Lit Carnivale Podcast

A techie and a foodie, Toi Thomas was born in Texas but considers Virginia home. She enjoys cooking, all things geek, and collecting vinyl records, teapots, and books. Toi is an animal lover and reading advocate. She’s the Education Program Associate at The Muse Writers Center.Toi writes clean, adult, multi-genre fiction and nonfiction, as well as writes and illustrates picture books. She’s been featured in many anthologies and serves as host of the in-person Insecure Writer’s Support Group in Norfolk. Toi actively creates for fans at Patreon with original content and hosts the Lit Carnivale and Knauthentic podcasts on Substack and YouTube.-CONTACTS-https://linktr.ee/toithomas-Affiliate Link(s)-Amazon: https://amzn.to/4efu1ZBBookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/Toi-Carnie-Book-Shop-Other Book/Purchase Links-Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/toithomasSell My Tees- https://litcarnivale.sellmytees.com/Redbubble- https://www.redbubble.com/people/ToiThomas/explore Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3 of The Read All Over show returns May 12th with Sherry Ellis, thenGlorious Raine on June 9th, with Brenda B. Covert on July 14th, and Patricia JL on August 11th. Can’t wait to share these creatives with you. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3 of The Read Local show returns May 5th with special guest Tyla Jaqwelin.Followed up by Virginia Acquaro Slechta on June 2nd.Jana Sun on July 7th, and T.L. Pass on August 4th.Can’t wait to share these local creatives. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about the duality of being a creative person.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. Last week I was out addressing my ongoing health issues and I’m so happy to be back this week. With season 3 of The Read Local Show and The Read All Over Show approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about the duality of being a creative person. I’ll mostly be focusing on writers, but I think what I have to say will generally apply to other creatives as well. Before I go more in-depth on this topic, here’s a reminder of the line up for the two shows.The Read Local Show will feature: a special guest, along with Virginia Slechta, Jana Sun, and T.L. Pass.The Read All Over Show will feature: Sherry Ellis, Brenda Covert, Patricia J.L., and Glorious Raine.2. Speaking in purely general terms, most creatives would love to be able to create all the time without having to worry about income, promoting, or meeting expectations. For those who’ve chosen to express their creativity without monetization, they’ve limited their need to think about these other concerns. When creativity isn’t connected to financial need or desire, you don’t need to worry about promotion and societal expectations. Unfortunately, one major downside to being a creative, is the desire to connect with other people over your creative expression. This can be done without monetization, but not without exposure to other people’s expectation. Then take it one step further and reject the notion of working a traditional job or starting a practical business model and you have a creative who has to master promoting and meeting expectations. The creative person now becomes a businessperson, whether they like it or not.3. This is the duality many creatives struggle with. I know there have been times when I’ve written something that I knew other people would connect with or relate too and I was torn with whether or not I should give it away for free or go onto promo mode to share it. If I decide to share it, I’m then torn with why I would put so much effort into sharing it if I wasn’t at least attempting to make some income with- income help fuel future creativity. It’s a tough situation to be in and one I’m constantly traversing. That’s one of the reasons I make so much effort to help promote other authors. Whether they are seeking recognition, monetary gain, or simply a connection, I wish I’d had someone offering me a platform to share my creativity, so now I’m offer it to others.Question: Would you rather create for a living or keep creativity separate from your income? I’d love to know. For me, I’m open to both. I would write only for myself if it got to be too much to share it with others, but I could also write for a living if I choice to focus my attention on that, but it mostly likely wouldn’t be the fairy tale of being a full-time novelist.Be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss the launch of the Read Local Show or The Read All Over Show and consider a paid subscription to receive bonus episodes and content.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 22.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Duality, Creativity, Income PossibilityProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about The Countdown to Season 3If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. I’m so excited that it’s getting closer to the launch of season 3 of the Read Local Show and the Read All Over Show. This season will be unlike any of the precious seasons for several reasons. Aside from the differences there are also some similarities. I’m keeping the same format that I’ve always had to help listeners really connect with the participating authors. We’ll get to know them as readers, writers, and individuals sharing about their creativity.2. So, what’s different. Well, I’ve cleaned up and simplified some of the graphics and I’ve changed the location of where the podcast will be available. This time around, both shows will be part of the regular Lit Carnivale podcast and they’ve also be available as audio-only podcasts. Each show will have four episodes spread over four months. For the Read Local Show I’ll be chatting with: Virginia Slechta, Jana Sun, T. L. Pass and a special guest. For the Read All Over Show I’ll be chatting with: Sherry Ellis, Brenda Covert, Patricia J. L., and Glorious Raine.3. Each show will launch in May and run through August. During the run of these shows, the Lit Carnivale solo content will take a hiatus. So instead of four public posts a month, there will only be two- Read Local one week and Read All Over the next with short a break until the next month. Paid subscribers will receive bonus episodes on the off weeks. I know this is a risky strategy, but it’s the one I’ve got, and it will allow me to focus more effort on promoting each show and the authors being featured.Question: Are you ready for the Read Local or Read All Over Show? I’d love to know.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 21.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Read Local or Read All Over Show,Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about what makes a conference a success.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. Whenever I attend a conference or convention I have to consider my why. Why am I going and what do I hope to get out of it? If it’s a convention, I’m usually there for fun, connections, and possibly inspiration. For a conference, I want to have a feeling a success, which I usually measure by whether I made solid leads or contacts, received positive feedback on a project I’m working on, or received critical feedback to help me move forward with a project I’m working on. Then there are the times when I actually vend at an event. If I make my table few back, I always count it as a success because I put myself out there and I always go the extra mile to be memorable. Since I just came back from AWP, I’ll explain why I think it was a professional success for me.2. I made a lot of connections- I mean solid leads and contacts. Not just people whose cards or flyers I collected, but people who also took my information and or followed me on social media. I talked to a lot of people and gained insight into the literary community I didn’t previously have. I also gained a bit of confidence in my own knowledge of the publishing process based on some conversations I had. I shared my ideas and received feedback and encouragement to pursue them along with the invitation to submit some of my ideas for publication. I also discovered some cautionary information that’s always a value when entering a new arena, such as going from fiction to creative nonfiction. I also feel it was a success because I did such as good job of representing myself and leaving a lasting impression. At least, I felt like I did.3. The last and final, most unexpected, thing that made the AWP experience a professional success for me, was the inspiration. I wasn’t expecting to be inspired to explore new things. I’m always open to trying new things, I guess I was just surprised that there were new things I hadn’t yet considered.Question: Have you had professional success at a conference? I’d love to know. I have a special announcement coming next week, so be sure to come back.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 20.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: AWP, Professional Conferences, Making Connections, Positive FeedbackProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about Representing The Muse at AWP.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. The only reason I was able to attend AWP in Baltimore this year was because I went with The Muse Writers Center as a staff member. As a literary center with a long history and ties to AWP, it was an honor to be included in this venture. As the newest staff member, I had no expectation of inclusion, so it was a nice surprise. While I’ll be focusing on my experience as literary nonprofit staff member this week, next week I’ll give a rundown of my experience as a reader, writer, and author.2. So, let’s start by highlighting some of my duties at the conference. Because The Muse Writers Center set up vendor table in the bookfair space, I had a scheduled time to sit at the table to converse with passersby, informing them about the center and our services while providing a kind smile and hopefully some encouraging words. Away from the vendor table, there were a few panels and on-site activities for staff to attend with the purpose of growing in our roles, learning about topics and trends to be aware of, and representing The Muse well for potential collaborations down the road. One the main events I attended was a 20th anniversary party for The Muse Writers Center. I made a point to be festive in gold, purple, black, and white- The Muse colors. I was impressed by how many people already seemed to know about The Muse and were actively expressing interest in our community.3. Lastly, in my role of Education Program Associate, it was my duty to seek out potential instructors for classes, new ideas to add to our program, and help answer questions that teachers or students might have. I handed out quite a few business cards so interested parties could reach out if they wanted to. I enjoyed sharing the ins and outs of our education programs for youth and adults, our outreach programs, and our many social events. Many of the potential teachers were happy to learn of our hybrid model, as many of them were looking for reasons to travel outside of their area.Question: Before listening or watching this podcast, had you heard of The Muse Writers Center? I’d love to know. I’d taken classes and attended social events before joining the staff.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 19.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: AWP for work, The Muse Writer Center, Networking for Literary NonprofitsProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Lit Carnivale 18: Intro to AWP Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about AWP.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. This is going to be short. For those who don’t know, AWP is a huge literary conference that takes place in a different large US city each year. It’s where all the literary and poetry who’s who gather to promote, network, and appreciate their industry.2. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m more into genre fiction than poetry and literary fiction, but I’m still excited about this opportunity, even if it makes me little anxious. I’m excited to possibly meet some publishers to share my ideas with and connected with other published authors. Honestly, I’m more excited about chatting with other authors than anything else outside of representing my company.3. I’m actually happy to be representing The Muse Writers Center. I feel very at home with the Muse community and look forward to opportunities to give back anytime I can.Question: Have you ever been to AWP? I’d love to know. It’s my first time and I’m so excited.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 17.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Anticipating AWP, Literary vs Genre Fiction, Meeting Authors and PublishersProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale. I’m a day late but with plenty to share.Today, I want to talk about consumption vs participation.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. Some writers are readers and some are not. I’ve had this debate many times. As a reading advocate, I’m always going to encourage others to read. Still, I recognize that motivation is important to the reality of why a writer might not read. In a recent author interview I talked about reader burn-out and how it’s a real thing.So, as far as I can tell, there are three reasons why writers may not be readers. 1st some writers have no interest in reading. Why they decided to become a writer could range from experimental self-express or be something as simple as a way to possibly make some money. Regardless, their desire to write is no reflection on the habit of reading. It’s not necessary for them. For these writers, other writer’s words have no bearing. Their voice is the only voice in their head. At least, that’s what they believe. They are actively trying not to be influenced by someone else’s words. They may or may not acknowledge that the voice of other creatives, such as filmmakers, TV writers and directors, playwrights, videogame developers, and more are all in their heads taking up space.2. The 2nd reason why some writers may not be readers, could have more to do with when, where, and how they learned to read. For many people, whether a writer or not, reading is not an enjoyable experience. This makes me sad and is a major reason as to why I’m a reading advocate. Too many people have been made to feel that they have to read a certain way, or only read certain things, and must somehow analyze and interpret written words in a particular way. It applies a social stigma to something that should be universal. This has long-lasting damaging effects on large portion of the literate population and is also a contributing factor to why some people, who can learn to read avoid it or only learn just enough to get by. This often leads to reluctant writers who find inspiration solely from alternative forms of storytelling: such a movies, TV, music, games, and more. This isn’t necessity bad, but it often develops creatives who are being influenced by adaptions, without ever encountering the source material.3. The final reason is my least favorite, and one that I’m working on not being too judgmental about. What does “write what you know” really mean? Does this mean you have to participate in the action, or can you simply learn it from other books? Can a writer write something they’ve never read simply because they saw it in a movie, on TV, or in a play? That’s often the question with this last reason.Some writers don’t think they need to read in order to write. Some even go so far as to say that consumption doesn’t equal participation. That means, they don’t believe readers have an advantage over them simply because they’ve read something- just because someone reads romance doesn’t mean they can write it. These types of writers have no interest in learning about structure, genre, or other writerly semantics. They believe that natural talent can and will always speak for itself. They write for their own self-gratification, which I actually admire. Unfortunately, natural talent successes are usually the luck of the draw. If or when these writers don’t receive they kind of feedback they desire, they don’t consider that their writing may have been a factor.Still, all of this is not the same as reader burn-out, where we started at the beginning of this episode. Reader burn-out is state of mind and sometimes more. It’s temporary, but that doesn’t mean it can’t last a long time. It’s something that can happen to writers or readers in general. With reader burn-out, there is a desire to reader, but not the motivation or energy. There’s so much more to it than that, but that’s as far as I’ll go today. All I’ll say for now, is that the desire to want to read is enough to make you a reader. When the time is right, you’ll find your way back into a book that feels like home.Question: Do you think, consumption counts as “Write what you know”? I’d love to know. I can’t answer this for anyone else, but I refused to consider publishing a memoir without reading a few first and I’m so glad I did.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 16.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Write what you know, Consumption vs Participation, Writers who read, Writers who don’t read.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about finding a writer support system.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. Community and support systems are not the same, though they could be. It’s possible to be part of a community and not be engaged with it simply by existing. I write therefore I am a writer; thus, I’m part of the writing community. So then, the question is, how do I take being part of the writing community and turn it into a support system? I’ll get to that in a moment but first, let focus on the community aspect.2. Community comes from some aspect of common ground. It could be geographical, cultural, communicative, common interest or more. Writing makes me part of the writing community, but it doesn’t mean that I’m active in that community. To be active in the writing community I must do one of two things. 1) I must share what I’m writing. That doesn’t mean I have to pursue publishing, but I do have to put my writing in front of other people. I could publish, or I could share what I’ve written in a class or a club or on social media. 2) Advocate for the act of writing. This could be anything from showing up to local writer gatherings, networking with published writers, encouraging a friend to write a letter or poem just for fun, taking or buying a writing class, and so much more. As writer, you can do or simply one of these and better connected with the larger writing community.3. There are two single activities that take a writing community to the next level and make it a support system. 1) Reading the work of other writers. Again, this isn’t about setting a yearly reading goal to complete a certain number of books, but it is about sharing in someone’s vulnerability and offering feedback, whether casual or more formal. You can critique or beta read for another writer, or you could simply leave a positive comment on a social media post. It’s really about engaging with someone else’s writing in the manner that works best for you. 2) Share your experiences and allow others share theirs with you. Talking about your interest, your struggles, and your triumphs with writing and allowing others to do the same, is what takes this to the next level.I’ve been fortunate enough to have found a writing community and support systems, both online and my local community. I follow and support other writers online and offer my blog and podcasts as outlets to promote other writers. Locally, I attend writerly gathering, author vendor events, and even take classes. My most recent endeavor, has been to take my online support group and bring into the real world. Be sure to check my social media links if you’d like to learn more.Question: Do you have a writer support system? I’d love to know. How did you find it? Where and when do you all me. Have you found it helpful. I know it’s made a difference for me.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 15.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Writer community vs support system.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Recovery From Illness Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about The Technical Side Of WritingIf you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. I want to start today talking about the semantics of writing. Whether a writer writes for their own self-gratification, or to pursue publication, they know there is more to writing to than simply coming up with words to put on a paper or a screen. If someone is maintaining a journal of their stream of consciousness, they rarely go back and edit what they’ve written, That’s not the point of the exercise. Just like running a mile on a wilderness path isn’t about staying perfectly in the center of the path. You’ll never see a runner go back for redo because their foot got too close the edge of the path. As long as the runner completes the mile, they are happy, and as long as the writers completes the journal entry, they are happy.Sometimes, though, there is more to writing. The writer may return to that journal entry and extract pieces of it to dissect and rework to help better convey a thought or emotion. On the surface, this may look like editing, but it could also be part of the creative process. Playing around with word choices, sequence, and structure can transform the stream of consciousness into a list of goals, a poem, a short story, or heartfelt letter. It has nothing to do with grammar and syntax, but everything to do with creative expression.2. Then there is the more technical side of writing where editing takes over. There are two main types of self-editors, with some variations, of course. There are the writers who love to self-edit. These writers sometimes struggle to complete their ideas because they’re editing their work as is falling out onto the page or screen. Then there are those writers who highly dislike, bordering on hate, to edit. These are the writers who may want to share their work with others but not enough to edit it so others can easily take in their creativity. These writers will sometimes just keep their writing to themselves to avoid having to edit it. I admit, this can be me sometimes. For me, my creativity vastly outshines my technical skills. Editing my writing is a nightmare but I know it’s important if I want to share my work, so I rely on beta-readers and professionals, when the time comes.3. Let’s consider for a moment how this relates to my ability to podcast. I have tried to go with the flow but have found that a loose script is the way to go for my interviews. And after some rough initial posts of this podcast, a more detailed script helps keep me in focus. When it comes to recording episodes of the Read Local and Read All Over Show, that’s the fun part. Then I have to edit the content and make it fit the video and audio formats. While I wouldn’t describe this part as fun, it’s not a bother either. I get stressed when I think about editing my writing, but when I think about editing podcasts, I don’t mind a bit.Question: Does your creative side overshadow your technical side? I’d love to know.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 13.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Creative skills vs technical skills, The Semantics of Writing, EditingProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about starting to record episodes of the Read Local and Read All Over Shows.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. I’m going to keep it short today. This is more of an announcement. I’ve booked and started the recording process for my main two podcasts. I’m really excited and happy with how things are going so far. I’m still seeking more participants, but we’ll see what I end up with by the end of March- my deadline to get this season going.2. I’ve had no luck find aspiring writers or booklovers to interview. People express interest but never follow through. I get it, I’m not famous so they may not see any point if they are looking for 15- minutes of fame. I’m not stressing it though. If I don’t launch my other two podcasts this year, I’ll do at some other time. The only deadline I have is the one I give myself. Plus, there’s no point in launching a podcast no one wants, just because I want it.I think the only other struggle I’m facing with this podcast process is communication. Some people are easy to get in contact with, and some are nigh on impossible. Oh well, it is what it is. If it’s meant to be, contact will be made.3. Lastly, think it’s important for me to admit that I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts myself. I have found that most of the podcasts I follow are video podcasts. I have a few audio podcasts l listen to here and there, but regular viewing usually goes to video content. I’ve stretched myself far beyond my comfort zone to make my podcasts available in both video and audio because I know most people listen to podcasts instead of watching them. I just wonder if I’m doing too much with this approach.Question: Do you prefer video or audio podcasts? I’d love to know.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 12.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Video vs Audio podcasts, Podcast Process, Connecting with Talent/Contacts.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about interviews vs conversations.If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.1. I think I’ve mentioned before that I consider myself an omnivert. I’m an introvert with some extrovert skills. I’m good at public speaking but I struggle with crowds. I use vending tables as security blankets when I have to socialize with strangers. I’m not really a people person, but I care a lot. I’ve worked as a trainer, instructor, and teacher for years, which put me face-to-face with many people, so I’ve learned how to fill my creative cup and recharge my mental and physical batteries after intense social interactions. But, a one-on-one conversation is just my speed.2. For as long as I’ve been blogging, author interviews have been a thing, but podcasts have helped a lot to revive and reinvent this a bit. Still, sometimes, even I find that they can be boring- asking the same questions over-and-over. Years ago, I made a small name for myself, in an extremely tightknit niche, for entertaining author interviews. I had fun challenging authors to stop trying to sell their books and just have fun talking about writing and their creativity. It worked for a long time, but I eventually burnt out. As well as it was going, some authors constantly resisted and just wanted to stick to same old “sell my book” approach. They weren’t interested in a conversation. I needed to step away from trying to offer something, for free, that too many just didn’t want.3. Fast forward a few years, I launched the Read Local and Read All Over Shows on YouTube. I knew from the start that fun was my focus and that I would do it only as a limited series. I didn’t skyrocket to fame or become a person of mass influence, but I had a good time. So, I did it again, and had just as much fun but then my health started to dramatically derail. I had to step away from blogging, vlogging, writing, and podcasting.Since then, I’ve been slowly rebuilding what little audience I had, but mostly I’m just trying to reconnect with the community that brought me so much comfort in the past. I’ve missed having really fun author conversations and sharing them with the world. So, that’s my aim moving forward.Question: Do you enjoy conversation? I’d love to know.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 11.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Talking to People in General, Interviews vs ConversationsProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.Today, I want to talk about public reading.1.Publlic reading is not the same as public speaking, even if you are using note cards. Public speaking gives you benefit of improvisation. You can read directly from your cards, or you can use the cards a guide and speak from the heart.If you’re doing a public reading and someone happens to be reading along, they’ll know if you’ve read it wrong. Public reading add an additional layer of pressure to not only read the word correctly, but to read in a way that engages those who may be listening.2.For my money, just talking about a book is enough to get me interested in it, but sometimes people want more. They want to sample the work before committing to giving the piece a chance. I mean, who doesn’t like a free sample. But when the writer of the piece reads it, it not only tells you something about the piece, it tells you something about the writer.3. These are the things I take into consideration when I read aloud my own work to others. I also consider this when I sit down to listen to an author read to a crowd. It never occurred to me that some people don’t enjoy public readings, but it’s true. I’ve met a few people who’ve told me so, and yet, these people still enjoy a good book. It’s the public reading itself they’re not into.With that consideration, whenever I post my podcast interviews, I make an effort to keep the conversation entraining- not just fun but engaging. If there are serious or emotional moments to be had, I let them happen, but ultimately, I want listeners to be entertained. That’s why I always reserve the author readings for bonus content and make it available to those who really want to hear it.Question: Have you ever done an in-person public reading? I would love to know how that went for you.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 10.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: public speaking vs public reading, sampling or testing content before committing, and the joy vs the displeasure of a public readingProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a new year but time is already running out.I took a break last week because of the New Year and also because of health issues I had to address.Topic of the day: Facing Reality1. This week I started individually reaching out to authors I’m interested in interviewing on one of my podcasts. Some of these are authors I’ve known for a while. Some of them are new acquaintances. Some of them are authors I know, but they don’t know me and they have much bigger followings than I do. So, that’s the reality I’m facing this week. Some authors are just not going to be interested in being on my podcast.2. I’m facing reality for two reasons. I don’t want to discourage myself, so I’ll be looking to the bright side of reality as well as being realistic about my prospects.So, yes, I have a small following, but a person’s social media following isn’t the reflection of reach that it used to be. I personally know of several people and or organizations with quite a bit of influence, but their social media is relatively small.I was very fortunate with the first two seasons of the Read Local and Read All Over Shows to already have had a chance to interview some of my favorite authors. I can’t be too upset if other authors I admire just aren’t up for it.Lastly, I’m not famous, but I’ve been doing this for a while. I’ve given talks at libraries, vended at local cons and book fairs, and have even been a guest speaker. Plus, I’m a fan of books and authors. If that by itself isn’t enough for another author to give me the time of day, well then, it just wasn’t meant to be, and I’m ok with that.3. This is a give and take world, and not matter how good my intentions may be, if I’m not doing the necessary work to build an audience, I can expect people miraculously be interested in what I’m putting out into the world. Though I’ve been part of the writing, author, and bookish community for at least two decades, in the last five years, I haven’t been that active. I’ve had, and continue to have, health issues that prohibit me from doing all the things I’d like to do. This goes beyond finding time to write and release new works, this comes down to visiting other content creators and engaging with them- liking, commenting, sharing- you know, the things that show you’re truly connecting. With that said, I’m moving forward. Each day I will do the best I can and be proud of whatever I’m able to accomplish.Question: Is there a harsh reality you’re having to face right now? I’d love to hear about it and offer encouragement.If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.CreditsLit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 9.Staring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics Discussed: Facing Reality and Encouraging OneselfProduced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

The text featured below is the transcription of the video above.Hey guys, I’ve got some odd obstacles to talk about.So, this is going to be a fairly short episode. I’ve been having some health challenges, but I did want to just kind of give an update about what’s going on and talk about some odd obstacles that I have. if you don’t know this, which you probably do if you’re listening to this podcast, lots of writers are, introverted. I consider myself an omnivore. I can’t remember where I saw that term. I’m sure it was like a blog post or some kind of article that I read. And it’s basically where I am most comfortable, kind of like on my own and secluded. But, there are times when I can like, be around people, like under certain conditions, and I kind of thrive there. And so, when I speak to other people who are introverted and I find that, I am less introverted than some of them. I that’s where I really feel like this idea of the omnivert, comes into play kind of like, an omnivore where you eat both plants and animals. I can do well in both environments, but I do kind of thrive in a more small, quiet, controlled environment.And So, the obstacle that I’m faced with right now is, which I didn’t even know this was a thing. This is something that I’m learning about myself is, meeting new people in my local environment. And, you know, how to, like, go about doing that. So, let me give you a little bit of history. I’m not going to drag this out too long. So, the reason why I’m consider myself an omnivore is, again, because when I talk to other introverts and I tell them that I do like video content, they’re just like, oh no, I could never do that. For me, I don’t mind doing video content because even though I’m, you know, speaking into a camera and it could be seen by a whole lot of people, not that it will be. I’m like, I’m I’m okay with that. I’m safe in front of the camera. But I guess other introverts, that’s just that’s a lot for them.Okay. Another thing is, I don’t like crowds. I don’t like big, noisy, kind of cluttered things. But I do have like a desire to sometimes be in those environments. And So, it’s like this kind of tug of war that I’m playing with myself. Like, I love going to cons, fantasy cons, comic cons, things like that. But I always get, like, overwhelmed in those environments. Like, I can only go so, far before I have to stop and breathe and kind of hide behind my support system, which is usually my husband. and So, it’s like I have a desire to, like, be in those more extroverted environments. But as long as I can, like, stay in the shadows and not be noticed too much. With that said, if I am in those environments, I have found two ways in which I can actually kind of thrive in those environments. And it’s very much all about, you know, the control and the, you know, the feeling of safety that I’m able to create in that environment. So, again, as a writer, if I am at an event like that and I have, say, like a vendor table, that table is like my security system. people don’t come behind the table. They just walk up and down the aisles.And So, it’s a way for me to, like, be in that environment but still feel kind of safe, have a cut off to where I can kind of isolate if I need to. Another thing, which is other introverts have told me that that doesn’t make any sense is that I am pretty good at public speaking, and honestly, I think that has to do with growing up in a Pentecostal church in the South. whether you wanted to be like outgoing or not, it was just kind of like embedded. You had to get up and speak at different points as, even as children. And so, you know, people have different environments that they grow up in. Sometimes they stay in those environments, sometimes they leave those environments, sometimes they find a balance in between. But I do think that, public speaking is something that I’m able to do because of that initial upbringing. you know, in school, you take classes, you get like credits and things for like public speaking classes or whatever. And I and I took one in high school. And, if I’m being totally honest, I took another one in college just because I was trying to fill up another credit. And I figured that would be a pretty easy class. And even my professor was like, why are you in this class? They kind of knew that I was taking it for an easy credit. But the point is, is that I don’t I don’t mind public speaking. And again, I feel like because there’s this invisible barrier, like when you’re standing up in front of a crowd, at least the crowds that I’ve been in So, far, there are certain crowds that I would not speak in. I’m just, you know, putting that out there. This is- I’m not infallible for that. But in the situations where I’ve put myself in to, like, be in front of the crowd, there is this like invisible barrier, this separation between me and the crowd. And then when I’m finished, I can get, you know, shuffled away to someplace safe to, like, decompress and things like that.So, the challenge that I’m faced with now is, I’m trying to get the word out, and I don’t have that safety. Like I don’t have the vendor table. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did recently attend an event where I was vending and the table was my security blanket, So, I did fine there. For instance, the what I am talking about is the situation where I’m like hosting and passing out flyers for some of the things that I’m trying to do. That is me being in the crowd, not being at the vendor table or behind the podium. And that’s the kind of the obstacle, the challenge that I’m faced with right now. And it’s not something that is like debilitating. It’s nerve wracking. But I know that it’s something that I have to do. And So, I’ve been making a little bit of progress with that just because, I do want to, you know, put myself out there to meet new people, even though I don’t want to be in crowds. I know that sounds crazy, but anyway, that’s kind of what I have going on. I’ve met, I’m reconnecting with, a lot of the writers that I’ve met throughout the past. I’m meeting new writers, I’m making connections, and I feel pretty good about where things are going. And, I just have to stay on top of my health issues so that I can follow through with everything. And that’s where I am.If you have any tips or tricks on, overcoming like some of these obstacles, when you are, you know, hitting the pavement as they say and speaking to people face to face and trying to hand out flyers, I’m totally up for the tips because usually I, wherever I go, I, you know, will be behind like a corner or something like that. Suck in a couple of deep breaths, try not to vomit, do what I have to do, and then afterwards go back and do the same thing. It’s just kind of a back and forth of me trying not to vomit, but, um. Uh, if only I could take that vendor table with me everywhere I go. So, that’s all I have for today. I’m very excited about the prospect of finding a venue for a side project that I don’t think I’ve mentioned here yet, because I would. I’m not going to until things have fully worked out, but I’m excited about that. So, until next time, guys. Stay safe. Be blessed. Keep reading.Credits:Lit Carnival number seven starring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics discussed: Introvert versus Omnivert. Odd obstacles.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale community at Substack and on YouTube. Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

The text featured below is the transcription of the video above.Hi there everyone. Today we’re going to be talking about a dream deferred.So, if you’ve heard that term but you’re not really sure where it comes from, it comes from a poem by Langston Hughes, I believe it’s called Harlem. And there’s a lot of different themes in it that we’re not going to be exploring today. But there’s this idea of the dream deferred.So, the reason why Lit Carnivale is So, important to me is because it embodies kind of my love and joy of reading, and also, this idea of not taking for granted some of the blessings in my life in the place and time that I currently live. I am not. I don’t believe I am a skeptic by heart, but I am a realist and So, I know that things are not promised from day to day. And I just like the idea of immersing myself in the literary community, whether it’s, you know, high literary or genre fiction or creative nonfiction, whatever that may be. I just think it’s important to acknowledge where we have some blessings as kind of a society.I’m not speaking for everyone in the world. I’m coming from a very personal point of view, but it is kind of generalized to Western culture, specifically the United States. So, if you’re somewhere else in the world and this doesn’t apply to you, I’m sorry, but I do feel like it’s going to be relatable at some level. And So, the reality is, is that because we have, you know, advancements in technology and we live in such a fast paced, moving world that we don’t really stop to kind of consider how far we’ve come. Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a long way to go, but, there was once a time where the majority of the population could not read, and I don’t mean because they weren’t able to. I mean, they were not allowed to. People were not allowed to learn how to read. And then even the ones who were allowed to learn how to read were only taught to read certain things and really weren’t encouraged to go beyond that.And then at some point in human history, there was a dynamic shift. What cultures around the world all did it at different times. But the idea was that sharing written histories, stories, whatever that may be, became kind of socially acceptable. Like, you are going to advance your society by educating your people. And so, along with that education, there’s also, this idea of art and entertainment. And right now, I feel like all of those things are kind of in jeopardy. I don’t- like I said, I’m not a skeptic or pessimist or anything like that. I don’t currently see all of it just being shut down, especially since humans have a very rebellious nature. But I do see there is a threat, you know, where art is no longer being valued or no longer being funded and supported. And same thing with music. If you aren’t already like an established music star, it’s really hard to make it in the music industry. But even beyond the music industry, if someone just wants to strum on their guitar or their banjo or, you know, play on their drums or their bongos just because they enjoy that music, it seems to be there’s becoming this idea that that’s not really acceptable. Like, who are you to be playing music if you’re not some platinum star? This idea that art and music, somehow isn’t for the people, it’s only for the people if certain people dictate it. And I don’t like that at all. And same thing when it comes to stories.I am just an avid fan of stories. whether they’re fiction or non-fiction, I do like the creative component of fiction. I do believe that there’s a lot of people and people are entitled to their opinions, but I do believe there’s a lot of people out there who just do not get value from fiction. They feel like if it’s not real, it’s not important. And I feel like that’s just a, uh, a grave misinterpretation of things. you can learn So, much about reality, modern times, the past, the future, by exploring this concept of what if or maybe how it should be, or how it could be, or how it used to be, you know? So, there’s a lot to be said about fiction, even though that’s not what this whole little rant is about. So, anyway, all of that is to say that I took all of these different ideas that I had, and I came up with this idea of starting a book fair.I am nowhere close to that now, but it’s still nice to have a dream, even if it’s been deferred for a very, very long time. But in my effort to cure myself of a dream deferred, I’ve started, you know, you know, reaching out and, you know, doing things. I started it a long time ago by interviewing authors on my blog. my blog was something that I, you know, started writing to just develop the habit of writing on a regular basis. The original concept of my blog to what it has become now is night and day difference, you know? But, it was just a home for my creativity. And at some point, I realized that I could use it to also, promote others. And, and I felt like that was kind of selfish in a way, in the sense that I got something out of it, too. It wasn’t just a matter of me filling up space, which is, you know, one reason that authors will sometimes do that is they just want to fill up the space. They want to have content. But for me it was more about this idea of “I enjoy reading and I want to share that with other people”, because I know a lot of people who just don’t read, not because they can’t read, they just don’t read. I mean, we have the internet, we have video games, which there’s a lot of people who don’t recognize video games as art forms or forms of storytelling, and that is another grave misinterpretation. There is some amazing stories being told being told through video games, but that’s not the point of this.I keep going on a tangent, but my point is, you know, we have the internet, we have video games, we have our phones that we take everywhere with us, even into the bathroom. You know, we have all of these other things that are just more interesting, more stimulating than reading. But that’s where it all started from. We wouldn’t have all of these other things if we hadn’t come up with the primary way of sharing ideas. Well, I would say secondary. Let’s be honest, the primary way of sharing ideas was through oration. You know, oral storytelling. But stories change a lot through oral storytelling. It may not be the story you meant to tell, but you could write something down and you have that form of that story for as long as it’s written down, and you can change it if you want to in another form. And so, this idea of being able to write things down and come back to them time and time again, that’s where it all started. But there are so, many people now who just take it for granted.I am not here advocating that everybody should start reading the classics because I’ve read some of them. Some of them are good. Some of them, in my opinion, are garbage. But that’s the idea. People are allowed to have differences of opinion and share all of these different ideas through the written word. Being able to read and discuss and all that kind of stuff. And So, I do think that it would be good for people to kind of maybe step away from their computers for a while, even step away from this podcast if that’s what it means to get you to read something. Go ahead and put the podcast down and read something. and we do have lots of things at our fingertips. I’ve heard different people express opinions and again, people are allowed to have their opinions. But if one person reads in a hardback and you read digital, it’s still reading. Don’t let someone tell you that that doesn’t count. Even audiobooks count. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s very close to that same stimulation that you get from reading. You get to take in those ideas, and you get to process them. So, yeah, I think we just need to be more open. I think, for one, letting people know that it’s okay to like movies and like video games and like sports and all that kind of stuff and still read something from time to time that’s not a meme or a caption to a TikTok post or an Instagram post or something like that.Like, you know, you don’t have to read a long book. There are short stories out there that are just mind blowing. I remember trying to explain to someone a long time ago about this, and they just were not getting it, and I stopped for a moment, and I said, okay, have you ever seen the Stephen King film Stand By Me about the four boys finding the body? They’re like, oh yeah, I love that film. I said, well, you know, that was an adaptation from a Stephen King work. And they’re like, yeah, but his books are too long. And I said, actually, that was adapted from a short story. And they’re like, what? And I was like, yeah, that was a short story. Think about it. You could go and find the original short story and read it and compare it to what you saw in the movie. That would be interesting, don’t you think? And it wouldn’t take you a year to do, because it’s the short story. It’s like I blew this person’s mind because they just assumed that if some kind of cinematic feature was based off some other kind of writing, that it was some large book that was going to be too much time and trouble to read. And I was just like, oh my goodness, no. Now that is the case sometimes. I mean, there is a reason the Lord of the Rings trilogy is So, long, but my point is, there is something out there for everyone to read if they just, you know, give it a chance and not take for granted the literacy that So, many of us have and don’t really use.And so, for me, Lit Carnivale is a celebration of that, a celebration of the fact that me as a black woman can read. there was a time where that just wasn’t going to happen. You know, women all over the world, even certain people. There was a time in history, at least in Western culture, I still gotta, you know, study up on my eastern culture a little bit, where if you weren’t a clergyman in the church, you didn’t read, you know. And So, I just think, why not take advantage of the current times? Because they could change. Things are changing every day. Not always for the good. It’s not always the end of the world. But things do change. And while I can, I will. And So, that is just part of my Lit Carnivale dream. And even though my dream has been deferred, it won’t be that way forever. And so, at least not in my heart. So, that is just what I wanted to talk about today. And, guys, stay safe. Be blessed. Keep reading.Credits:Lit. Carnivale number six starring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics discussed. A dream deferred. Taking literacy for granted. Finding something to read.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale community on Substack and YouTube. Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

The text featured below is the transcription of the video above.-Hi there, Toi here. It’s time for me to get out there and meet the people.I am not campaigning for anything. No, I, you know, I gotta start getting some people interested in, appearing on my podcast, and so, I’m going to be reaching out, you know, into the virtual world to see if I can get people for my Read All Over Show. But, as far as the Read Local show, I’m going to be, you know, going in person to meet with people and try to get some interest. I’ve made some flyers and I’m going to put out, but I already have like a network of people that I’m going to be reaching out to. Plus, I’m going to be doing some in-person events between now and the time that I’m hoping to launch. So, I have lots of opportunities.I believe my first opportunity is going to be on. Um, let me think. I think it’s December seventh. I’m going to be doing a local event in Suffolk, Virginia, and there’s going to be a whole group of authors there. Some of them I know, some of them I’ve not met before. And so, I’ll of course be pitching to them. Plus, I’ll be meeting readers, I’ll be in the community with readers, and maybe I’ll find someone who has something to say, and they’ll want to appear on a blog on a I say blog podcast. I’m getting, I’m so used to calling myself a podcaster, but that’s what I am. That’s what I’m doing. Here we are, people. So yeah, that’s, what I have going on there. I, I’m going to be, like I said, putting myself out there trying to meet new people.I recently printed new business cards for myself, which was way late. I think the last time I printed a business card- I have an avatar that I’ve used forever, and it’s a skinny little version kind of myself based off of a, um, what was it called? Was it clipart that they used to have, like in word where they would give you like all these free images and stuff? I don’t remember, but they had this one, um, look like, um, maybe a, um, what do you call it? An anchor. Like a news anchor woman. She had, like, this big, huge smile, and I was like, ooh, but that’s what I modeled my avatar, after. Anyway, for the longest time, um, my avatar had an afro because I used to have an afro. Now, for those of you listening and don’t know, I do not have an afro now, my hair is extremely long. I have to cut it every year because it keeps getting so long that it makes my head hurt. So, I thought I should probably update my business card.So, my new business card, is updated to where it has my new my current, um, avatar. She’s got some longer hair. I’ve got my Linktree QR code on it, my nice little kind of, um, red and green color scheme throwing in some blue because blue is my favorite color. It says Toi Thomas. And then next to it, it says The ToiBox of Words, because that’s like my main hub. Below that it says Lit Carnivale because that’s where I’m going to be hosting all of my podcasts. And next to that, it says Knauthentic, because that’s a separate community that I’ve created for some of my health and nutrition and recipes and stuff like that. So I’m very proud of the new business card that I, um, took way too long to design, but I’m going to be handing these out and, you know, meeting, like I said, meeting people, networking, doing the things to get the podcast going. And I’m starting to get a little excited.This time of the year, things kind of slow down a little bit, and I’m grateful for that. It’s giving me an opportunity to catch up on some reading, catch up on some writing. I gotta do a critique for, um, the aspiring writer I’ve been mentoring. We’ve been hitting some walls lately with us actually being able to meet together. So I’m hoping, um, after the holiday, for us to be able to get back on track with that. But this is just me, you know, sharing some of my writer’s story. I can’t wait to start sharing some writer other writer’s stories with this community as well.So, there should be plenty of things for you guys to look forward to as I start getting interest and start like recording and booking and things like that. I’m definitely going to be keeping you guys up to date with that. And if any of you want to become a community supporter for the podcast, that is also a possibility. So be sure to check out the Lit Carnivale Be Featured link that’s at Substack. If you, you know, happen to come across my Linktree, there are links to everything there. But yeah, I mean, I’m really excited about moving forward with this. Um, I had so much fun doing the Read Local and the Read All Over show when I did them previously. So, relaunching those and then potentially launching the other two podcasts is definitely something that means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to share it with you. So, first event that I’m going to be going to, like I said, I believe is on December seventh, I should be doing another event in February. I’m going to be, um, at a couple of different like cons and book fairs, all different opportunities for me to mingle. Um, the position that I am now at my job will also help with some of that. But, you know, I’m a professional. I’m going to do my job. I’m not going to, you know, interfere there. But I’ll just be in places to like, meet people. And so, I’m very excited about that. Um, I would love to know if you guys have any questions or feedback or anything like that. Don’t be afraid to reach out to me. You can pretty much find me anywhere online, and, uh, this is a short one, but I just wanted to say that things are happening. Yeah. Alright, guys, stay safe, be blessed and keep reading.Credits:Lit Carnivale number five.Starring Toi Thomas. Featuring no one else at this time.Topics discussed: Meeting people. Attending events. New business cards.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with the ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale. Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnival community at Substack and on YouTube. Your book fandom is here! Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Hi there, Toi here. Do you know where to find readers?So, this is the challenge. I feel pretty confident that I will be able to find established authors and aspiring writers to hopefully, you know, participate in my podcasts. I’m a little bit more concerned about being able to find readers to be on my podcast. Not that I can’t find readers. So, let me put a little bit of a context to this.When you are someone who has published or has pursued publication, you often ask the question, how do you find readers? Or where are the readers? And usually in that context, you’re looking for readers of your work. You’re looking to find a fan base or a community, something like that. For me, this right now is a challenge because I’m not looking for readers of my work. I mean, I’m always looking for readers of my work, but what I mean is going out, putting myself out there to find someone to appear on a podcast because they want to talk about books, because they love books like that. That’s a little bit of a different approach. I think people are so used to us trying to be sold something that I’m. I’m nervous that I’m going to hit some resistance when I start trying to contact people.Like I’m afraid that they might think I have some kind of ulterior motive. I don’t know, I just know what it’s like, that sometimes people assume that you’re always, like, trying to sell them something, even when you’re, like, trying to, like, help them or give them something, which is what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to, you know, have a different kind of experience, you know, within the kind of bookish community. So, that’s kind of a, I guess, a little bit of a concern and insecurity that I have is being able to find readers.I, I know readers are out there, and I actually know where to find them. I mean, if you’re on social media at all, you’ve seen Booktok and BookTube and ,you know, they’re on Instagram, like, there are readers out there. So, that’s I’m not saying that the readers aren’t out there. I’m just concerned about whether or not they are approachable for something like this. The idea of presenting this to someone and saying, hey, I see you have like a passion for books. I’d love for you to appear on my podcast and them to be like, what’s the what’s the oh, why is my brain not working? But they’ll be like, what’s the catch? You know, like, no catch. I just, I really want you to just come on and talk about how much you love books, like, I don’t know. So, that’s kind of a challenge that I’m. I’m going to have to face it because I’m going to have to, like, find readers and let them know that this opportunity is out there.And so, anyway, I wanted to talk a little bit about, you know, formatting for, for the different shows or read local show and the read all over show already have a predetermined format. It’s what I’ve used in the past. I’m going to continue with it. I am, you know, still working out the kinks for what I want to do with the Aspiring Writer podcast and of course, the reader podcast that I’m focusing on today. And, just kind of figuring out, like, what that’s going to look like. I don’t know, I definitely want to I want to keep it as simple as possible, but I do want it to kind of appeal to the current audience of readers. And so, I don’t I have, I’m not going to pretend like I’m, I’m one of the cool kids. Like, that’s just never been a thing. I don’t know what the kids are into these days. I, I even when I was the, the age of the, the young people now I was, never seemed to be like that, connected to what was happening now, because I was always had my nose in a book, which I find strange because I do have so many other interests. Like, I love music and art and I’ve always, you know, and appreciated like theatre and things like that. And I was always, always just seemed to be late to things like whatever was popular or current or whatever. I would always find out about it when it was no longer popular or current anymore.So, I believe that’s another challenge. I don’t think it’ll be necessarily difficult to reach my own like demographic, but I want to reach, you know, a wide demographic. I know a lot of people who are older than me are like avid readers, but are they willing to get in front of a camera and talk to me? Do they know how to get on front of the camera that’s on their computer? I don’t like to make assumptions. My grandmother, who’s ninety-two years old, took an online, took online classes So, that she could get, you know, her ministry degree at the age of ninety. So, I’m not underestimating the older generation, but I’m also recognizing the fact that my grandmother might be an exception.The other older people may not want to get in front of the computer and have a conversation with me and the younger kids. I call them kids and they’re adults. They could be kids, but they may or may not be interested in a long form interview. They might just want to do a reel and piece out, I don’t know. I have no idea. But I’m going to be finding out because I’m going to be putting myself out there trying to connect with readers to make this podcast a reality.And again, I’ve mentioned before that of the three podcasts, I realized this is the one that’s probably going to be the most challenging because no one’s really asking me for it. I just want to do it because I love talking to writers and authors about their creative process. But I’m also a fan. Like, I want to talk to other fans of like, stories and books and have that conversation just as well. And I think that one is going to be the current challenge. But I am up for it. I am up for the challenge I have to be, if I’m going to try to get the word out and have some conversations with some readers, we’ll see what happens.So, this was, you know, kind of a short episode, but just a reminder that I am open to having people come onto my podcast, start booking and recording those things So, that they can launch in early summer of twenty twenty-six. And I’m just excited about the possibilities. So, guys, as always, stay safe, be blessed and keep reading.Credits:Lit Carnivale number four starring Toi Thomas.Featuring no one else at this time.Topics discussed, finding readers, building community, not being creepy.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with the ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnival community on Substack and on YouTube. Your book fandom is here. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

The text featured below is the transcription of the video above.Hello and welcome back to Lit Carnivale. This week we’re going to be talking about why community is so important.So, I’ve been a writer my whole life, whether I acknowledged it or not, it’s hard to say. It’s just always been a part of, you know, who I am. And so, it just when it came to me writing my first book, I didn’t even realize that’s what I was doing. I had 80,000 words of a first draft, and I was like, whoa, I think I just wrote a book. But it was at that time that I really started to seek, community because I was always one of those kids who, like, really enjoyed, enjoyed reading. I aside from, you know, reading books, I liked comic books. I was really into kind of geeky things. But I also had like, other interests, like, I used to dance, I was, I studied jazz and ballet. It was a brief period of time that I try not to think about too much where I was a cheerleader, but that’s only because I grew up in Texas and all little girls in Texas are cheerleaders.So, but my point is, is that I’ve had all of these, like, different interests, that it never occurred to me that writing wasn’t just one of those things. I love music, art, all the all of the things, but I think writing has been like the most, like, consistent thing from the time I learned how to write to now. And so when I realized that I had written a book and I kind of looked around me, I didn’t really have anyone that I could really talk to about, like my experience and, you know, with that, there were a few people who, were like, oh, we also enjoy reading, and we could talk a little bit about reading, but definitely not writing.And so, I started to seek community. I started a blog and, I was blogging about the process of me writing my book and, expanding on ideas, creating characters and worlds and all those kinds of things. And, I connected with the Insecure Writers Support group, which is a blog hop at the time. It’s expanded to more than that now. but really, it’s cliche as it sounds, the internet was where I found my community. At that time in my life, I didn’t have people in my life who were avid readers like I was. I didn’t have people in my life who, wrote like on a regular basis, not even like to journal like me, myself. I’ve never been a consistent journaler, but when I started my blog, that’s pretty much what it was. It was me journaling my whole process of writing. And so, it was really just a period of time where I kind of felt isolated, I was Inspired and empowered by this experience that I was having of, you know, expressing my creativity, but I didn’t really have anyone to share it with. And so, I started seeking community, beyond the online writing community.I tried to start kind of getting involved with things locally, but it was really hard for me to like, make connections to like, network. I, I went to a lot of things that I thought were going to be good opportunities, and they really weren’t the communities that I wanted to be a part of. At the time, I was just looking in all the wrong places. I didn’t know any better. lots of like business groups and things like that, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I wasn’t looking to business network. I was looking for like-minded people who, like I said, were either avid readers or writers or both. who could understand, you know, what I was I was experiencing at that moment, and it took me a really long time to kind of find that, so even once I did, you know, finally feel at home in some of the different writerly and bookish communities. I always still felt kind of detached because I didn’t really have anything local. And again, I was just looking in all the wrong places.Eventually, I came across an organization for my area that was called the Hampton Roads Writers, where Hampton Roads writers, you know, I feel bad because they, they’re they no longer exist now. But for a long time, I believe it was Hampton Roads writers. They were it. And through them I’ve met other, people, the people that I currently work with at the Muse Writers Center. I originally met them through the Hampton Roads writers. So, like I have since, you know, spent, you know, several years and decades developing community. And so I, it means so much to me to have found that. But I know that that can sometimes be a really hard thing to find if you don’t know where to look.And so, one of the reasons that I really wanted to develop Lit Carnivale and all of the different ideas that I have for the podcast is because to me, it’s that one step closer to that idea of community. if people, you know love reading or writing, if they are fans of authors and creativity, I’m hoping that they’ll find this and it’ll help connect them to community. So, quick recap on the ideas that I have in mind. Of course, I’m going to keep the Lit Carnival podcast going to update people on what’s happening, but this is really just kind of the foundation, the base for the other four projects that, I’m hoping to launch in 2026. So, the Read Local show and the Read All Over show. I actually launched those previously and had some success with those. So I’m attempting to relaunch those. And, I’m going to be tapping into my community hopefully to start getting some participants for that. I will be, you know, reaching out to people locally. I’ll be reaching out to people online, people from all over the world hopefully get gathering, a diverse group of authors and writers to feature on those two programs.The two new programs that I’m working on, which I think are going to be the greater challenge, is the Aspiring Writers Podcast and the Reader podcast, which I’m still working on names for both of them, and also like the graphics and things like that. Right now, I’m leaning towards, aspiring writers in the know for the name, for that title, and then for the other one, I’m leaning towards what readers really want, so we’ll see what happens with that. And so I think the challenge here is, finding someone who’s not like a fully established published author, someone who recognizes themselves as a writer and wants to put themselves out there to the greater public to say, hey, A you will be seeing something from me at some point, and then finding that person and having them appear on my podcast.I know that a lot of writers are introverted by nature, and so whenever I find an author, a published author who wants to appear on my podcast, I’m like, yay! I’ve got another one. And so now I think the greater challenge is going to be finding someone who hasn’t jumped over that publishing hurdle yet and giving them that poke to say, hey, it’s okay, come on to my podcast and share your story. I think that’s going to be a challenge, but I’m going to try it. And then the even bigger challenge that I think I’m going to be faced with is finding readers. Let me rephrase that. I know where readers are because I am a reader. The challenge is going to be connecting with those readers without coming off like some creepy person who’s trying to scam them.Everything nowadays is a scam. So, can you imagine someone reaching out to you saying, hey, I love your bookish post, you want to come to my podcast? I don’t know, I, I, I think if someone had approached me, if someone were to approach me like that, I’d be concerned. But I’d also do my research. Maybe this person really does want me to appear on their podcast. I look them up, I do a search, I find them on social media and find out whether or not they were legit. But that’s assuming that they’re even interested. I’m afraid that if I start reaching out to readers that I see online, I don’t know. I as I’ve been doing this for so long and I’ve kind of passed over some of the obstacles that writers face where when you first start out, you have, like this imposter syndrome. Am I good enough? Then after you’ve kind of proven yourself to be good enough, you then have this kind of insecurity of sustainability. Can I keep being creative and keep producing? And I’ve kind of jumped over that hurdle too.And I think now my hurdle is, making connections like, can I, you know, meet new people and, you know, make a connection with them, or am I just kind of stuck where I am? I feel like at some point, all the people that you’re ever going to know, you know, and I don’t like that idea. Like, I like the idea that I can meet more people, but that’s kind of the insecurity that I’m facing with right now, is will I be able to connect with readers to actually have them participate on my show? So, but that’s what I’m going to be tackling. I’m, I’m, you know, hitting the proverbial pavement, as they say. It’s going to be virtual.I will be kind of going in person, hopefully like to libraries and bookstores and stuff, going to the places where readers might be and seeing what’s possible. But I think that is kind of where I am. I’m going to be tapping into the community that I’ve already built and established and have become a part of. I’ve been very blessed to become a part of other pre-existing communities. but I think the greater challenge is going to be establishing a new community within that greater community. So that’s what my focus is this week. I am going to be reaching out and starting to try to get some participants and bookings for the shows, and following up on you know what the name of the two new podcasts will be. And maybe coming up, figuring out and establishing like what the graphics and formats for all that stuff will be. It’s very much all a work in progress, but it’s happening. It’s happening. I just keep telling myself it’s happening. So that’s all I have for this week, guys. As always, stay safe, be blessed and keep reading.Credits:Lit Carnivale number three.Starring Toi Thomas, featuring no one else at this time.Topics discussed. Finding community. Aspiring Writer Podcast, Reader Podcast, building community.Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit CarnivaleDirected by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale community at Substack and on YouTube. Your book fandom is here. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

The text feature below, is the transcription of the video above.Hi there. Toi here. Let’s get caught up on my plans. So, um, this is Lit Carnivale. This isn’t completely new, but I am representing it to the world. I gave a little bit of an intro last week, so I just wanted to explain what’s happening here. So this is a platform that I’ve set up to house, um, some podcasts that I want to be, you know, bringing to the public. And so, um, the, the two that I will start with are the two that I’ve had success with in the past. So I’m going to be relaunching those. That is the Read Local show and the Read All Over show. So the Read Local show, I came up with that idea because in the area where I live, which I know is really rare for some people, other people can relate to it, but I have a very, um, full, uh, vibrant, diverse literary community at my fingertips. And so I thought, if I’m going to be putting myself out there to promote books, reading authors, I could just start in my own backyard because there’s so much here. And so that’s where that kind of stemmed from. It really does connect to my overall goal, which is kind of a lifelong dream that hasn’t happened yet. Um, which is to actually host a book fair that I want to call Lit Carnivale. And I figured this was a good place to start. Just start by promoting books and authors and things like that, and eventually get to that point where I can host that book fair. Um, my theme for the whole lit carnival thing was to be able to support local, um, and so that’s where it kind of all originated. So I will be relaunching, uh, read local. I have a sign up, um, on my Be Featured page where you can just click on on that, fill out the application there. There is an application process which I know will deter people and I’m okay with that. If you um, there’s also, um, archive links available. On, on the site, it actually says read local and all over archive. And so you can actually go back and see the previous episodes to see kind of like how they went, what they were about. And so if someone likes that vibe, I think they will they’ll, they’ll fill out the application to be a part of that. And if they don’t like the vibe, then they won’t. And so, um, another thing that I’ve done just because of this whole transition is, um, one of the special things that I did with the original shows, which I’m going to continue doing, is offer, additional kind of exclusive content for um, paid subscribers. And, um, it doesn’t um, it’s not something that takes away from, like the show in any way whatsoever. It’s it’s additional. So, um, I’ve always done that in the past. But because of this whole transition, um, I didn’t want to sort of kind of gatekeep that information. So the previous episodes, bonus content, I’ve made it public. It’s not available everywhere, but it is public everywhere. So if you go to the archive and you want to see that bonus footage that used to only be available to my, um, paid subscribers, um, you can see the previous content now, it’s available for, for the public, so you don’t have to, um, subscribe anywhere. But you may have to go somewhere to see it. But moving forward, that will continue to be for paid subscribers. I know I’m rambling, but it’s all going to come together. So that takes care of the first podcast, which is the Read Local show, and it’s, um, bonus content. The other one was the Read All Over show, because I’ve been part of the indie book scene for a long time, and I’ve also been part of the blogging scene for a long time. And I know blogging isn’t what it used to be, but I’m still part of that community. I have met people from all over the world. One of my really good, um, now author friends lives in Mexico. Uh, I had a friend for a long time that I followed who lives in Africa. And so, again, my whole mentality is if I’m going to put myself out there to promote books and authors, why limit myself to just my backyard? And so that’s where the Read All Over show came from. So they’re basically the same show, same format, but just a different, um, base. But the audience could be global, you know. So and that’s those are the two shows that I’m going to be relaunching in twenty twenty six. I’m starting to book those now. Like I said, it is an application process and I do that for a reason. A lot of what I’m doing is free. I do have things that people can pay for. Um, and that just makes good business sense, you know, to have things that people can pay for, but I also have designed it in a way that a person can participate without paying. And so, um, if someone wants to take advantage of that, then they’ll, they’ll fill out my application. And if they don’t, they won’t. In addition to those, uh, two podcasts I have, I’m always having ambitions of doing more. And so I’ve been working with some aspiring writers. I have one specific writer that I’ve been helping, um, with her debut publication. And so I thought, why not do a podcast about aspiring writers? And so, again, this is something that I’m going to be promoting and advertising so that hopefully that it can be launched season one in, um, you know, summer of twenty twenty six. And, um, it is an application process as well. It’s actually a two part process just because, um, again, this is free. Um, there are a couple of things that they can pay for if they want to like enhance things. But because I know I’m targeting authors who are not yet like fully established, they are aspiring. I didn’t want to give them so many options as to other people. And because this is free, I want to know if these people are really serious about it. So yeah, there is an application process. They have to qualify. This can’t just be someone who has says, you know, I want to be a writer and they’ve not written anything, if that makes sense. I’m all for being a writer, without seeking publication. I one hundred percent find value and joy in just the act of writing, and I’m not going to put that down in any way whatsoever. However, for my Aspiring Writers podcast, I do want to speak to people who are pursuing publication. So that’s why the application process is there. And the last thing that I’m really hoping to do, this one is just kind of I don’t I don’t think it’s vanity, but it’s it’s it’s me as a reader, kind of like geeking out over the the fun and the joy, the experience I have of reading something and want to share it with other people. And this might just be me. This could be one of those projects that I’m going to put a lot of time and effort and heart into, and no one really cares about it but me. But if I’m happy with it, then I that’s what matters to me. And so the last one that I’m hoping to launch in the summer of twenty twenty six is a podcast where I actually will be interviewing readers. And again, it’s an application process because I’m going to be giving some giveaways. So whoever comes on that podcast as my reader guest will have a chance to win some prizes. So they’re going to walk away with something. We just don’t know what it’s going to be just yet. They’ll have some things to choose from. I’m really, working on the format for it. I think I’ve come up with something that should be fun, but the idea here is, again, I’m not just putting this out there for anyone who wants to get some free stuff to just show up because people will show up for free. Um, so again, they have to kind of fill out the application to be on the show because it is a reader feature and not an author feature feature. I’m not really offering them any like paid things like it’s just free for them. But I do have the, the application process because I don’t want every I don’t even know what the word is. Um, average Joe, I don’t have anything against Joe, but I don’t want any just person who wants something free. I do want people who actually love and appreciate books and reading and the whole bookish, kind of geek ish culture who want to contribute to that. I would love to have a reader come on to my podcast and just go off about how much they love books. And so these are the four things that I’m working on. Um, I’m booking now, recording all those kinds of things, planning for the future. And I guess we will see how it goes. And so this podcast, the Lit Carnival podcast, will just be kind of weekly updates to tell you, you know, kind of what’s going on. So those are my plans for Lit Carnival. Um, I really am excited about the prospects. Maybe I’m the only one, but sometimes you have to be your biggest fan, and I’m okay with that. So, um, please let me know if you have any questions. Leave me comments. Um, like I said, the links are available if you’re interested in being featured. Um, lots of information is there. So even if you’re not maybe interested in being featured right now, just kind of look and see what it’s like. Maybe if you want to recommend it to someone else. Um, each each one does have like an application process. And I did that intentionally because, um, I, I put a lot of time and effort into it, and no one asked me to do that. So I’m not complaining, but I am saying that as much time and effort and love as I put into it, I want the people who are going to participate in it to to do that as well. So that’s why there’s an application process for it. It is free for people to be on my podcast and I’m going to be providing them to the world for free. But I am also going to be looking for opportunities to increase revenue, because this stuff, you know, it takes time, effort, money. And so one of the last things that I’m really hoping to incorporate, like I said, I will be doing like additional like bonus footage for like paid subscribers. But in addition to that, I, I know what it’s like to be an author who feels like they’re in the void trying to reach readers. And so I have created an opportunity for what I’m going to call my community supporter Spotlight. Um, they could be considered advertisements, but basically it’s never going to be just some random company throwing money at me, and I’m going to be putting ads in my podcast. That’s not what I’m going to be doing for my community supporter. spotlight. It’s really going to be, um, other authors, writers, um, editors, illustrators, people within the book industry, people who have, you know, done other things with me, either through Lit Carnivale or the ToiBox of Words, even my Knauthentic stuff. Or it just could be someone who is, you know, actively contributing to that bookish community. These are the people that will be part of those ads, if you want to call them that. But I’m calling it the Community Suppor- Supporter Spotlight, and those will be part of the shows as well. Just because it does give people an opportunity who maybe aren’t comfortable being on a podcast and, you know, talking and, you know, presenting, but still an opportunity to share whatever they have with that bookish community. And so I’m hoping to provide that. And so that was a lot. I know I probably sound like I’m rambling, but I’m just excited about the prospects. So again, questions, comments. If you think this is a horrible idea. Sure, you can tell me. Just try not to be too hateful with it. If you think it’s a great idea, I definitely want to hear that. And if you’re completely indifferent, that’s okay too. But, this is the plan. Moving forward, I’ll be giving weekly updates on the Lit Carnivale podcast and hoping to launch those for podcasts in summer of twenty twenty six, and we will see how it goes. Alright guys, stay safe and keep reading. Oh yeah, and be blessed. Lit Carnivale number two starring Toi Thomas, featuring no one else at this time. Topics discussed. Read local show, Read all over show. Aspiring writer podcast. Reader Podcast. Community supporter Spotlight. produced by Toi Thomas in association with the ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas. Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale community at Substack and here on YouTube. Your book fandom is here. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe

Hi there. Toi here. This is just a quick message to say hi. If you don’t know, Lit Carnivale is something that is an ongoing work in progress. But in the meantime, I’ve done a couple of little projects here and there, just to kind of help motivate myself, I consider myself a reading advocate- reading advocate, and because of that, I like to do things that promote books and reading. And that’s where the Read Local Show and the Read All Over Show came about. And they’ve been on hiatus for a while. I’ve been addressing some health issues, but I am in the process of relaunching them. I also want to launch two more podcasts. I want to do an aspiring writer podcast, and I’d love to do something where I connect with readers. So, if you are interested in any of the offerings that will be coming down the road, be sure to check out my Be Featured page on Substack and it’ll give you information on how to be a part of it. But, uh, in the meantime, I will be posting about my ongoing, progress with trying to connect with other writers. Um, spread the word of reading and just preparing to launch those podcasts sometime, um, in the spring summer of 2026. So be looking forward to all of the different updates, and I’m definitely looking forward to the relaunch. So that is what’s happening at Lit Carnivale. You’ll get more updates along the way, but this is just a quick how you doing and be on the lookout. All right guys stay safe and be blessed. Get full access to Lit Carnivale at litcarnivale.substack.com/subscribe