Book Writing & Publishing

Thriller author N.L. Blandford isn't afraid to go dark—like, murder scene dark—and she absolutely loves it.

In this episode, she talks about writing gritty thrillers with complex villains you’ll root for and recoil from. Natasha never planned to become an author. She just wanted to cross “write a book” off her bucket list. Now she’s five books in, spanning multiple series, and shows no signs of slowing down.

We talk about:

• Why she never plots in advance (hint: her characters have strong opinions)
• Her secret weapon for book sales (spoiler: it’s not bookstores)
• Why she chose to publish “wide” to support Canadian platforms like Kobo
• What she’s loving and learning while writing a new series about a fictional mob family in Nova Scotia
• Why “show vs. tell” trips up so many new writers (and how she works through it)

CONNECT WITH N.L. BLANDFORD

Website: www.nlblandford.com

Instagram: @nlblandford

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nlblandford

Books: Bookshop.org, Amazon.com

STILL ...

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 what’s actually working in publishing today. 

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: 

• Why the so-called "good old days" of publishing weren’t actually that great (unless you love gatekeepers and waiting around)
• The myth of the full-time writer dream—and why your day job might be your creative secret weapon
• What MFA programs don’t teach you about storytelling that readers actually care about
• How to build an author platform without selling your soul 
• The cold, hard truth about bookstore distribution and hybrid publishing 
• How sponsorships can turn your author newsletter into a profitable platform—and why subscriptions might not be the move
• What nobody tells you about post-publication anxiety (spoiler: publishing a book doesn’t magically fix your inner critic)
...

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, it’s given her a fresh lens on fulfillment, feminism, and what it really means to choose your own adventure.

INSIDE THE EPISODE:

🎙️ Why the publishing world is actually a surprisingly supportive crew—and how connecting with fellow writers can keep you sane

🎙️ How redefining feminism helped her embrace passion over pressure

🎙️ Her 12-week first draft practice, and why editing is where the magic happens

🎙️ The role of trusted early readers (and how she uniquely approaches this step)

🎙️ How she ups ...

She’s 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.

INSIDE THE EPISODE

📚 Why Neely sprints through her first drafts instead of obsessing over every word

📚 How she embraces her "pantser" style (yep, she often writes the beginning and end first, with no outline in sight)

📚 What it’s 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

📚 Using the writing of the next book to stay grounded when the release of the current one is causing stress

📚 Why research is her secret creative fuel, from courtroom procedures to video game design

📚 How the evolution of publishing is finally making room for authors to explore their full range of creativith

Neely’s approach is honest, energizing, and...

What happens when your first novel becomes a global sensation, and your next one takes nearly a decade?

In this episode, bestselling author Nicola Kraus (of The Nanny Diaries fame) gets delightfully honest about what it really takes to write, edit, and publish a book in today’s ever-shifting landscape. From the high highs to the humbling in-betweens, she shares what she’s learned about trusting your process (even when it’s slooooow), navigating a traditional publishing world that’s barely recognizable, and why writing in the present tense might just save your story.

Inside the episode:

• Why her latest novel took nearly a decade to write and release
• How editing is actually where the magic happens (even if it feels like a root canal)
• The sneaky power of tense, and why it matters more than you think
• What authors really need to know about publishing today (spoiler: it’s not just “write the book”)
• The simple truth about how readers find books they love 

ABOUT NICOLA KRAUS

Nic...

This week, I sat down with debut author Noël Stark, who went from wrangling chaos behind the scenes in the TV and film world to wrangling words on the page, often in 15-minute bursts. Her novel, Love Camera Action, flips the script on Hollywood romance by spotlighting the crew, not the stars (and the 3 peppers on the spice scale are sure to attract an audience quickly.

Inside the Episode:

• Why Noël intentionally wrote a love story about the people behind the camera.
• How it took her three years to finish her manuscript (and why that timeline is totally okay if not to be expected).
• The rollercoaster of Pitch Wars, querying 40+ agents, and the 18-month wait from “yes” to launch day.
• Choosing not to read reviews during launch (because sanity matters, and confidence is a fragile beast).
• Why she tailors content differently for Instagram vs. TikTok, and how showing up as her real self resonates most.
• What’s next: a sequel that turns the spotlight on the actors from book one, and an
...

What do a flooded house, a nine-month (and still going) renovation, and a debut novel have in common? Angelika Morini.

In this episode, Angelika shares what it actually looked like to finish her first novel, Do You See Me Now?—while living in chaos (read: house stripped to the studs). We talk about why character development can feel a lot like falling in love with someone mysterious and how launching a book is less of a finish line and more like Mile One of a marathon you didn’t know you signed up for.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• The (not so) glamorous reality of writing and editing during a home renovation from hell
• Why marketing Book One while dreaming up Book Two can feel like a  bit of a tightrope act
• The decision to write in English (even though she’s German) 
• Weaving the complexities of post-reunification Germany into her novel
• The way she allowed her characters to show up and surprise her (no outline, no problem!)

ABOUT ANGELIKA

A. Morini is an author from Germany, who w...

Have you ever sat through a back-to-school night and thought, Wow, this could be a novel? Jordan Roter did—and then she actually wrote it. Moms Like Us (coming May 2025 from Little A) hilariously unpacks the cutthroat social hierarchy of LA moms, complete with all the messy, cringey, and oh-so-relatable moments of motherhood and friendship.

In this laugh-out-loud episode, we chatted about:

🔥 Jordan’s career hops from YA author to TV writer (American Housewife, The Watchful Eye) and back to novel writing.

🔥 The painfully awkward school event that sparked her book idea.

🔥 Why juggling multiple POVs is like hosting a dinner party where everyone wants to talk at once.

🔥 Hollywood vs. publishing: one’s a chaotic circus, the other’s...slightly less chaotic

🔥 Writing the real (sometimes dark, often hilarious) thoughts moms have but rarely admit

🔥 The shift toward "radical truth-telling" in motherhood writing (because perfection is overrated)

🔥 And also...how she ended up with an Am...

This week, I had a really fun conversation with Nanda Reddy about her journey from "secret writer" to novelist (her debut novel, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl, just hit the USA Today bestseller list!). 

Inside this Episode: 

• Writing without being "formally trained" (read: no MFA) and navigating the industry through persistence and determination
• Evolving from a pure "pantser" to incorporating more structure while maintaining creative flexibility
• The way many authors discover the perfect title organically after beta reader feedback
• Suggestions for strategically working with beta readers  
• Nanda's great suggestion (first time I've heard this one!) for navigating those "I'm stuck" moments we all encounter
• Collaborating with an audiobook narrator when you need them to authentically represent characters from different backgrounds

About Nanda

Nanda Reddy is a Guyanese-American writer, former teacher, and part of an enormous extended family who mostly live in Florida where...

What happens when a seasoned television writer known for his work on irreverent comedies such as Beavis & Butthead, Just Shoot Me, and King of the Hill takes a leap into the author world?

In this episode, Michael Jamin reveals the more personal and vulnerable side of his writing through his release of A Paper Orchestra. From navigating the intricacies of the TV industry to exploring the art of storytelling and the decision to self-publish, Michael offers an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of a creative career.

Michael candidly discusses the contrast between writing for TV and writing for oneself. His reflections on creativity, inspired by authors like David Sedaris, offer insight into the importance of staying true to oneself in a world full of (neverending) expectations.

You'll also hear about the joys and hurdles Michael experienced with the self-publishing process, including the role of social media in building an audience (as well as what led to his decision to abandon his qu...