Episode 45: John Matthew Fox, Writer & Founder of Bookfox

Episode 45: John Matthew Fox, Writer & Founder of Bookfox

Mary Kole is joined by writing expert John Matthew Fox to chat about his work helping authors and founding his company, Bookfox. Conversation topics include the different publishing paths available to writers, the benefits and drawbacks of traditional vs. self-publishing, the challenges of effectively marketing one's work, and going beyond commercial success.

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Episode 43: Farrah Penn, Young Adult Author

Episode 43: Farrah Penn, Young Adult Author

Young adult author Farrah Penn details her publishing journey, from striking out on submission to her debut novel. Listen in to this conversation for thoughts on the young adult genre, using tropes, crafting stakes and curveballs for your characters, and how screenwriting may help when writing a novel.

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Episode 42: Jenn Hanson-dePaula, Book Marketing Consultant

Episode 42: Jenn Hanson-dePaula, Book Marketing Consultant

How do new authors find their ideal readers? Jenn Hanson-dePaula guides you through the steps of elevating your book promo! Tune in to hear her take on what marketing is and isn’t, tips for building your social media platform (including valuable advice on what to post), and why you should have a newsletter.

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How Long Should a Book Be?
Episode 40: Danielle Marietta, Creator of Books & Things Publishing

Episode 40: Danielle Marietta, Creator of Books & Things Publishing

Danielle Marietta joins the podcast to discuss Books & Things Publishing, the children’s book sphere, and the importance of promoting diverse authors. Tune in to learn more about Danielle’s writing journey, and her tips on self-publishing, social media marketing, and connecting with your target audience.

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Episode 39: Allison Speka, Self-Published Romance Author

Episode 39: Allison Speka, Self-Published Romance Author

Romance author Allison Speka joins the pod to discuss her journey into writing and self-publishing. She talks about her love for the romance genre and shares her experience with self-publishing, including tips on cover design, book marketing, and the value of learning from other indie authors.

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Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach

Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach

Katie Wolf joins the pod for an inspiring conversation about getting started in publishing, work-life balance, and writing to market. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health and why self-awareness is key in developing your writing craft.

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Changing Literary Agents
Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author
Writing Under a Pseudonym
Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger
Marketing To Libraries

Marketing To Libraries

If you’ve written a book, you’re probably considering marketing to libraries—especially if you’re a self-published author. As such, you’re the direct link between your work and the rest of the world—no fancy marketing departments to help you out.

So how do you approach marketing to libraries?

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Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author

Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author

Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain YA genres and how that affects YA authors who specialize outside of those genres.

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Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author

Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author

Leslie C. Youngblood shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?

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The Young Adult Fiction Market with Sara Zarr

The Young Adult Fiction Market with Sara Zarr

Join Mary Kole and Sara Zarr as they talk about the complex realities surrounding publishing and becoming a career author within a rapidly shifting YA and Middle Grade marketplace. Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace.

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Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author

Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author

A conversation with Kilby Blades (author of romance novels such as The Gilded Love series) about self-publishing, writing diverse, feminist characters, and changes the traditional publishing industry needs to make in order to be an inclusive space for writers of color.

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Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert
Communicating with Literary Agents
Growing From Aspiring Writer to Published Author with Rebecca Ansari

Growing From Aspiring Writer to Published Author with Rebecca Ansari

Debut middle grade author Rebecca Ansari chats with Mary about the journey from aspiring writer to published author, MG craft insights, and what new things she has in the works!

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Writing for a Living

Writing for a Living

Many aspiring writers hope to quit their day jobs so they can pursue writing for a living, but is this a realistic goal? Here's an overview of what to expect if you want to pay the bills with your writing.

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