Why Author Beth Castrodale Doesn’t Write Sequels and What She Writes Instead

Send us Fan MailThis week on Here's What We Know, join us for a captivating conversation with author Beth Castrodale to explore the creative life. Beth shares how her roots in journalism shaped her storytelling style, why ghost stories have always fascinated her, and what it really takes to finish a book.Listen in as we go down the rabbit hole from haunted houses, World War I soldier journals, and audiobooks to cemetery lore and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to beloved characters. Tune in now; you’re gonna love it!In This Episode:The Path to WritingThe Relationship Between Reading and WritingRunning, Audiobooks, and Podcasts: Creative ConsumptionBeth Castrodale’s Books and the Audiobook ExperienceCrafting Character Voices: Writing and Narrating Multiple Points of ViewThe Writing Process: Plotting, Pantsing, and OutliningFinding Endings and Letting GoReceiving Critique and the Role of EgoThe Solitary Nature of Novel WritingLiterary Influences and Early Reading MemoriesThe Allure of Standalone Novels and Avoiding SequelsResearch in Writing: Bringing Authenticity to FictionGhost Stories, the Paranormal, and the Challenge of CreepyThe Process of Writing "The Inhabitants"The Winchester Mystery HousePublicity, Promotion, and the Writer’s LifeThis episode is sponsored by:Dignity MemorialBio:Beth Castrodale worked as a newspaper reporter until her love of books led her to the publishing field. She was a senior editor at Bedford/St. Martin’s and is the founding editor of the book-review website Small Press Picks. Her most recent novel, The Inhabitants, won the Horror categories of the Independent Publisher Book Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Best Book Awards. It was a finalist in the Horror category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.An excerpt from her second novel, In This Ground, was a shortlist finalist for a William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Award. Her début novel, Marion Hatley, was a finalist for a Nilsen Prize for a First Novel from Southeast Missouri State University Press. Castrodale also received an artist grant from the Mass Cultural Council. Her stories and essays have appeared in multiple publications, including CrimeReads, Ars Medica, The Writing Disorder, and Writing and Wellness.If you sign up for Beth’s monthly email newsletter, you’ll get a free copy of her novel Gold River.Website: https://www.bethcastrodale.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-castrodale-a667b81/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethcastrodale/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beth.castrodaleConnect with Gary:Gary's WebsiteFollow Gary on InstagramGary's TiktokGary's FacebookWatch the episodes on YouTubeAdvertise on the PodcastThank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!