was a viral wave of memes that turned Mangione into a folk hero.With Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom in California, and Mamdani in New York vowing to obstruct ICE, we can see a culture already defined by political violence rising to new heights either to get a photo op that depicts Trump as an authoritarian fascist, or to start a stand-off with the military, one that could go down in the history books.But as with all of the pet causes by the Democrats, this one goes against public opinion, just as their support of biological men playing against women in sports goes against it. Most Americans are in favor of deporting illegal immigrants.The question now isn't whether there will be violence as ICE continues to find and deport as many illegal immigrants as possible, but how bad the violence will be. What is a cause worth fighting and dying for? From Ben Shapiro:What they hope the violence will do is shift public opinion back in their favor. But they've never learned the lessons of the past, why Trump won in 2016, and why he just won again. For the “resistance,” there is no third option where they realize they're the problem and reverse course. Instead, they double down on everything they've already been doing for the last ten years, which has only resulted in Trump becoming more powerful. The Power of StoryThe more people believe in a shared story, the stronger the movement. Our story? We'd solved America's problems—maybe the world's. Racism, along with every other "ism" and "phobe," was the enemy. Eradicate it, craft a language that welcomes everyone, and we'd be healed.Healed from what? The scars of our 1970s childhoods were shaped by the reckless "Me Generation." We emerged into the self-help era as victims or abusers, our lives battered by addiction and trauma. Entire industries sprang up to mend our wounds.We sought salvation in the self-help aisles of bookstores, therapy sessions, medications, and Oprah's group chat every day at 3pm. Relationships crumbled—too many men were toxic or narcissistic. We studied attachment theory, embraced cognitive therapy, and chased perfection: the perfect parenting, car, words, diet, causes, schools. Our children became extensions of our quest, expected to embody that same flawless ideal.When they fell short, we fed them into the self-help machine to mold them into better versions of ourselves, even medicating them to make them more perfect - a practice that would lead us all too easily into “gender affirming care,” the greatest medical scandal in recent history. What we really needed was a higher purpose, a unifying movement. That arrived with Barack Obama, whose Hope and Change brought us together. To us, he was perfect, and even more than that, he was a perfect reflection of the America we wished we had. By then, thanks to the rise of the internet, social media, and smartphones, we had control and influence over nearly every aspect of American society. Why not use the new frontier of the internet to remake the America we wanted? Why not build our Shining Woketopia on the Hill? And so it was written, and so it was done. We closed ourselves off from the part of America that didn't share our beliefs, and over time, we forgot it even existed. Trump's shocking win marked the moment the dream was punctured and reality flooded in. A revolution by “we the normal.”Trump represented everything we believed was wrong with our country - he epitomized all of the bad things we complained about - racism, misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual assault. It wasn't just that he offended our god and our King when he challenged Obama's birthplace. It was that he said whatever he wanted to say, and in our Woketopia, then and now, that is strictly forbidden.Language must be curated, softened, and made more polite — a form of Newspeak for the modern age. But the flip side of that was people who were too fragile to accept the truth—truth in words, truth in politics, truth in comedy, truth in art, truth in science, truth in elections.And if words are violence, if words cause staffers at the New York Times to feel unsafe, if movies like Gone with the Wind need trigger warnings, there would be no surviving Trump and the rise of free speech in a culture that no longer believed in it.But violence turns out to be, for the Left, the answer to the fear inside them they can't control, like dogs or bears or snakes who lash out when they feel cornered and threatened.A History of ViolenceWhat drove the early violence by the Left was the commonly held belief that Trump was a racist and his border policies were rooted in the Right's desire to rid this country of Black and Brown people. Thus, when mobs acted out, like they did in 2015 and throughout Trump's first term, it was justified. Racism was the ultimate sin, like being an accused witch in Salem or a Communist in 1950s America.Prominent Democrats pushed out the idea, which was then echoed and amplified by what Trump would eventually and correctly call “fake news.” The Democrats loved the violence, as it turns out, because they thought that the people would show the rest of America that Trump was bad. They also began to believe that their uprising against Trump was a fusion of both the Civil War and the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s.By the Summer of 2020, they funded and encouraged violence while also downplaying it. Buildings set on fire, businesses destroyed, and an angry mob banging on the fence of the White House were all excused as “mostly peaceful protests.”However, what I was seeing unfolding, which alarmed me enough to start speaking out, was that something was very wrong with the Left. It wasn't until the Evergreen stories started coming out that I realized we'd built a fanatical army of not just woke scolds but a Red Guard-like generation who did not believe in limits on imposing their will upon the people.Diners were compelled to raise their fists in support of Black Lives Matter. The statues were coming down. Writers, editors, and celebrities were all being canceled and fired. Movies, literature, TV, comedy, architecture, science, even knitting, cooking, and exercise had to be transformed. It was tolerated because of what our culture had become after eight years of Obama and four years of Trump. The powerful, mostly white elites who run everything felt guilty. So they let it go on. I watched Hollywood devour itself. When the film Green Book won Best Picture, the Left exploded. It was a harmless movie about a friendship between a bigot and a gay Black man, and THAT was racist? Yes, because one of the screenwriters was a Trump supporter.The center could not hold. Though Joe Biden was dragged over the finish line in a corrupt election that would finally cause me to leave the Democratic Party, there was no coming back from what the Left had become. It was only a matter of time before the empire collapsed. I tried to warn them. Here is a DM exchange between me and Neera Tanden back in August of 2020:And then I predicted the future:The GOP did, in fact, take all three branches in 2024. But the message was never getting through. They didn't want to hear it then, and do not want to hear it now, so what other option do they have but to try to persuade by force?Vive La ResistanceI cringe looking back on being a “resistance fighter.” To think we'd convinced ourselves that we were like the French singer in Casablanca who sings loud enough to drown out the Nazis.It's that self-righteousness we felt, that entitlement, that moral superiority that would ultimately be our undoing, that Trump happened to us, rather than the people who voted for him. The fantasies by the wealthiest and most famous among us to viciously attack Trump, pull him from limb to limb, seemed to know no bounds. Somehow, violence has filled in the empty spaces. It's what Walter Kirn could see in the reaction to the Mangione assassination: this idea that violence was another way to build clout, even to virtue signal, in a narcissistic utopia. We believed ourselves to be the chosen people. But because the people didn't want us, didn't love us, didn't want our America - our shining Woketopia on the hill - we blamed them. We blamed their votes. We smeared them. That casual dehumanization did lead to violence. And it's likely to get much worse.The Party of HateI've lost so many friends, people I've known for years, ex-boyfriends, and colleagues. It was surreal to watch them pull away, to block, to unfriend, or attack me so relentlessly that I had to block them. They don't know who I am anymore, and I don't know who they are anymore.They have become defined by that collective hatred, that poisonous intolerance that has driven so many people like me away from the party. The worse they get, the more violent they become, the less Americans will want them in power. When I start to think about whether there will be a blue wave in 2026, I think about 1972. In 1970, four students were shot at Kent State for protesting the war. It did nothing to change public opinion, but it did put Nixon on a path toward a record landslide victory. It was just one of a series of violent events that scared the public away from the Democrats, with the Manson murders in 1969 being another.Those students believed in a cause worth dying for. History has mostly vindicated them. The Left of today believes they're fighting Hitler and “concentration camps.” Some believe it is a cause worth dying for. There's just one tiny problem: it isn't true. The reason I keep telling my story is that I know so much of what we lived through will disappear down the memory hole. But we should never forget how crazy it all became and how hard it was for all of us to find our way back to a united America. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sashastone.substack.com/subscribe

James JankoA Vietnam vet and an award-winning novelist with a deep interest in peaceJames Janko is the author of three award-winning novels. He learned to write on Alcatraz Island National Park where he worked alone as a nightwatchman from 1979 to 1992. He read N. Scott Momaday, Maxine Hong Kingston, James Baldwin, García Lorca, Louise Erdrich, and many others. Over the years, word by word, he fell in love with language and learned to write. Janko's awards include: the Juniper Prize from the University of Massachusetts Press for his novel, The Wire-Walker; the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award for the Novel for The Clubhouse Thief; The Northern California Book Award and The Association of Asian American Studies Prose Award for Buffalo Boy and Geronimo. His novel, What We Don't Talk About (University of Wisconsin Press), tells the story of his hometown in rural Illinois.Want to be a guest on Book 101 Review? Send Daniel Lucas a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17372807971394464fea5bae3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saturday Night Live head writers Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell and Kent Sublette join Greg Iwinski to talk about the process of writing for a different host every week, how giving notes to writers differs from giving notes to the cast, what writing for SNL teaches you about rejection, and much more. Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell and Kent Sublette are the current head writers of Saturday Night Live. Kent has been a head writer for the show since 2016, and Alison and Streeter have been head writers since 2022. Greg Iwinski is an Emmy-winning comedy writer whose credits include Last Week Tonight, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Game Theory with Bomani Jones. --- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: wgaeast.org/onwriting Follow the Guild on social media: @WGAEast OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.

Send us a textHannah and Laura are covering chapters 15 through 28 of Jim Butcher's Dead Beat and having a... [plot twist]...great time? This is a romp of a book that may or may not take place during the summer. Hannah and Laura also chat about a hilariously cringey TV show, a shark movie marathon, and some incredibly creative fantasy books they've been reading.**This episode contains SPOILERS for Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Spoiler/plot section begins at: 50 min 45 secs. ****CW for the episode: discussions of sex, murder, death, gore, mental illness, zombies, blood, crime, shark attacks**Media Mentions: Dead Beat by Jim ButcherThe Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin The Righteous Gemstones---HBO Max The Black Utopians by Aaron Robertson Iron Widow by Xiran Jay ZhaoTaskmaster---YouTube Jaws---Peacock Jaws 3D---PeacockJaws: The Revenge---PeacockDeep Blue Sea---AppleTV Support the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!If you've been chasing the magical marketing strategy that will finally make your book “take off,” welcome to the club. In this episode, I'm addressing the question nearly every author eventually asks: What does it actually take to make a book successful?Spoiler: there's no guaranteed formula. Even authors with six-figure advances, NYT bestsellers, or celebrity blurbs still worry their latest book won't sell. So what are we really buying when we shell out thousands for a publicist? Often, it's access and visibility, not actual sales. You can land your book in front of all the right people, and still... crickets. Why? Because readers are human. Think about how long you've let a book sit in your online cart before clicking “buy,” even if you really wanted to read it.Success usually requires a mix of good writing, staying power, and yes, a little luck. But maybe it's time we stop defining success only by sales numbers. What if it's about writing something you're proud of? Or connecting deeply with a few readers who say, “Your book changed me”?Marketing will always involve experimentation. And when it starts to feel like a full-time job you didn't apply for, you have every right to pause, pivot, or try something wildly different. Your book might find its audience next week—or three years from now—in a way you never expected.

Doubt is a common part of the creative process… but it doesn't need to derail forward momentum or feel miserable. Whether doubt shows up for you in the brainstorming, outlining, drafting, or revision process (or all of them!), today's episode will help you extract useful information from that doubt and get back into the flow of your novel. *** The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here. DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

This week Danielle and Kristine learn how to survive this week's listener suggestion: a bad landlord!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kate Gies joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about the lasting effects of trauma on the body and mind, taking care of ourselves while writing by remembering our purpose, allowing early drafts to be angry and raw and finding meaning later, body shame and body acceptance, coming of age later in life, weaving together a medical narrative, protecting ourselves from reinjury by focusing on the larger message, writing where the energy is, finding boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and her memoir It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished: A Memoir of My Body.   Also in this episode: -writing where the energy is -giving yourself time - writing in vignettes   Books mentioned in this episode: Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealey The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso Bluets by Maggie Nelson In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado The Sucide Index by Joan Wickersham   Kate Gies is a writer and educator living in Toronto. She teaches creative nonfiction and expressive arts at George Brown College. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have been published in The Malahat Review, The Humber Literary Review, Hobart, the Best Canadian Essays 2024 Anthology, and other places.She is the author of It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished: A Memoir of My Body, which details her childhood medical experiences related to a missing ear. It was published by Simon & Schuster in February of 2025.   Connect with Kate: Website: kategies.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katygies Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kategies.bsky.social Get the Book: US: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/It-Must-Be-Beautiful-to-Be-Finished/Kate-Gies/9781668051054 Get the Book: Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Must-Be-Beautiful-Finished-Memoir/dp/1668051052 – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

An acknowledged master of the short story form, Richard Bausch's work has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, Gentleman's Quarterly, Harper's, The Missouri Review, The New Yorker, Narrative, New Letters, Playboy, Ploughshares, and The Southern Review, and his stories have been widely anthologized, including The Best American Short Stories, O. Henry Prize Stories, and Pushcart Prize Stories, among others. He is the author of thirteen novels and ten collections of stories, including his new collection, The Fate of Others. Richard joins Barbara to talk about his path to writing fiction, various stories in the collection as well as titling stories, arranging stories in the book, the difference between writing novels and stories, and so much more. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds of past interviews on our website. You can help out the show and indie bookstores by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. It's stocked with titles by our guest authors, as well as our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. It's perfect for writing. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on June 27, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Host: Marrie Stone Music: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Episode 280 features the sample reading portion of our feature with writer, musician, and artist, Stephen Cline! You're in for a treat as Stephen reads a mesmerizing sample from his latest genre-blending thriller, The Last Book. Jason also takes a couple of minutes to briefly describe his Alaskan vacation and a couple of the amazing things which took place on the trip.  Stephen Cline website for ALL of his creative endeavors and social media links The Last Book on Amazon Interview with Stephen Cline from episode 279. Contact the show via email at samplechapterpodcast@gmail.com

What if the reason you're stuck on your novel isn't about talent or creativity, but simply a missing piece of the puzzle that could change everything?Every writer knows that soul-crushing feeling of being completely stuck. Not just procrastinating or battling writer's block, but that specific paralysis where you love your story idea, want to write, but have absolutely no idea how to move forward. In this episode, you'll hear from three writers who faced this exact challenge in very different ways. Kelsey wrote 11,000 words of an adult fantasy novel before hitting a wall with no idea what should happen next. Liya spent eight years starting and stopping the same young adult series, never making it past the first few chapters. And Danyel loved her idea, but kept running into structural problems she couldn't solve. What they discovered transformed not just their current projects, but their entire approach to storytelling—and their breakthroughs reveal exactly what might be missing from your own writing process.In this episode, you'll learn:[05:05] The surprising way that reducing from two point-of-view characters to one solved major structural problems and created more mystery and page-turning tension in a thriller[08:00] Why having a flexible outline is like "someone turning on the lights and handing you a map"—and how it can make writing feel fun and exciting again instead of wandering in the dark[11:05] How understanding the crucial difference between scenes and chapters unlocked eight years of frustration for one writer and completely transformed her approach to story structure[14:15] Why being stuck isn't about lacking talent—it's simply an indication that you're missing a foundational piece of your storyIf you're ready for your breakthrough moment—and want my complete, step-by-step framework for writing a story that works—join the waitlist for the next open enrollment of my Notes to Novel course. Don't miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished draft you're proud of!