Miranda Cowley Heller's father was a book editor; her grandfather edited Jack Kerouac and was friends with Hemingway. That legacy, while inspiring, left her frozen when it came to pursuing her own writing.Â
Instead, she built a thriving career in publishing and TV, eventually heading up drama series at HBO. Then, in her 50s, she wrote the novel sheâd been carrying around for years, The Paper Palace, which became a New York Times #1 bestseller and a Reeseâs Book Club pick.Â
Now, she's returned to her first creative loveâpoetryâwith a stunning new collection:Â The Deep Water Knows. âPoetry is almost like putting snapshots of your soul into the world,â she tells me.Â
In this episode, Miranda gets real about the myth of getting wiser with age, the vulnerability of releasing creative work into the world, and why your voice is never too late to matter.
Miranda Cowley Heller has worked as senior vice president and head of drama series at HBO, developing and overseeing ...
Author Lori Gold is pulling back the curtain on publishing, in both this conversation and her newest novel, Romantic Friction.Â
âď¸ Yet another reason bestseller lists arenât what you think (I didn't know this until I read her book!)
âď¸ A great tip for handing reviews without spiraling (or swearing off Goodreads forever)
âď¸ What AI is doing to authors' voices, and why it should concern all of us
âď¸ How writing happens even when you're not writing
âď¸ How Lori studies the bones of books she loves to make her own writing even stronger
Instagram: @lorigoldsteinbooks
Grab a copy of Romantic Friction
đ CLICK HERE to write the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!
...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.
From communicating with...
What started as sharing her story online about living with chronic illness turned into a book deal with Penguin Random House. In this episode, Gigi Robinson shares how she leveraged consistency, relationships, and a clear vision to go from content creator to published author.
Hereâs what we get into:
Website: gigirobinson.com
Instagram: @itsgigirobinson
TikTok: @itsgigirobinson
đ CLICK HERE to write the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!
...even if you don't have a cabin in th...
This week, Iâm joined by publicist Emily Florence, and weâre talking about how to set publicity goals before you start chasing them, why a Today Show appearance might not sell nearly as many books as you think, and how to make your marketing feel less like shouting into the void and more like having conversations that matter.
Hereâs what we get into:
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đ CLICK HERE to get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!
...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.
Bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz has published nearly 80 books (yes, 80), and in this episode, she shares what it really takes to build and sustain a long-term writing career. From surviving the shifting tides of publishing to protecting what gets you "in the mood" to write, she shares the kind of wisdom every author loves hearing.Â
đ Melissa's advice: Donât quit your day job until the math says you can
đ Success is wonderful; it also resets with every new book
đ How to protect your creative hours (8amâ1pm, in her case)
đ Books are logic puzzles, not lightning strikes (I love this analogy!)
đ If social media isnât fun, donât do it. Period. (Who's cheering?)
đ The final sprint before deadline is where the magic (and panic) often happen
Whether you're writing book 1 or book 71, this episode's packed with truths you'll be grateful for.
Website:Â melissa-delacruz.com
Instagram:Â @authormelissadelacruz
X:Â @MelissadelaCruz
Faceboo...
Thriller author N.L. Blandford isn't afraid to go darkâlike, murder scene darkâand she absolutely loves it.
In this episode, she talks about writing gritty thrillers with complex villains youâll root for and recoil from. Natasha never planned to become an author. She just wanted to cross âwrite a bookâ off her bucket list. Now sheâs five books in, spanning multiple series, and shows no signs of slowing down.
We talk about:
Website:Â www.nlblandford.com
Instagram: @nlblandford
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nlblandford
Books: Bookshop.org, Amazon.com
In this no-fluff episode, publishing powerhouse Jane Friedman speaks to the aspects of writing and publishing that every aspiring author need to hear about. With decades in the industry and zero interest in sugarcoating, Jane breaks down whatâs actually working in publishing today.Â
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT:Â
*These videos complement the Chapter One: Done training. You can join the (free) training here: Chapter One: DoneÂ
đĄÂ How to quickly determine whether you're writing nonfiction or memoir
STEP 1. THE OVERALL ROADMAP
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STEP 2:Â IDENTIFYING YOUR MAIN TOPIC
STEP 3: HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR NORTH STAR
STEP 4: HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR IDEAL READER
STEP 5: WRITING CHAPTER ONE (NONFICTION)
STEP 1: THEÂ OVERALL ROADMAP
STEP 2:Â IDENTIFYING YOUR MAIN TOPIC
STEP 3: HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR NORTH STAR
STEP 4: HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR IDEAL READER
STEP 5: WRITING CHAPTER ONE (MEMOIR)
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In this episode, author Audrey Ingram shares what inspired her newest novel, The Summer We Ran (coming June 3, 2025, Zibby Publishing). Think: teenage love, political ambition, and a dual-timeline structure that spans 25 years and manages to hit you right in the gut and makes you think.
We also dig into how Audrey traded in her life as a practicing attorney for full-time writing and mom-life. The decision to pivot careers during a pandemic? Bold. Brave. And totally intentional. Plus, itâs given her a fresh lens on fulfillment, feminism, and what it really means to choose your own adventure.
đď¸ Why the publishing world is actually a surprisingly supportive crewâand how connecting with fellow writers can keep you sane
đď¸ How redefining feminism helped her embrace passion over pressure
đď¸ Her 12-week first draft practice, and why editing is where the magic happens
đď¸ The role of trusted early readers (and how she uniquely approaches this step)
đď¸ How she ups ...
Sheâs back! One of my all-time favorite guests, Neely Tubati-Alexander, returns to talk about her third novel, Courtroom Drama. As always, she brings a refreshing, no-nonsense take on staying creative and productive in the unpredictable world of publishing.
đ Why Neely sprints through her first drafts instead of obsessing over every word
đ How she embraces her "pantser" style (yep, she often writes the beginning and end first, with no outline in sight)
đ What itâs really like to write books in the cracks of everyday life, and how reality TV, genre-hopping, and real-life fascinations all sneak into her stories
đ Using the writing of the next book to stay grounded when the release of the current one is causing stress
đ Why research is her secret creative fuel, from courtroom procedures to video game design
đ How the evolution of publishing is finally making room for authors to explore their full range of creativith
Neelyâs approach is honest, energizing, and...