Book Writing & Publishing

Armed with quick wit, relatable characters, themes of resilience, and always a happy ending, award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author Kathryn R. Biel writes comfort reads.

In the most recent episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we chatted about her journey thus far as an indie author. 

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Kathryn's favorite part of self-publishing
• The type of opportunity that would compel her to consider a traditional publishing deal after self-publishing 20 books
• Her experience selling books via a Shopify store and TikTok shop
• How she defines success for herself (and how that barometer has changed over the years)

ABOUT KATHRYN

Balancing drama and angst with laughter and love, Kathryn weaves stories that will whisk you away for a few hours and have you rooting for the underdog, whether it's through sports romance, romantic comedy, or lighter women's fiction. 

By day, Kathryn is a pediatric physical therapist and Chief Domestic Officer of the Biel...

These days, almost everyone dreams of having a post or reel go viral. That is, until they do.

At that point, they realize it doesn't often have the "magic bullet" benefits we're led to believe. At best, it has a neutral impact, and at worst, it can go very (very) wrong before you have a chance to get your arms around it. (Thinking you can get your arms around it is often your first mistake!)

But also, everything that goes "wrong" in this life brings with it an opportunity to see something differently (oftentimes, that something is oneself)  and to evolve as a human being.

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, I share the top 7 lessons I learned from recently going viral on Threads. I've often said if I ever went viral, it would be for tripping over a pebble or walking straight into a freshly cleaned glass wall, and in this case, I think I would have preferred either of those! 

This happened thanks to a taken-out-of-context writing suggestion that was...

Elle Evans is an anesthesiologist and a novelist whose debut novel, Wedding Issues, comes out April 2, 2024 with Zibby Books. And was this ever a fascinating conversation!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• The first book Elle wrote (that was never officially published, even with the best title ever) 
• Elle's writing process, including how she sets goals and deadlines 
• The probable stop on the publishing journey she specifically advises writers to “buckle up” for 
• How her first two novels ended up "dead on submission" (and what she's planning for them now!)
• How she's coordinating  book launch activities with her operating room schedule 
• Her process for letting go of one book’s characters in order to start fresh on another
• Her unique perspective when it comes to title/cover changes by a publisher

ABOUT ELLE

A Boston native, Elle Evans spent five years in Nashville soaking up sweet Southern hospitality and even sweet iced tea. She...

In the latest episode of  Write the Damn Book Already, I spoke with Julie Chavez, author of the incredibly well-received memoir, Everyone But Myself   (January 2024, Zibby Books).

After Julie's life experience turned into a book idea,  she wrote 30,000 words and thought that surely it was a complete, publishable book. Newsflash: It wasn’t. But she stuck with it, and within a few weeks of launch, it became a USA Today Bestseller.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Why being naive is the greatest gift for authors sharing vulnerable stories 

• Thoughts on why aspiring authors don’t understand the challenges involved in book writing (it's one of the things this podcast hopes to rectify!)

• Metrics authors use to determine “success” (including Julie's) + an exploration of the “machine” side versus the human side of writing

• How to trust when you've healed "enough” to write about challenges

• The...

Transitioning between genres can feel like learning a new dance with the same set of feet. In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, Zibby Owens shares her experience shifting from memoir (Bookends, July 1, 2022, Little a) to fiction (Blank, March 1, 2024, Little a).

We discuss what it takes to draft a compelling "base layer" for a story. Meanwhile, as the current Goodreads controversy continues to unfold, we chat about the harsh realities of online ratings and the significance of author advocacy in the digital age. Learn how to navigate the murky waters of social media hijacking, and why fortifying a diverse online presence is more important than ever.

 

ABOUT ZIBBY OWENS

Zibby Owens is the creator and host of the award-winning, daily podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. Zibby is also the founder and CEO of Zibby Media, dubbed “the Zibby-verse” (L.A. Times). It includes publishing house Zibby Books, online magazine Zibby Mag,...

 Writing mistakes, overcoming fear and vulnerability in writing, building a captivating story, and finding your unique voice and messaging. These are four common fears when writing a book that most first-time authors mistakenly don't think anyone one else has.  

But hindsight is so 20/20 (and I'm not referring to the year!). 

Looking back, there are 13 THINGS I really wish someone had told me before I wrote and published my first book (even though it's sold 45,000+ copies since it was first published). 

I'm passing them along to you so you'll be saved from experiencing them (or at least have fair warning)! 

1. Organizing 867 million thoughts and events is challenging. For everyone. Like an initial therapy session, you wonder, “Where do I start?”

Whether you're writing fiction, memoir, or nonfiction, identify your story's pivotal moment. Where were you? How old were you (or your main character)? What feelings did you have that...

With the book publishing industry overflowing with titles vying for attention, I aim to guide aspiring authors through the important steps of writing and publishing high-quality books that get noticed in 2024. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we'll a few reminders every author (including myself) can benefit from hearing (or hearing again), including: 

• The pitfalls of prioritizing speed over substance and the pressures that can lead writers to rush the creative process 
• How to assemble a dream team, even if you're an indie author
• A new strategy for managing overwhelm, one piece at a time

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Lucy E.M. Black - The Brickworks 

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Podcast featuring Lucy E.M. Black 

WTDBA episode with Sarahlyn Bruck

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are...

Jessica Saunders's debut novel, Love, Me, was released on January 16, 2024 (Union Square & Co.)

In the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Jessica and I chatted about the power of pursuing a literary dream as she discussed her debut with raw and captivating honesty. We also discussed the delicate balance between rigorous careers and the pull of creative passions, the catalysts that drive us to write, and the sacrifices made along the way—including, sometimes, a brief hiatus from all things Netflix! 

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Finalizing the title, from the initial idea to the final decision

• Jessica's writing process, what prompted her to (finally) write the damn book already, and her approach to plotting versus pantsing

• Which writers' workshop helped her get her first draft out

• How she decided between traditional and self-publishing and found her agent, Elizabeth Bewley (Sterling Lord Literalistic)

• Her experience connecting with...

It's easy to get caught up in overthinking when it comes to which publishing approach is best. Should you try to get an agent and get in with a bigger traditional publishing house? Submit to a smaller traditional house that allows un-agented submissions? Hire a hybrid publishing house to help you produce a high-quality book? Or curb upfront costs while building an incredible team in order to self-publish?

Let's stop making this part of the book publishing process so challenging so you can determine which is the best approach for YOU (and please note, that approach may change should you decide to write another book, and that's okay!). 

Use this simple quiz to determine the ideal publishing path for your book. Answer each of the following questions honestly to figure out whether traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing best aligns with your current author goals. 

How much control do you want over the creative aspects of the publishing process (title,...

Even if you haven't heard of The 5-Second Rule, you've likely heard of its author, Mel Robbins, given that she's arguably the highest paid woman on the speaking circuit.

The 5-Second Rule was published in 2017 and went on to sell millions of copies and be translated into 33 languages. 

But did you know...

IT WAS SELF-PUBLISHED (via a hybrid publisher, which is essentially hiring someone to partner with when it comes to the tasks associated with self-publishing. They do the majority of the publishing legwork, providing connections to editors, cover designers, interior formatters, and sometimes marketing partners. This option gives authors the creative and financial benefits of self-publishing along with the expertise and potential distribution channels of a traditional house.

The 5-Second Rule later went on to become the most successful self-published audiobook in history. 

*Note: Today, the book is noted as being published by a division...