Book Writing & Publishing

In this episode, novelist and screenwriter Eric Garcia (Matchstick Men, Kaleidoscope) shares book writing tips on ditching the rules, writing a novel by accident, and what's really changed in publishing.

He's published six books (so far), three of which he's sold to Hollywood. And somehow, he managed to write his latest novel entirely by accident. He set out to write a short story. Then it got longer. Then it was a novella. Then it was 80,000 words and he had to admit he'd written a whole book, mostly at night, while still juggling film and TV work. 

We also talk about what's changed in publishing since his Random House days (Hint: mid-list used to mean stable; now everyone's terrified of it), why chasing trends is a losing game when a book takes years to reach shelves, and why there are no rules for how long a chapter should be, except the one that matters: Don't make me want to stop reading.

ABOUT ERIC GARCIA

Instagram: @ericgarciathewriter

CLICK HERE TO HELP YOUR ...

In this episode, I chat with children's book author and illustrator Erin Thorburn. (She also happens to be my best friend.) We wax not so poetic on book writing, publishing, marketing children's books (her lane, not mine), and navigating the creative industry with humor and properly set expectations. 

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Challenges of publishing (and marketing) children's books
• Marketing strategies for authors
• The myths (and, of course, truths) of our experiences building both confidence and community
• How to navigate industry egos and rejection without making it mean you should quit (or just plain quitting) 

CONNECT WITH ERIN THORBURN

Website: thebestofthesouthwest.com

Instagram: @erinofthesouthwest

CLICK HERE to download the Self-Publishing Starter Kit (it's free!)

Nadia Hashimi's newest novel (her seventh published book), City of Widows (William Morrow), releases in July 2026. 

She's already published four books for adults: The Pearl that Broke Its Shell (which is an international bestseller), When the Moon in Low, A House Without Windows, and Sparks Like Stars, as well as two middle grade novels, One Half from the East and The Sky at Our Feet. 

Our conversation was both fascinating and enlightening as we talked about Afghan culture, the importance of discipline in creative work, and Nadia's writing process. As a mom of four and pediatrician, her schedule most certainly doesn't allow for "easy" writing blocks, and her encouraging, honest words will no doubt reassure new and seasoned authors alike.

CONNECT WITH NADIA HASHIMI 

Website: nadiahashimibooks.com

Instagram: @nadiahashimibooks

CLICK HERE to download the Self-Publishing Starter Kit (it's free!)

Writing compelling stories is not an easy task!

In this episode, Ann Garvin (who will release her 7th novel, Tell Two Friends, in September 2026 with Lake Union) discloses the often messy, unglamorous truth of how a story actually starts. For her, that's usually as some tiny thing Ann can't stop thinking about, long before it has a plot or even characters attached to it. 

We talk about how to take that one nagging "kernel" of fascination and slowly build a book around it, and why your characters' flaws are usually what make readers care. Ann also walks through a deceptively useful trick for getting unstuck: asking, "What's the worst possible thing that could happen to this character right now?" (and then doing that to them).

Whether you write memoir, self-help, or fiction, this conversation is really about the same question every writer eventually has to answer: What am I actually fascinated by, and am I brave enough to explore it further? No matter how you're published or wha...

The woman. The myth. The legend: Jordan Roter. 

She's a TV writer, screenwriter, author, and one of the funniest and most genuine people I know. I truly could talk to her for days (and I'd like to, as it would preclude the need any sort of formal abdominal workout). 

Her novel, Moms Like Us (2025, Little A), was recently optioned for the screen, and she's back to give her hot takes on:

• Midlife transitions (welcome, all my fellow perimenopause travelers!)
• Self-publishing versus traditional publishing
• The currently hot TV shows I was previously afraid to watch (Heated Rivalry, Off Campus, and Euphoria)
• Navigating publicity and marketing as an author
• The importance of remembering that you only need 1 "yes"

CONNECT WITH JORDAN ROTER

Instagram: @jordanroterauthor

CLICK HERE to order Moms Like Us

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Visit them on Instagram at @thebestofthesouthwest

CLICK HERE to download the Self-Publishing Starter Kit (it's free!)

In this heartfelt interview, author Cinelle Barnes shares her journey through writing A Way Home (Little A, June 9, 2026), a heart-wrenching memoir about remembering and rebuilding a life after everything known disappears in a flash. 

Her latest memoir takes us along with her as she recovers from a sudden ruptured brain aneurysm. But her journey was far more than physical. It's the healing of soul, of body, of identity. It's a woman/mother/daughter/immigrant/writer redrawing the map of herself. The mere existence of this book is a triumph, and the beautiful magic of it is a feat of awe. 

Cinelle is also the author of Monsoon Mansion: A Memoir and Malaya: Essays on Freedom. 

CONNECT WITH CINELLE BARNES

Website: cinellebarnes.com

Instagram: @cinellebarnesbooks

Writing nonfiction or memoir? Check out the on-demand Book Outlines Made Simple workshop to get your book's structure sorted out so the writing flows far more easily! 

CLICK HERE to learn more!

In this episode, I speak with Liz Lawson about her journey from YA to adult fiction (It Happened One Murder, July 2026), the realities of book launches, and insights into the publishing industry. She shares personal experiences, misconceptions about launch days, and the evolving landscape of genre categories.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

- Transitioning from YA to Adult Fiction
- Understanding Reader Expectations
- The Differences in Writing YA vs. Adult
- Navigating Genre and Audience
- The Evolution of YA and Adult Fiction
- The Challenge of Engaging Young Readers
- The Complexity of Book Marketing

CONNECT WITH LIZ LAWSON

Website: www.lizlawsonauthor.com

Instagram: @lzlwsn

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In this episode, Joan F. Smith, author of Your Soulmail is Attached (her debut adult novel), shares her journey through the publishing world, her writing process, and insights into navigating multiple editors, genres, and the realities of a writing career. 

TOPICS COVERED

• Writing process and outlining techniques
• Navigating multiple editors and genre shifts
• Balancing income and writing career
• Handling feedback and critique partners
• Publishing industry insights and author experiences

CONNECT WITH JOAN F. SMITH

Website: joanfsmithbooks.com

Instagram: @jf_smit

CLICK HERE to learn more! 

Louise Marburg has spent years devoted to the short story form. So naturally, she accidentally wrote a novel. Her debut, Fancy Meeting You, features Laura Harrigan: a psychiatrist, mother of twin boys, and pathological liar who apparently had too much personality to stay confined to a short story. Louise and I talked about what it was like to finally write a character she didn't want to let go of, and why she'd actually consider a sequel (which, she says, she'd never say about anything else she's written).

We also got into the bigger picture stuff: the current state of publishing, why small presses are having a real moment, and why luck is a bigger factor in this industry than most people want to admit. Louise is refreshingly clear-eyed about the money side of writing (hint: making loads of money isn't the point), and her take on what a publicist is actually for might shift the way you think about hiring one!

Plus we talked AI, the two completely separate industries that both call...

If you've ever thought "I could write a book about this" while watching a reality TV show at 10pm, you're going to love this episode! 

Amy Mass spent years writing for TV (you might recognize "The Goldbergs" and "Last Man Standing" from her credits), and after relocating from LA to a charming small town outside Atlanta during COVID, she channeled all of that storytelling experience into her debut novel, Reality Bites, out May 12, 2026 from Harper Perennial.

In this episode, Amy and I talk about what it actually looked like to make the leap from TV writer to novelist, including writing three books and two movies in four years, going out on submission, shelving her first manuscript, and finally landing a deal with a major publishing house. 

We also get into her writing process (she's both a pantser and a plotter), why she writes dialogue first, and how she keeps a running collection of joke scraps and character notes scattered across her phone, her laptop, and random Post-its ar...