Odyssey of a Novel

Welcome back to another episode of the Odyssey of a Novel pod, the podcast where I sit down with indie authors to learn all about the journey and the work that led to their completed novel. Today I’m joined by Heather McMahon!Heather McMahon is an indie author and typewriter poet residing in Columbus, Ohio. Her debut book, I Was Always Worthy, came out in June 2025. It is a collection of poetry that explores themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and healing, emphasizing that worthiness comes from within. Perfect for those trying to find their way back to themselves.Heather is currently working on her first novel, which will become a complete fantasy trilogy.To keep up to date on this and other projects, check out Heather on Instagram @heathermcmahonwritesIf you’re in or around Ohio, you can see her in person at Big Ohio Book Con, the first weekend of June in Medina, Ohio.Highlights:* What is typewriter poetry?* Working with writers’ groups* Process for poetry* The challenge of formatting e-books* An inside look at KDP Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to another episode of The Odyssey of a Novel pod, the podcast where I sit down with self-published authors to learn about the journey and the work that led to their published novel. Today’s episode is part two of my conversation with Kristie Wolf, the Amazon best-selling romance author. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is currently an indie author and trying to build their business, or anyone who is thinking about being an indie author. Kristie is a wealth of knowledge on how to streamline your process, how to drum up business, and why to publish indie. Not to mention, she’s just a delight to talk to.Highlights:* Kristie’s publishing process* Why Kristie chose to publish indie (and you might just too)* New outlets for selling your book* When spending money helps you make money* Countless anecdotes from her author lifeI learned so mcuh from Kristie and I know you will too! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Kristie Wolf, an author four times over who is known for her heat-packing romance novels, including the Project Viper series and the Blood Snow series. I believe that you, like me, will be obsessed with Kristie after this conversation and also be a romance novel convert.Award-winning author Kristie Wolf weaves tales about fearless heroes and badass heroines who fight for justice and love while burning up the pages. As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, wife of a Marine, and Navy mom, she enjoys writing happily ever afters for not just military heroes, but for all the brave, loyal, and selfless men and women who serve and protect our country in every capacity. Kristie resides in Maryland with her husband - aka her tech support - and her two teenagers.Highlights:* Kristie’s childhood as an avid reader* The inspiration for her storylines* A unique planning process involving Excel spreadsheets and voice memos* Kristie’s tips for conferences and author events* MoreA quick note about the recording. My internet was struggling during this, but it gives the illusion at times that I can read Kristie’s mind- I respond to her a little too quickly. Instead of covering it up in audio editing and sacrifice the video, I didn’t want to deprive followers of the visuals, so please try to overlook the imperfections and enjoy listening to (and watching) Kristie! This is part one of our chat, so be sure to tune in next week for more. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

BIG NEWS: This is our very first video episode! If you want to watch the conversation, head over to our YouTube page, or you can watch it on Substack. All episodes are still available in audio format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.My incredible guest today is Priscilla Zorrilla. Priscilla is a writer and coach focused on the moment people know what’s true and choose to move past it anyway.After a decade in the tech industry, she self-published her debut poetry collection, The Quiet Awakening: Dare to Dream, written in real time while stepping away from a career that no longer fit. Her work centers on self-trust, inner authority, and the quiet decisions made without an audience.She writes to interrupt self-betrayal and give language to what people already know but haven’t named. In the chat, Priscilla and I have a lot of fun while also discussing some pretty big topics that will resonate deeply with a lot of aspiring authors, but also those of us who have faced a challenge in life and recognized that what’s waiting on the other side just might be the best version of ourselves. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Odyssey of a Novel podcast with host Emily Elizabeth. This episode is going to look a little different than our normal episodes. As you may recall, the podcast was founded in the spirit of education, learning, and helping other aspiring authors learn about the process of publishing their book while highlighting self-published authors. In today’s episode, Emily sat down with Kristin Mitchell, owner and founder of Little Creek Press, to learn all about hybrid publishing, which is another viable route for aspiring authors. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Happy 2026, readers and writers! I’m super excited for the year and have lots of updates to share with you, as well as a preview of upcoming episodes. I’m also trying out something new! I think my internet held out enough that on Substack and my YouTube page, you can see the video companion to this episode. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

This is the Odyssey of a Novel pod, the podcast where I sit down with self-published authors to learn all about the journey, the tools, and the work that led to their published book! I’m your host, Emily Elizabeth, and today we’re back with Sarah Razner, the author of In Name Only. We dig into her writing process: * What does and does not help her write?* The surprising way she designed and formatted her cover herself* The misery of extroverting when you’re an introvert writer* A small tip about legitimizing your work that no other author has given us before!* Much More!Enjoy! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Odyssey of a Novel pod, the podcast where I sit down with self-published authors to learn all about the journey that led to their published book! I know it’s been a while, some large life events kept me from being able to record and edit more episodes, but I’m so excited to be back! On today’s episode, I chat with Sarah Razner, a Wisconsin-based writer and the author of In Name Only.In this episode, we get to know Sarah and her debut novel, In Name Only. We discuss the horrors of revisiting early writing, the challenges of being a full-time writer, and how a story idea really takes shape. Enjoy!Author BioFrom a young age, Sarah Razner has been drawn to stories. Growing up in Wisconsin, she spent much of her time reading. Later, when she realized the tales in her imagination did not have to remain there, she began writing and loved it so much she decided to build her career around it. Sarah graduated from Marian University with a degree in Communications and minors in English Writing and History. For almost four years, she worked as a news assistant and reporter, covering everything from local events and government to the history of Wisconsin’s prison system. For the past four years, Sarah has worked as a marketing and communications director, where she continues to have the opportunity to tell stories. Since 2019, she has been a contributor to the online magazine and writing collective, “The Prompt Mag.” In Name Only is her first novel.SummaryIn Name Only tells the story of Nathan Campbell, a son of the Campbell family- an American political dynasty akin to the Kennedys. His future is set: to succeed and smile while slowly suffocating beneath the heavy expectations of the family name, comparisons he can never satisfy, and ridicule for his true passions — art and comic books.Starved for anonymity and autonomy, Nate becomes a server at a Fistful of Drumsticks — a movie-themed restaurant where everyone is in costume, and he is just another hidden face. There, he meets Della, who lives vibrantly, and cares little for American royalty. For the first time, he has the chance to build a life of his own, and see what it means to be Nate and not Nathan Campbell.That is, if his parents and frenemies don’t find out.Odyssey of a Novel podcast is a Writer on the Water Press production. Writing, editing, and producing are all done by me, Emily Elizabeth.Thanks for listening! This post is public, so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Odyssey of a Novel podcast, where I sit down with self-published authors to learn all about the journey that led to their published book! Today is part two of my conversation with Elle Wither, where we dig into the nitty-gritty of her writing process. Elle is the author of the romantasy novel The City of Skies, the first in the Stargem Series, available for pre-order now.Today, she tells us all about how she found a writing community to provide feedback on her work, she introduces us to a new compiling software option, we learn how she got her special edition covers and sprayed edges, and we talk about the doors that self-publishing can open for authors and has already opened for many famous authors. We also get a sneak peek into her magical systems (yes, that’s plural!) Enjoy! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Odyssey of a Novel podcast, where I sit down with self-published authors to learn all about the journey that led to their published book! I’m your host, Emily Elizabeth, and today I’m chatting with Elle Wither, author of the Romantasy novel The City of Skies, the first in the Stargem Series.Elle holds bachelor's degrees in Music, History, and Education. Growing up surrounded by the ocean, mountains and forests on Canada’s west coast fueled her imagination about fantastical things. She is the daughter of a science fiction author, and has been writing stories of her own ever since she was old enough to clack away on the living room typewriter. When she isn’t writing, singing, or teaching, she helps her husband chase around their three children in rural Ontario.Her debut novel, City of Skies, tells the story of Zael, who, five years after war has separated them, is searching for his lost love, Aniyah. Sheltered all this time in a secret kingdom protected by magic, he leaves to search for her disguised as a traveling bard. But when he sees the world’s dangers and brutality for himself, merely seeking won’t be enough. And Aniyah is no longer the woman he once knew.As the podcast has been coming into its own, I’ve realized I enjoy breaking my author chats into two parts: an introduction to the author and their work in part one, and the writing process in part two! So, in this episode,, we get to know all about Elle, her journey as a writer, and her book City of Skies. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Today is part two of my conversation with Angelina Kelly! Kelly is based in British Columbia and is the author of the fantasy novel The Source of Storms, the first in the Stormbound Series. The Source of Storms tells the story of Halja, the daughter of a selkie who is ostracized in her homeland for her fae lineage. As the King and High Priestess begin to hunt down those who are “fae-touched,” Halja is only beginning to understand the true breadth of her fae powers. Together with a handsome stranger named Byrgir and her new family of friends, she must work to harness Halja’s powers to fight back before it’s too late.In today’s episode, we dig more into Angie’s writing process and she tells us all about her self-marketing efforts, how music playlists inspire her writing, what tools she used to format her manuscript for publication, and why taking days off from writing can be just as important as days spent writing (among other things). Enjoy! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

On today’s episode of Odyssey of a Novel, I sit down with Angelina Kelly, author of The Source of Storms, the first book in her Stormbound Series. Angelina Kelly was born and raised in remote coastal Alaska, where she developed a deep connection to wilderness and nature. She earned a master’s degree in conservation biology and spent ten years working as a wildlife and fisheries biologist. Now she writes fantasy inspired by ancient mythology, and she enjoys weaving in themes of romance and human connection. She currently lives in British Columbia with her fiancé, dog, and two cats.The Source of Storms tells the story of Halja, the daughter of a selkie who is ostracized in her homeland for her fae lineage. As the King and High Priestess begin to hunt down those who are “fae-touched,” Halja is only beginning to understand the true breadth of her fae powers. Together with a handsome stranger named Byrgir and her new family of friends, she must work to harness Halja’s powers to fight back before it’s too late.This is just part one of our conversation. Part two coming next week! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for tuning into the Odyssey of a Novel! This is a podcast where I chat with self-published authors about the journey that led to their finished book or books. Today’s episode is part two of my conversation with Daniel Firth Griffith, author of five self-published novels: four nonfiction and his most recent, a Celtic myth retelling called The Plain of Pillars. We pick up where we left off last week, diving into the many-layered message behind Plain of Pillars. Also, in this episode, we finally delve into the actual interview portion, discovering how self-published authors can convert their books into audiobooks. We explore why audiobooks and reading aloud can be so powerful for emerging readers, and learn why Daniel is so passionate about self-publishing. Plus, we get a peek into Book 2 of the Rimwalker Series. Enjoy! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for tuning into Odyssey of a Novel, the podcast where I chat with self-published authors about the journey that led to their finished book. Today, I talk with Daniel Firth Griffith, author of five self-published novels: four nonfiction and his most recent book, The Plain of Pillars, a Celtic myth retelling.My conversation with Daniel spanned almost an entire afternoon and was so chock-full of great stories and wisdom that I’ve decided to split it into two episodes. Today, we talk about how writing can change your day and even mindset, the beauty of oral storytelling, the unique nuance of language, and how Daniel’s writing simultaneously won him awards and enemies.An Independent Writer's Survival Guide and Odyssey of a Novel are subscriber-funded! To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

In the first episode of Odyssey of a Novel Podcast, I sat down with Jules Dyrud, the author of Majesties, the first in a four-part fantasy series. Jules is a self-published author and also a full-time Middle School Language Arts Teacher. She tells me all about what writing means to her, why she thinks her writing routine is crazy, and how a difficult moment in her classroom was the impetus for her now-published book.Majesties tells the story of Kwyn, a former slave turned Finder. She’s been given the task of finding the very first Melder to exist in over 200 years. The reward will be enough money for Kwyn to buy the life she’s always wanted and live out the rest of her days in peace. But when she finally finds the Melder, they are just a six-year-old girl. Kwyn must decide whether or not she will turn the child in to give herself the future she always wanted at the cost of the child’s own, or defy the realm to try and save them both. Paid Subscribers who are interested will have the opportunity to win a FREE copy of Jules’ book. Become a paid subscriber for a chance to win a free copy of every book featured on the pod. Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe

As I navigate the waters of publishing, I am torn between the traditional publishing route and self-publishing. But every time I speak to a self-published author, I find myself inspired by their story, their belief in themselves, and always wanting to learn more. One night, in a deep slumber (when all my best ideas come to me and also when I find solutions for all of the world’s problems), I had a thought. What if I tapped into the audio post feature on Substack to interview self-published authors? I could ask them how they got their start in writing, where their brilliant ideas come from, and all about the journey that led to a printed book. Thus, the Odyssey of a Novel podcast was born.Please enjoy this short intro episode while I interview my very first author, Jules Dyrud! Get full access to The Writer on the Water at emilyebaker.substack.com/subscribe