Hear us Roar

Our guest this week is Stephanie Claypool (A Thousand Tiny Stitches, Atmosphere Press, November 2024) Here how tips about outlining from both James Patterson and J.K. Rowling were key to Stephanie's finding a new way to approach her novel, which she wrote out in narrative form and on a spreadsheet first before drafting a word. Hear why she chose a hybrid press over a small press and how she plans to write a series centered not around her characters but around the town she invented for her debut.   Stephanie Claypool, a native of metro New York, weaves her diverse life experiences into stories that celebrate resilience and the surprising untapped capabilities that lie within us all. From London to San Diego and Annapolis, her journey eventually led her to call Pittsburgh home, where she lives with her retired Navy husband, her father, and a menagerie of beloved pets. Beyond her writing desk, Stephanie pursues passions as varied as her travels. An enthusiast of cooking and wine, fountain pens and notebooks, and fabrics and threads, her greatest joys are the simple things in life. As Vice President of Finance for the Women's Fiction Writers Association, Stephanie is an active member of the writing community. Her debut novel, A Thousand Tiny Stitches, was published in November 2024. To learn more about Stephanie, go to https://stephanieclaypool.com/

This week we talk with Zelly Ruskin (Not Yours to Keep, She Writes Press, October 2024). We delve into the 3 unrelated parts of her past—her former career, an ex-boyfriend, and her own experiences with IVF—that coalesced into the spine of her debut novel, how she put off major surgery to finish her rough draft, and how she found her way into a male man character by reading Jane Austen. Hear her cautionary tale of sending out a manuscript too early and why she used both contests and an outside PR firm to market her book.   In her first career, Zelly was a social worker in the adoption and foster care field. From there, she owned an online retail store specializing in hand-painted children's gifts and party favors. Along the way, Zelly volunteered and raised funds for several non-profit organizations. In an alternate universe, she is probably an event planner. But once she moved to New York City, Zelly gave in to the compulsion to write women's fiction spiced with suspense about motherhood, relationships, loss and love. Her debut novel, Not Yours to Keep, published in 2024 and her second book,, One of Us Must Die ( She Writes Press) will publish in October 2026. When she's not devising twisty plots, Zelly loves traveling, hiking, and is passionate about and volunteers for Brain Aneurysm Awareness. Her involvement in the cause is driven by personal experiences, including surviving an unruptured brain aneurysm, the tragic loss of a family member to a rupture, and supporting a friend in their recovery.  To learn more about Zelly, go to https://zellyruskin.com/  

Our guest this week is Kay Smith-Blum (Tangles, Black Rose Writing, December 2024). We discuss how two unrelated occurrences in one week—one a vivid dream, the second cocktails with an old friend—led Kay into a nine-month rabbit hole of research  about Hanford, WA, a former nuclear facility on the Columbia River which produced plutonium for the US nuclear weapons programs during the Cold War era. We also contrast the responses she got from agents (crickets) vs. small presses (10 out of 12 requests) when querying and how the best way to know how readers will react to your book is to let numerous critique groups read your book and give you feedback.   Kay Smith-Blum, a former fashionista and Seattle School Board President, launched her third career as a writer of mid-20th-century history in 2016. The recent upheaval over leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear site and an odd dream compelled her to write her debut novel, TANGLES.  A deeply human Cold War tale about the issues created by any type of nuclear production, TANGLES was recently honored as Best Historical Mystery/Suspense at the 2025 American Fiction Awards Book Fest, Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards, 2025 Best Regional Fiction/West by the Nat'l Indie Excellence Awards and also named Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards. Smith-Blum, a sunrise writer, has lived in Seattle for four decades. Smith-Blum also works out her writer's block in her sons' gardens and the nearest lap pool. A second novel is in the works. To learn more about Kay, go to https://www.kaysmith-blum.com

This week's guest is Dena Polko (Don't Drop Dad, Maine Authors Publishing, October 2024). An event in Dena's family 25 years ago planted the kernel of a book idea that she finally brought to life during the pandemic in her debut novel about a close-knit Italian family, complete with feuds, secrets, and lots of scrumptious recipes. A marketing professional for non-profits in a previous career, Dena brought her expertise to book marketing and we explore some of the ways she's piggybacked on existing regional events to create connections with her readers.   DENA POLKO retired from her work as a speech-language pathologist when the pandemic hit to help take care of her grandchildren. When not rocking, feeding, chasing, or playing under blanket tents with her three grands, she writes, reads, and loves exploring Maine with her husband, Tom. Dena and Tom live on the coast of Maine and also enjoy time at their camp in the western Maine mountains. Dena's book was recently selected by Maine Public for the "All Books Considered" book club. Dena's author chat with host Bill Nemitz will premiere on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.  To learn more about Dena, go to https://www.denapolko.com/      

Our guest this week is Paulette Brooks (Not Just a Homemaker: The Extraordinary Life of Sheila MacGregor, indie published, September 2024). Paulette has two major gurus: Stephen King and Jane Friedman and we discuss how each has affected her writing. We also explore how she pulled in various family members to help bring her book to market, a "vintage writers" group she belongs to for those over 70, the components and structure of a successful newsletter, and how getting a tattoo resulted in her mention in the Modern Love column of the NY Times that went viral.     A retired librarian and debut novelist, Paulette Brooks was born in Toronto and lived in Canada for the first half of her life. She is a member of Women's Fiction Writers Association, National League of American Pen Women, and Central Indiana Writers Association. She had two short stories published in the Gal's Guide Anthology 2025 and another in Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews. Paulette is researching her next historical novel while promoting her book at Library Author Fair events and book clubs. She lives with her husband outside of Indianapolis where, when not writing, she loves to read, bake pies, hike nature trails, and work on jigsaw puzzles, all the while trying to keep up with the activities of her six grandchildren. To learn more about Paulette, click here.

This week's guest is Julie McDonald Zander (The Reluctant Pioneer, St. Helen's Press, September 2024). An historical novel of a real-life woman who crossed the country on the Oregon Trail in 1847 and settled in the state of Washington, Julie's debut was her first attempt at fiction after years spent as both a reporter and columnist on the non-fiction side. We discuss the difference between the two genres, the invaluable advice she got from her critique group, and the hats she also wears as owner of her own small press which helps others write their memoirs.   Julie McDonald Zander, an award-winning journalist, earned a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington before working two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor. Through her personal history company, Chapters of Life, she has published more than 90 individual, family, business, and community histories. Her debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, won a silver Will Rogers Medallion for inspirational fiction and American Bookfest's 20205 Best Book Award for religious fiction, and it was a finalist for Western Writers of America's Spur Award for Best Historical Novel. Her second novel, Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence, was released in spring 2025. She and her husband live in Southwest Washington, where they raised their two children.   To learn more about Julie, go to https://sthelenspress.net/

Our podcast guest this week is Leissa Shahrak (Half the World, Atmosphere Press, September 2024). Set in Iran during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Leissa's book is based on her own experiences living there during that time and her desire to share themes of cultural, language, and religious differences that inform current world events. We also discuss what happens when your pub date happens on the same day a hurricane devastates your town and shuts down not only roads but power and communications.   Leissa Shahrak experienced the Iranian Revolution firsthand when she taught English in Iran. Her writing credits include stories published in Del Sol Review, the Bellevue Literary Review, and a British anthology, The Final Chapter: Writings on the End of Life. A life-long traveler and enthusiast of international literature, she now resides in Asheville, North Carolina, with a chess aficionado, a spoiled Shih-Tzu named Scamp, and the occasional black bear. To learn more about Leissa, click here.

This week's guest is Beth Dotson Brown (Rooted in Sunrise, Koehler Books, September 2024). Beth discusses how she came to write a coming-of-age book for middle-aged women because of a tornado that hit her Kentucky town, how she chose between several hybrid publishers, and how important community is to her as a writer. Finally we discuss finding your "why" and setting your personal goals for your book and how that can effect everything from your plot and your characters, to your publishing route, to setting up an effective and efficient marketing strategy.     Beth Dotson Brown is the author of Rooted in Sunrise, a novel about starting over after a natural disaster. She's also an award-winning feature writer, short story author and essayist. Beth is the author of Yes! I Am Catholic and a contributor to A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors and Scenes from the Common Wealth. Heartland Plays published her collection of one-act plays. Her short stories have been published in literary magazines and aired on the BBC World Service Short Story Programme. Beth lives in Lancaster, Kentucky where she enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time with family and friends.  To learn more about Beth, click here.

On the podcast this week we welcome Christine Gunderson (Friends with Secrets, Lake Union, August 2024). In a wide-ranging discussion, we cover finding an agent who is a real partner, selling book on "proposal" rather than a completed manuscript, and how putting yourself on a "1,000 words a day diet" might help keep you on track. Finally, we look at examining your "why" and learning to differentiate between activities we do that are fun and make us feel good vs. things that actually sell books and how to allocate your time accordingly.   Christine Gunderson grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in rural North Dakota where she read Laura Ingalls Wilder books in her very own little house on the prairie. She's a former television anchor and reporter and former Capitol Hill press secretary. She currently lives in the Washington D.C. suburbs with her husband and three children. Her debut novel, Friends with Secrets was an Amazon bestseller, an Amazon Editors First Reads pick and winner of the Women's Fiction Writer's Association Star Award for Best Debut Novel. Her next novel, Behind White Picket Fences, releases in June of 2026 with Lake Union.   For more information, go to www.christinegunderson.com.     

This week's guest is Nancie Abuhaidar (The Trouble with Possibilities, indie published, September 2024). The idea for Nancie's debut originated with her sister but was passed on to Nancie to bring into being, although it had to be totally reworked after a trip to the African continent where the story takes place. We discuss how writing doesn't have to be a solitary endeavor, where Nancie found help, how effective Instagram blog tours were to publicizing her book, and how getting over the embarrassment of "hawking her book" directly to readers is an ongoing challenge.     From a young age Nancie had a head full of stories and an obsession with animals, especially horses. Nancie grew up in suburban Philadelphia, transplanted to Vermont with her son, then landed in upstate New York. A late bloomer academically, Nancie entered the Frances Perkins Scholarship Program at Mount Holyoke College. She graduated with a BA in English and a Five College Certificate in International Relations. Her sister and mother-in-law want you to know she graduated Magna Cum Laude, is a Phi Beta Kappa member, and received high honors for her narrative non-fiction thesis, The Women in the Picture. Nancie resides on a Hudson Valley farm with her husband, dogs, and horses. When she's not cleaning up her menagerie's mess, she lets her imagination loose in her writing dungeon. Nancie writes women's fiction, twisty upmarket novels, and has an upper YA fantasy duology lurking in her drawer. She is a member of the WFWA and SCBWI. To learn more about Nancie, go to https://nancieabuhaidar.com/

Our podcast guest this week is Jan Heidrich-Rice (Secrets of the Blue Moon, indie published, September 2024). We discuss making up a whole small town for your setting, basing characters on people you know, and why writing her first novel often meant asking for help from fellow writers, including WFWA members. And listen at the end for a cute story of Jan's favorite review from an unexpected source.  Jan Heidrich-Rice writes contemporary fiction and creative nonfiction—occasionally haunting, often funny, but always filled with hope and heart. Her Marnie Putnam Mystery Trilogy features cozy-dark Southern mysteries that weave together small-town secrets, emotional healing, and whispers of the supernatural. Book #1 of the trilogy, Secrets of the Blue Moon, was recognized as an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in Women's Fiction (2026) and as an American Book Fest Finalist for Cross Genre Fiction (2025). Jan's nonfiction combines insight and humor to help readers navigate midlife shifts, creative reinvention, and the beautiful mess that real-life detours bring. Whether she's exploring other-worldly possibilities or real-life crossroads, her work is rooted in hope and human connection. To learn more about Jan, go to https://www.janheidrichrice.com/     

This week's guest is Jessica Maffetore (Eleanora in Pieces, Black Rose Writing, September 2024). If you've ever wondered about what happens when a small press "ghosts" its writers and eventually breaks its contract, this is a must-listen. Jessica describes the process of surviving this challenge and finding another small press about losing a year in publishing purgatory, and the hidden pluses that came from that experience, including a longer runway for social media and the networking community of fellow writers that helped her navigate.   Jessica Maffetore is the New England based author of the women's fiction novel, Eleanora in Pieces (Black Rose Writing, Sept 2024). Her writing has appeared in several literary magazines and she has been a guest columnist for the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Jessica attended the University of Hartford for undergraduate studies in Public Relations and Journalism and holds a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Fitchburg State University. When she is not writing, Jessica is running marathons, going for walks with her rescue dogs, being tolerated by her three teenagers, growing vegetables in her garden, working at her day job in marketing, and dreaming about where she and her husband should travel next.  To learn more about Jessica, go to https://www.jessicamaffetore.com/

Our podcast guest this week is Natalie Dossett (Sarita, Atmosphere Press, September 2024). Natalie's novel, set in west Texas during the 1920's Prohibition era, is a love letter to where she grew up and her family's history, We discuss how she learned skills through a creative writing program, her method of doing historical research, and how she advises new writers to find the time to write through a structured process, no matter what it is. Lastly, we discuss how entering contests can provide needed exposure for your books through not only your own PR but those from the contest management as well.  Natalie Musgrave Dossett, award winning author, grew up in San Antonio. A seventh-generation Texan, she spent a lot of time on ranches listening to (mostly tall) tales of the Wild Horse Desert. Natalie's love of history and passion for writing were nurtured by wonderful high school teachers and strengthened while earning a BA in History at VandeTorbilt University. She lives in Dallas and enjoys a large, growing family with her husband.  To learn more about Natalie, go to https://nataliemdossett.com/    

This week's guest is Leilani Garrett (After the Burn, Palmetto Publishing, August 2024). Leilani shares sage advice from her first writing mentor, how her debut incorporated her struggles both personally and in the tech world as a woman of color, and how she first lost her editor, then her agent, but still kept going. Hear about the workbook with exercises which she created as a companion to her novel and her adjunct career working with corporate America to use storytelling techniques to create empathy in business teams.   Leilani spent more than two decades in corporate sales and leadership, navigating high-stakes environments, leading teams, and closing multi-million-dollar deals. But behind every win, she saw what most companies were missing: connection. In rooms focused on performance metrics, she paid attention to what moved people, what shut them down, and what made them feel seen.   Today, she's a creative force redefining leadership, connection, and culture through storytelling. A celebrated fiction author and sought-after speaker, she brings radical empathy to the stage and the page. Her work bridges personal growth and organizational impact, helping leaders and teams break down silos, build trust, and show up more fully human. With a voice that's as bold as it is warm, Leilani equips her audiences with the tools to transform not just how they work, but who they become.   To learn more about Leilani, go to https://www.leilani-garrett.com

Our podcast guest this week is Erica Colahan (The Oystercatcher of Southwark, Chrism Press, July 2024). A dual timeline historical novel set in turn-of-the-century Philadelphia and based on Erica's great-great-grandmother's dramatic story, this novel was born out of Erica's desire to explore her family's history and resulted in various serendipitous discoveries including another whole branch of her family. We discuss scenes she avoided writing, how she had to kill several darlings during editing, how to build a social media platform from scratch, and what Stephen King taught her about writing. Erica Colahan is the award-winning author of The Oystercatcher of Southwark, a third-place winner in the 2025 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Awards, and the Historical Fiction Company's 2024 Wells Time Travel-Dual Timeline Category bronze medal winner. Based on the true story of her great-great-grandmother, the novel explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time. Living in the Philadelphia region with her large family, Erica relies on copious amounts of coffee to keep up with her busy offspring while working full-time and pursuing her hobbies. A numbers gal working in the accounting department, Erica finds time for reading and creative writing every day. For relaxation, Erica loves to knit, kayak on the lake, and listen to her children say "Mom, Mom!" all day long. To learn more about Erica, go to https://ericacolahan.com/

  This week's guest is Cathelina Duvert (The Box, indie published, July 2024). Over 20 years in the making, this debut novel initially sprang from the author's own struggles with depression and her desire to use her degree in creative writing and her knowledge of the publishing industry to fashion a novel focusing on this mental health issue for a woman of color. She received invaluable help from WFWA's mentor program but because of the adult themes in her novel and her day job as a teacher, she chose to publish under a pen name.  Cathelina Duvert's debut novel, The Box, was born from her own experiences with depression. Recognized for her work, Duvert received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Chapter One Writing Competition by Black Writers Workspace. Just one year later, Cathelina earned First Place in the same competition in 2025 for her forthcoming sophomore novel. She continues to share her journey through her writing, shedding light on the complexities of mental health with authenticity, focusing on how five specific strategies can help with the healing process. She lives in New York City with her twin sister and her rescue kitten Maxie.      For more information on Cathelina and her works, visit www.cathelinaduvert.com      

Our podcast guest this week is Amily D'Nas (Beneath the Swaying Willow, indie published, July 2024). Amily joined an existing writing group when she met a member through her day job and found a home with supportive and experienced authors who encouraged her to write a novel informed by her parent's experiences during the Vietnam War era and the family trauma that followed. We discuss why she chose to indie published her debut and the pluses and minuses of being in control of everything, including the cover design and the book tour. Amily D'Nas was born and raised in Southern New England and now calls South Florida home. She earned her MBA from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Authors Guild, the Chicago Writers Association, and the Women's Fiction Writer's Association.  Her award-winning, debut, historical fiction novel, Beneath the Swaying Willow, raises awareness of the mistreatment of our Vietnam veterans who returned home to a divided nation and aims to educate readers and reduce stigma associated with PTSD and veteran suicide. She is a proud supporter of our nation's military veterans and survivors of suicide loss. To learn more about Amily, go to https://amilydnas.com/      

This week's guest is Sharon Wishnow (The Pelican Tide, Lake Union, June 2024). Sharon describes how she used both her networking contacts and her background as a non-fiction editor to research the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its devastating effect on the Gulf Coast, in particular the Grand Isle area of Louisiana. We discuss the iterations her novel underwent during the acquisition phase and the seven editors Lake Union gave her to hone her story, including a Cajun proofreader and a sensitivity reader as well as her deep dive into how to write about animals, in this case a brown pelican named Gumbo. Listen to the end for Sharon's advice to newer writers about what it takes to succeed in traditional publishing. Sharon J. Wishnow is a transplanted New Englander who makes her home in Northern Virginia. In addition to writing upmarket fiction with environmental themes, Sharon writes non-fiction in the science, technology, and business categories with a passion for research, seashells, birds, and the ocean. Sharon is the former Vice President of Communications for the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), the founder of Women's Fiction Day, and is the Editorial Advisor of the WFWA magazine, WriteOn!  She has an MFA from George Mason University. She regularly speaks about research and writing and publishes a regular newsletter, Research for Writers and Other Curious People. When she's not writing or researching, you can find her in the garden, watching the birds in her backyard, or feedinghttp peanuts to her local squirrels. To learn more about Sharon, go to https://sharonwishow.com.  To learn more about how to help Grand Isle rebuild, go to https://restoregrandisle.com/#jointheeffort

Our podcast guest this week is Hadley Leggett (All They Ask is Everything, Lake Union, August 2024). We discuss the intensive research Hadley did to learn about the foster system, how she changed from first to third POV and the difference in made in the novel's narrative voice, and how winning the Rising Star contest help her find an agent. Then we delve into the collaborative process after signing her publishing contract, including deleting a chapter, softening a secondary character and finding the perfect cover. Hadley Leggett writes twisty family dramas that explore truth in shades of gray. Her first novel, All They Ask Is Everything, won the 2025 Nancy Pearl Book Award and the Rising Star Award from the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Her writing has appeared in the Bellevue Literary Review, Literary Mama, Wired.com, and Greater Good Magazine, among others. Before becoming an author, she earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco and worked as a medical writer. She currently lives in Seattle with her family, including her three children, three cats, and a very sassy rescue pup. To learn more about Hadley, go to https://hadley.ink or at Substack at https://writingchat.substack.com.      

This week's guest is Melissa Collings (The False Flat, Montlake/Amazon publishing, June 2024). Melissa talks about learning to filter conflicting feedback from an early writing group that stifled her flow, how she edited her debut as though it was someone else's, and how she's a fickle fan of social media. Don't miss the end where Melissa describes finding your "why" as a writer, and how writing a newsletter is her single biggest recommendation for authors building a lasting career. And if you've ever wondered about the pluses and (a few) minuses of publishing through Amazon, this is an interview you won't want to miss. Melissa R. Collings is an award-winning author and former spine surgery physician associate. She writes diverse romance, women's fiction and psychological thrillers that balance laughter, heartbreak, and emotional depth. When she's not writing or plotting, you can find her chasing her two kids in Nashville, studying preventative health, or losing herself in a painting. Her imagination never fails to get her into trouble, and she lives by the philosophy: nothing is impossible, and everything is better with glitter—except surgical wounds. To learn more about Melissa, click here.

Our guest this week is Kim McCollum (What Happens in Montana, Black Rose Writing, January 2024). Kim discusses how writing was her first love but she was told it wasn't a "practical career", how imposter syndrome interfered with her writing process and how she dealt with it, and how the best writing advice she received was to write the ending early on so you know where you're going. And don't miss the tale of the cross-country book tour she and a fellow novelist organized that took them to 27 bookstores from Montana to Maine.   Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College with a major in Japanese and was soon navigating the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. When her first child was born a few years later, she stayed home to raise her children. Once they headed off to school, Kim finally found time to pursue her passion for writing. Her awardwinning debut novel, What Happens in Montana, was published in January 2024, and her short stories have appeared in several publications. She lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her supportive husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids and three spoiled pets.      To learn more about Kim, click here.

This week's guest is Wendy Haller (The Flannigan Girls, Stillwater River Publications, June 2024). Because Wendy's debut centers around sisterhood, we discuss sibling bonds, birth order research, and the experts she turned to both professionally and in her personal life when writing An author who writes out of order and skips around in various genres (she's written both a children's book series, a poetry chapbook, and now women's fiction), Wendy shares the positives and negatives to not "picking a lane" but writing whatever excites you at your particular stage in life.   Wendy Haller has always believed in the power of stories—the ones we tell, the ones we live, and the ones that change us along the way. After nearly two decades as a special education preschool teacher, she traded lesson plans for plotlines and now writes the kinds of stories that tug at the heart. Her children's books are playful and full of purpose, crafted for parents and kids to share teachable moments with laughter and love. Her novels, meanwhile, offer a tender escape—emotionally rich, coming-of-age tales that feel raw, real, and deeply human. When not writing, Wendy can be found wandering nature trails, unrolling her yoga mat, or curled up with a cup of tea, a book, and two very spoiled cats.   To learn more about Wendy, click here.  

My guest this week is Catherine Matthews (Releasing the Reins, indie published, June 2024). Catherine describes writing a first draft of your debut as "building the airplane while flying it" but got lots of help and support from various writing groups she joined and classes she took. Her mash-up novel blends western, women's fiction, and mystery genres as well as a complicated structure with dual timelines and multi-POV's. After nine requests for fulls from agents, but no offer, she decided to do the indie route, saying she's "the best champion for this book" and augmented her marketing efforts through contests, book tours, and an author collaborative network in the PW region. Catherine Matthews is an award-winning author who starts her day at 4 a.m. with a cup of coffee and an online writing session with her favorite authors from around the world. A proud Pacific Northwest native, she brings her roots to the page by telling the stories about strong women who face the storm and live their dreams—and the faithful hounds who love them. Her books, Releasing the Reins and Roadside Sisters, are filled with laughter, tears, and the reminder that we are all more powerful than our fears. When she's not writing, she can be found baking bread, road-tripping with her husband, and enjoying an evening by the fire pit with friends and her two beloved dogs, Wally and Delta. To learn more about Catherine, go to her website here.  

This week's guest is Jaclyn Westlake (Dear Dotty, Avon Books/Harper Collins, June 2024). Jaclyn signed up for Stanford's 2-year Novel Writing Course and emerged with the first draft of her debut, a humorous women's fiction centered on a young woman finding her true path following the example of an unconventional aunt. After querying over a hundred agents, Jaclyn received offers from several, and later had her book go to auction and sell in a two-book deal. We discuss how she made decisions on which agent and which editor to pick, hiring an outside publicist to market outside the book world based on her novel's themes, and how her unconventional choice of housing led to a CNBC segment that featured her book.   Jaclyn Westlake writes about funny, flawed women doing their best to find their way in the world. A recruiter turned career advice columnist, her work has appeared in Forbes, Business Insider, and Inc. Westlake is the author of two novels: LUCKY BREAK and DEAR DOTTY, both published by Avon Books/HarperCollins. DEAR DOTTY was a finalist for the debut STAR Award from the Women's Fiction Writers Association, where Jaclyn is an active member. An alumna of Stanford Continuing Studies Novel Writing program, her stories blend humor and heart, exploring the wonderfully messy realities of modern life. She's currently at work on her third novel and lives in California with her husband and their dog. To learn more about Jaclyn, click here.  

 Our guest this week is Amy Dressler (How to Align the Stars, Egret Lake Books, June 2024). Amy's biggest challenge in writing her debut was finding the self-confidence to believe she was qualified to tackle a beloved Shakespeare story and update it for our current time. She was helped in that effort by a supportive critique group and a brand-new publisher who took a chance on her after a fluke meeting in a bathroom at a conference. And if you've ever wondered what to write in a newsletter when you haven't completed your novel yet, she's got some great tips. Amy writes witty, engaging contemporary fiction featuring heroines who wrestle with their emotional baggage while maintaining a sense of humor. As a literature major, theater nerd, and believer in the cathartic power of humor, Amy has always gravitated toward Shakespeare's comedies. In the Shakespeare Project, she transposes those stories into contemporary settings that highlight the heroines' emotional arcs. She's an active member of the Author's Guild, Women's Fiction Writers Association, and the Pacific Northwest Author's Association, where her books have twice been recognized as contest finalists. She holds a certificate in Popular Fiction from the University of Washington, as well as a BA in English from Whitman College and a Master's in Library and Information Science, also from the University of Washington. She spends her days shepherding government documents but has also worked as an academic librarian and freelance pop culture writer. Amy's hobbies include barely running (she's completed ten half marathons, slowly), cooking and baking, hiking, tending her neighborhood Little Free Library, relaxed traveling, and attending live theater. When she's not writing, Amy can often be found cozied up reading, eating fancy cheese, shopping for fancy cheese, or cooking with fancy cheese. She lives in the Seattle suburbs with her husband, two senior rescue cats, and next door to her sister. Her love language is jokes. To learn more about Amy, click here.  

This week's guest is Darlene Corbett (Visible, WordCrafts Press May 2024). A psychotherapist for over 30 years, Darlene used a therapy group as a stepping-off point to her debut, featuring five people with disparate challenges and a counselor with problems of her own. We discuss the misconceptions people have about therapy, how she used contest entries to get valuable early feedback, and how a chance pitch opening at a conference led to a contract. Darlene also shares her four pieces of advice to novice writers, including working to improve and refine your craft.   Darlene Corbett has been serving others as a licensed psychotherapist for over thirty years. Her wealth of experience in human behavior prompted Darlene to write her ideas on paper, which set the stage for her book, Stop Depriving The World of You, published by Sound Wisdom in 2018. Darlene wrote her first novel, Visible, a women's fiction about second chances, published by WordCrafts Press in the spring of 2024, and in August, she became the winner in the 2024 Storytrade Book Awards "Christian Fiction - Contemporary" category.   Besides being an avid reader, Darlene loves animals, especially dogs, which you'll see in her novel. Also, she treasures learning another language, yoga, fitness, traveling, and connecting with her inner circle. She belongs to many organizations, including the ACFW, FHL-CW, and WFWA. She lives in Central Massachusetts with her beloved Shih Tzu, Stevie.   To learn more about Darlene, click here.    

In this special podcast episode we feature the five finalists for WFWA's 2025 Rising Star Award for unpublished debut women's fiction in a roundtable discussion about their manuscripts, their greatest challenges as new writers, how the organization has helped them in their writing journey, and where they'd like to be five years from now. They also share a glimpse into their books and what inspired their stories. Featured are Kristin Adams (Finding Moonstone), Alice Lyon (The Last Seven Days of Harper Balan), Lori Singaraju (All Other Ground), April Wright (The Other Hula Dancer) and Jeanette Zaichkin (Late Bloomer).  

Our guest this week is Nancy Taber (A Sea of Spectres, Acorn Press, May 2024). A former member of the Canadian military and now an academic, Nancy's debut novel was inspired by her own family history as well as the culture and folklore of Prince Edward Island. A three-person POV covering distinctly different time periods, the story was restructured several times before publishing in its current form. We discuss her process for revision, based not only on peer and  editorial feedback but Nancy's own organic take on the narrative.  We delve into how her military training helped her in this new career, how writing a "niche" book can actually be a plus when marketing, and how she found the perfect publishing partner.   Nancy Taber is a university professor and fiction author who writes in the genres of non-fiction, historical fiction, mystery, and speculative fiction. As a former military officer who served as a Sea King helicopter Tactical Coordinator, part of her job once included leaping out of a helicopter into the ocean. Now, most of her job includes sitting at a computer, drinking massive amounts of coffee, and dropping her characters into wild and sometimes weird circumstances. Nancy has published research on the intersection of gender, war, and militarism in academic books and journals. Her short stories have appeared in journals such as The South Shore Review and Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture and Social Justice, among others. Nancy is a facilitator with Writers Collective of Canada, was named a Top Woman in Defence 2022 by Esprit de Corps magazine, and is a member of the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.   To learn more about Nancy, click here.

This week's guest is Shayla Dugan (Learning to Swim, Egret Lake Books, May 2024). We discuss how adding humor can provide a more grounded emotional experience for a reader. what it's like writing a character at a life stage you haven't yet experienced, and how a background in helping professions like nursing, social work, and psychology contributes to understanding complex family dynamics in a novel. Then stay tuned for how Shayla located, then partnered with a novice publisher and how a chance remark by her husband led to her most effective marketing tool.   Shayla Dugan is a writer making her fiction novel debut. She loves to write both fiction and creative non-fiction full of humor and heart. As a former social worker, her career centered mostly around the areas of grief, loss, and end of life care. Her experiences with clients helped her to understand and appreciate a variety of personalities, family dynamics, and the importance of storytelling. She resides in Arizona with her husband in their nearly empty nest where she spends her time replacing the roles of her adult children with dogs and relishing any visits with her young grandchildren whom she lovingly refers to as "the hurricane." To learn more about Shayla, click here.    

Our guest this week is Linda Sachse (Inheriting the Shackelford Ranch, indie published, February 2024). Linda, who switched from romance to women's literature with this book, discusses the difference between the two and how she went about learning the tropes of this new genre. We explore the getaway writing retreats she creates with her best writing buddy, why she decided to self-publish, and her best ideas for expanding your word count without filling your novel up with fluff. Linda Sachse is an author of Women's Fiction with a hint of romance. She loves to write a book that you can relax by the fire with or out by the pool, transporting you to a place or two you'd like to visit. She resides in Texas, where her stories begin with her husband, granddaughter, her Great Dane Lilly, and her two cats, Sophia and Pickles. To learn more about Linda, click here.

 This week's guest is L. L. Kirchner (Florida Girls, indie published, May 2024). We discuss taking fascinating historical facts and weaving them into a fictionalized narrative, deciding what to leave out and what to highlight, and how getting media attention can often come through developing tangential talks related to your novel's time period or themes. (in her case, the Florida Mafia and swimsuit models). Then L.L. describes the joys and drawbacks of being a pantser and the three pieces of advice she'd offer to newer writers. L.L. Kirchner is an award-winning screenwriter, author of two memoirs, and the historical thriller series, The Queenpin Chronicles. She is currently at work on her next book, a mystery set in Pittsburgh. If you've read her work it won't surprise you to learn she was once simultaneously the bridal editor for a society rag, dating columnist for an alt-newsweekly, and religion editor for an LGBTQ+ paper. She currently lives in Florida with her favorite husband and their best boy Hartley. You can get the prequel to The Queenpin Chronicles FREE at her website.  To learn more, click here.

This week our guest is Lisa Fellinger (The Serendipity of Catastrophe, indie published, March 2024). Lisa's educational background in mental health counseling has proved handy as she moved in her current work as a book coach, developmental editor, and debut novelist, since digging deeper into what makes a character tick is one of the biggest problems she sees in her client's manuscripts. We discuss how her novel began as a 2015 NaNoWriMo project, how an editor has to learn to take off her "critique" hat when drafting their first draft, and how she credits the WFWA community with making her a stronger writer. Lisa Fellinger writes contemporary women's fiction with lovably flawed, relatable characters. When she's not writing her own stories, she's helping others achieve their writing dreams as a book coach and developmental editor. She lives in Buffalo, New York with her husband, son, and fur babies. To learn more about Lisa, click here.

Our podcast guest this week is Lucille Guarino (Elizabeth's Mountain, Black Rose Press, March 2024). We discuss how this book, which came to her in a dream, launched her second career as a writer, how she teamed up with her small publisher to publicize it, and how one of her most successful strategies was entering writing contests, bringing not only recognition but also outside validation. We cover how to get book reviews, how social media ads, giveaways, and in-person events are among her favorite marketing approaches, and end the interview with the quirky habit she can't seem to break. Lucille's first novel, Like Wine, was a tribute to her mother, and getting it into print before she passed was her goal. She considers Elizabeth's Mountain, winner of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award and Readers' Favorite Award, to be her true debut novel. Elizabeth's Mountain was also a finalist in the 2024 American Writing Award contest for the elite Hawthorne Prize. ​ Lucille loves stories that lift her up and gratify her. An avid reader of most genres, the only thing Lucille likes more than delving and escaping into a good book is visiting noteworthy locations. Her most recent escapade road trips took her to Asheville, NC, Charleston, SC, and the Grand Canyon. And an international trip of a lifetime – Venice, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. She's lived most of her life in northern New Jersey and now lives in South Carolina with her husband, and close to her two daughters and grandchildren.    To learn more about Lucille, click here.

 This week our guest is Carolyn McBride (The Cicada Spring: A Potomac Shores Novel, indie published, April 2024). Hear how her parents' dream house finally became reality—in the pages of Carolyn's debut novel. We discuss the argument in favor of getting an MFA in Creative Writing, how publishing on her own does not necessarily mean not ever pursuing a traditional deal, how personal appearances have proved to be her best sales tool, and how her ritual of reading a chapter from a craft book before starting her writing time helps to keep her immersed in the world of story. Carolyn McBride's debut novel in women's fiction, The Cicada Spring, is the first in her coming-of-middle-age series set on the shores of the Potomac River. It was recently awarded a 2025 Silver Award for Best Audiobook - Fiction from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Book Awards. All of her novels feature women at the helm of their own boats and ultimately their own lives, reviving dreams, rewriting their stories, and discovering the strength that lies within. A former editor and columnist for National Geographic Traveler, she is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds an MFA in fiction writing from Lindenwood University. Along with her husband and pets, she divides her time between homes on Virginia's Occoquan River and South Florida's Intracoastal Waterway. To learn more about Carolyn, click here.

Our guest this week is Susan Wadds (What the Living Do, Regal House Publishing, March 2024). Susan describes her biggest writing challenge as taking all the disparate pieces of her story and organizing/structuring them into a coherent whole and shares the various techniques she's tried (including an atelier in France!). Later we delve into how cultivating dream agents can pay off and the one thing that's most surprised her about the audience for her debut. Resources mentioned in this interview: Amherst Writers & Artists Winner of the 2024 Canadian Book Club Award for her debut novel and the 2016 Writer's Union of Canada's Prose Contest, Susan Wadds' work has appeared in various publications, including carteblance, The Blood Pudding, Room, and Waterwheel Review. A graduate of the Humber School for Writers and a proud member of The Writers Union of Canada and The Canadian Authors Association, Susan is a certified Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) workshop facilitator. She grew up in Toronto, Montreal, and London Ontario, and has lived in British Columbia, Oregon, India, France, and Italy. She's sort of settled down and currently lives on a quiet river in traditional Anishinaabe territory with an odd assortment of human and cats. To learn more about Susan, click here.  

This week we welcome Jann Everard (Blue Runaways, Stonehewer Books, March 2024) to the podcast. In a switch-up to our regular fare of novelists, Jann's women's fiction debut is a collection of twelve short stories instead and we spend time talking about how one goes about first picking the selections (including looking at themes and cohesion), then ordering them for flow and pace, and finally the challenge of getting a collection published in today's market. If you've ever wondered about writing short fiction, this episode will give you a glimpse behind the scenes of an alternative marketplace for your creative ideas. Jann Everard is a Canadian author who began writing later in life and published her first work at age 45 in Canada's national newspaper The Globe and Mail. She went on to become an award-winning writer whose stories have been published in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland. Born in Halifax, Canada, Jann settled in Toronto, where she worked in health administration and raised two sons. A life-long traveler and outdoorswoman, she now makes her home on British Columbia's Vancouver Island, hiking, kayaking, writing, and being inspired by nature. Blue Runaways is a Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist and received an Honourary Mention from the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Awards for British Columbia Authors. To learn more about Jann, click here.  

Our guest this week is Melissa Bacon (Through Her Lens, Atmosphere Press, April 2024). What if you aren't setting out to build a career as an author but instead have one fascinating book you're dying to write? Where most of the writers on the pod hope to write more books, Melissa, a fine art photographer and statistician, took 10 years to research and write her historical novel set in Britain during WWII, and isn't all that sure she wants to do it again. And that's okay in our book. Meanwhile, she loves the feeling of holding a book with her byline in her hands and is excited about bringing this untold story of women analysts and the contribution they made to the Allied victory to the world. Melissa Clark Bacon was raised and stayed in Little Rock, Arkansas. She writes stories and makes photographs using historic and alternative printing processes. Her short story, The Handkerchief, where her character Millie first appears, won Best in Show Adult Fiction Short Story at the Grand Prairie Festival of the Arts. Her current creative work focuses on revealing unnoticed women from the past through captivating stories and photographs that aspire to elevate their contributions and offer them up as role models to women today.  To learn more about Melissa, click here.

This week we welcome Gail Priest to the podcast (Soul Dancing, Red Adept Publishing, May 2024) Gail comes out of a theatre background and her previous work included plays so the first thing she writes is all the dialogue, then goes back and adds in scene, description, action, and all the rest of the connecting tissue. Her debut is a tale of an unusual love triangle with more than a hint of magic realism and she picked a small press primarily based on its offering of a developmental edit. We discuss her best tips for finding small presses (including WFWA resources) and why seeking agent representation may not be the answer for everyone. Gail Priest has a passion for women's fiction. Her degrees and work in theatre and counseling psychology inspire her stories about healing from family trauma and secrets. A dash of romance and her love of second chances are always in the mix. Her most recent novel, Soul Dancing, was selected as 2024 Book of the Year by the American Writing Awards. Her other award-winning books include The Annie Crow Knoll Trilogy, A Collingwood Christmas, and East Shore Shorts. Gail lives in New Jersey with her husband and their Havanese dog, Annie. When she's not writing or teaching, Gail can be found reading or looking for birds and sea glass along the beaches and bays of the East Coast. To learn more about Gail, click here.  A resource mentioned during this interview: Suzy Approved Book Tours

 My guest this week is Jayna Sheats (Hanna's Ascent, Bedazzled Ink Publishing, June 2023). Growing up a poor boy in rural Colorado, Jayna went on to receive a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford, founded 3 companies, and holds several patents, but her biggest achievement was embracing her core identity as a trans woman 20 years ago and writing a literary novel that explores the trauma and triumphs which lay at the heart of that experience. After 200,000 revisions, 5 book coaches, and 203 submissions, the manuscript found its home at Bedazzled. We discuss her journey as well as whether it helps or hinders your novel to have its subject matter at the epicenter of the cultural and political zeitgeist. Jayna Sheats grew up on a Colorado ranch without electricity, neighbors, or schools, but obtained a ham radio license when she was seven. After language and psychology studies in Colorado and Germany and a PhD in chemistry from Stanford University, she became a researcher and entrepreneur, publishing 60 scientific articles and book chapters, and started three companies. As creator of Hewlett-Packard's e-Inclusion program she worked with Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh on telecenters for the poor. Today she lives with her children in northern California, hikes frequently in the redwoods, and writes novels involving social justice and triumph over trauma. To learn more about Jayna, click here.

My guest this week is Micki Berthelot Morency (The Island Sisters, BHC Press, June 2023). Her book is a perfect adjunct for Women's Fiction Week as her inspiration for putting pen to paper was to give voice to the often-unheard from victims of physical and mental abuse—women she encountered growing up in Haiti as well as women she worked with in her career as a care manager in the U.S. We explore the challenge of writing in a "third" language (after Creole and French), how her book found a home at a small publisher, and the success she's had going outside the typical "book promotion channels" like bookstores and libraries into college campuses, often sponsored by sexual assault and other support organizations, including one university that including it in their class curriculum. Micki Berthelot Morency is a Haitian-American, who has lived in the US for decades. Her debut novel, THE ISLAND SISTERS was launched in 2023. She's a graduate of Northeastern University and The Institute for Writers. Micki is a fierce advocate for women and children. Her stories have appeared in Writer's Digest Magazine, The Tampa Bay Times, The Weekly Challenger, Print magazines and E-zines. Micki is a mother of daughters. She lives in Florida with her husband. To learn more about Micki and her writing, click here.    

My guest this week is Marcy Lane (A Mercy of Widows, indie published, August 2023). Hear how two life events – serving on a jury and losing a partner – formed the basis of Marcy's debut novel. We discuss the MAID initiative in Canada (Medical Assistant in Dying), her very personal reason for determining early on to self-publish, and how her second book is springing not from what she knows but what she wants to know more about. We close with an interesting result from a DNA test. Marcy Lane writes character-driven fiction rooted in the quiet resilience of ordinary people navigating extraordinary challenges. Her debut novel, A Mercy of Widows (2023), explores grief, assisted dying, friendship and second chances—drawing on her lived experience of losing two life partners to cancer. After a long career leading a local charity, she turned to fiction in early 2021, diving headfirst into workshops, retreats and critique groups with a beginner's mindset and a deep curiosity for craft. Born to parents with itchy feet, Marcy grew up as an army brat, living across Canada, the UK, and Germany—experiences that lend authenticity to her settings. Today, she lives in a small cottage in southwestern Ontario with her two opinionated dogs, Bug and Lucy. She draws inspiration from art supplies, Lake Erie's moods, and the layered history of her adopted community. She's currently working on a cozy mystery set in Erie Bluff, a fictional lakeside town steeped in small-town warmth and buried secrets. To learn more about Marcy, click here.

Our guest this week is Rosey Lee (The Gardins of Edin, Waterbrook Press, January 2024). Rosey, whose alter ego is as a float physician and health equity advocate, first began with flash fiction, which eventually helped her complete a rough draft of her novel in only 6 weeks. We discuss finding an agent and publisher for crossover "Christian" fiction, her use of a mental health sensitivity reader, and how she augmented her publisher's marketing plan with her own, including a self-funded book tour. Rosey Lee writes stories about complicated families and complex friendships, but a happy ending is guaranteed. She is a nominee for a 2025 Georgia Author of the Year Award for The Gardins of Edin, her debut novel. A Gardin Wedding is her second novel. Rosey lives in Atlanta, about an hour away from the fictional town of Edin, Georgia, where her characters live. She grew up on the Westbank of New Orleans and carries the area and her loved ones in her heart when she's away from them. To learn more about Rosey, click here.

This week we talk with Lorraine Norwood (The Solitary Sparrow, Atmosphere Press, February 2024). Lorraine fell in love with the Middle Ages at a young age and carried that interest paired with her love of research into adulthood where, as a young mother, she started writing a book about a fictional peasant girl who aspired to be the first woman doctor in 14th century England, a novel which took her 30 years to write. We discuss finding the perfect agent but being unable to land a publisher, her decision to sign with a hybrid publisher and an inspiring story of how her interest in archaeology came full circle in her fifties, when she joined a dig in York and unearthed the shoe of a Viking and the bones of a dog buried centuries ago. Lorraine is a North Carolina native who lives in the Blue Ridge mountains.  The Solitary Sparrow is her first novel.  She is working on the sequel, A Pelican in the Wilderness. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women's Fiction Writers Association where she served as a judge in the Rising Star awards. She worked as a professional journalist for over 20 years, then took a turn at midlife, earning an anthropology degree and a master's in medieval archaeology. She then worked in archaeology and historic preservation, participating in excavations in the US and England. She is the mother of two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She is happy that at long last, after two marriages, two children, fourteen jobs, three college degrees, and twenty-three moves (two of which were abroad), she has a room of her own in which to write. To learn more about Lorraine, click here.

This week's guest is Beth Uznis Johnson (Coming Clean, Regal House, January 2024). Beth turned her lifelong interest in what people's belongings say about them into a novel centered on a cleaning lady at a crossroads and how one week with 5 different households helps her make life-altering decisions. We discuss the value of WFWA's weekly virtual write-ins, how continuing education is a mantra for her, and how writing short stories at the same time she's writing novels helps her not only flex her creative muscles but enhances her platform as a writer. Beth Uznis Johnson has published fiction and creative nonfiction in Massachusetts Review, Cincinnati Review, Story Quarterly, Mississippi Review, Best American Essays 2018, and elsewhere. Her first novel, Coming Clean, was released by Regal House Publishing on January 9, 2024. She was the recipient of the 2017 McGinnis-Ritchie Award from Southwest Review and a finalist in the 2019 Mississippi Review fiction contest. She has an MFA in fiction from Queens University of Charlotte and lives in Chicago. To learn more about Beth, click here.   

Our guest this week is Kathryn Dodson (Tequila Midnight, indie published, July 2023). We discuss how being a book coach gave her a leg up when she decided to publish on her own, the tricky parts to writing a series in terms of backstory, and the writing process she uses to produce 3 books a year. Hear about her decision to concentrate on building an online audience vs. personal appearances and her major piece of advice for beginning writers.  Resources mentioned during this interview: Story Genius by Lisa Cron; 20 Books to 50K Conference (now Author Nation), Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash. Kathryn writes about women who have to become their own heroes - whether they're solving a crime or figuring out the next phase of their lives. She grew up writing and riding horses in far West Texas. She graduated from SMU in English/Creative Writing and went on to get an MBA from Thunderbird and a PhD from Clemson. She has worked on both sides of the US/Mexico border and has held jobs with governments, chambers of commerce, and other businesses. Kathryn loves to travel and has visited 30 countries and 44 states. This inspires her novels about interesting women in fascinating places. Originally from Texas, Kathryn had the good fortune to live in Spain, Mexico, Tanzania, and several U.S. states, and the good sense to end up in Carlsbad, California. She loves travel, fiery food, hanging out with the neighbors in the front yard on Friday evenings, and reading. To learn more about Kathryn, click here.  

This week guest is Raven West (Vashti's Daughter, indie published, July 2023). Before there was Esther in the Bible there was Vashti, whose story provided the impetus for Raven's women's fiction novel set in 366 AD. We discuss why sometimes it's good when a book takes a long time to germinate, the difficulty in finding comps for certain novels, why she went the indie route, and the four best pieces of advice she has for authors just starting out. A seasoned guest on radio shows, podcasts, and literary festivals, Raven West has dedicated her career not just to writing but to engaging with her readers, championing independent authorship, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling With an impressive repertoire spanning multiple genres—from riveting thrillers and espionage novels to historical fiction and deeply personal non-fiction—her storytelling is as compelling as it is diverse. Her works, including Red Wine for Breakfast, First Class Male, Undercover Reunion, and Vashti's Daughter, have captivated readers with their rich narratives and unforgettable characters. To learn more about Raven West, click here

This week's guest is Marie McCurdy (The Wolf Queen, indie published, November 2023). Marie's novel, set in the Year 1 AD was five years in the making and involved a deep dive into historical records dating back to the height of the Roman Empire and its attempted invasion of the Germanic territories of Europe. We discuss the challenges of writing an historical women's fiction about a female character where little is known, how she broke with her first publisher, and the all importance of the right cover designer and copy editor for historical novels.   Marie is a Florida native, California transplant, and has lived almost everywhere between. She's been writing stories since she could hold a pen, but didn't get serious until she joined the Marines in 2009 as a Combat Correspondent. After five years telling Marine Corps stories, she knew it was time to start telling stories of her own. Marie currently lives in New Orleans with her fur family; three delightful cats and one questionable chihuahua mix. To learn more about Marie, click here.

Our podcast guest this week is Sheila Athens (Neena Lee Is Seeing Things, indie published, January 2024). Sheila and I discuss how her book started with a famous person and a setting near her home and grew from there, how she thinks storytelling differs from writing, and how the thing readers love best about her novel is the older protagonist. Hear why she opted to spend her money on a book coach rather than a developmental editor and how an upcoming anniversary was the final push she needed to decide to self-publish. Resources mentioned during the interview: ebooklaunch.com; suzyapprovedbooktours.com; jennienash.com; Story Genius by Lisa Cron.   Sheila Athens writes smart contemporary fiction set where the South meets the Sunshine state. Her stories are about women seeking to find the peace we all deserve. Readers are drawn to her work because they believe that everyday heroes can make a difference in our world. After growing up in the Ozarks, she moved to Florida—sight unseen—with the man who would become her husband. Thirty-five years later, she's still on the shores of the Atlantic, grateful that her two grown sons and their families live nearby. After many years as a vice president of human resources, she now spends her time ensconced in her quiet little lair, where she reads, writes and communes with the ducks who live on the lake right off her back porch. She loves quiet spaces, eccentric people and the little band of writer hikers who walk at sunrise on a regular basis. To learn more about Sheila, to subscribe to her newsletter, or to invite her to your book club, click here.

This week's guest is Gayle Brown (A Deadly Game, Black Rose Writing, December 2023). We why you might want to consider hiring a book coach, how a TV show provided the spark for this suspense book, and how Gayle re-wrote her ending numerous times to make sure it hit the sweet spot between satisfying but also surprising. She gives us her take on publishing with the Big Five vs. a smaller press, the marketing efforts behind her successful launch, and how she's planning to grow her new career as a full-time writer.  Formerly a full-time teacher, now a full-time writer, my passion for writing started when I could hold a crayon in my hand, using the walls as my storyboard. Since then, I've connected pen to paper and fingers to the keyboard at every given chance. My debut novel, A DEADLY GAME, came out in December 2023. Aside from a being a full-time writer, I am also a writing mentor for The Book Incubator, a twelve-month, comprehensive alternative to an MFA, and a member of various organizations, including Women's Fiction Writers Association (where I'm also a mentor), The International Women's Writing Guild, SavvyAuthors, and Sisters in Crime. When not writing or reading, you can find me working out, traveling, and spending time in Florida with my family, including a very spoiled mini dachshund. To learn more about Gayle, click here.    

My guest this week is Olivia Sparrow (Secret of the Sassafras, indie published, October 2023). Olivia's someone who dived into the writing world with the attitude of "I'll figure it out" and has done just that, including initially penning a 175,000 word debut (a Beta Reader taught her about word count), turning to Google and the library for Query Tracker and agent contacts, using Fiverr and Reedsy to find book cover designers and editors, and teaching herself Vellum software to format her book. If you've ever wondered about TikTok and its BookTok and BookMail communities, Olivia's got some advice. Come for the magical description of the moment that set her on the writing path, stay for her upbeat attitude about how to find and nurture readers.   Award-winning author Olivia Sparrow grew up in a small Indiana town, where her passion for reading first sparked her love for storytelling. After relocating to New York City, she encountered both the challenges and triumphs of city life that ultimately inspired her debut novel, Secret of the Sassafras—a heartfelt tribute to courageous women and the city that helped her discover her own resilience. A seasoned portrait photographer with over fifteen years of experience, Olivia's transition from capturing images behind the lens to weaving stories on the page marks a bold new chapter in her creative journey. Her writing uncovers long-buried secrets and exposes the deeper truths often hidden behind outwardly flawless, yet deceptive, facades. When she's not crafting stories, Olivia, a self-proclaimed California enthusiast, can be found hiking the national parks or wandering the rugged beauty of Big Sur with her family and their dog, Zuzu. To learn more about Olivia, click here.