Book Writing & Publishing

An episode that celebrates the joys of writing and never-ending search for inspiration, this laughter-filled chat with the incredibly witty Jane Costello, bestselling author of romantic comedies and women's fiction, also features the prep for the release of her upcoming novel (her fifteenth), It's Getting Hot In Here (Zibby Books, Feb 2025). 

Peek behind the curtain into Jane's disciplined yet creative writing world, where structured planning and spontaneous inspiration meet. We reflect on the highs and lows of the publishing world, where timing and market trends often dictate a book's success. Jane's candid reflections on social media book events also bring a fresh perspective on connecting with readers and the creative community. 

ABOUT JANE COSTELLO

Jane Costello writes romantic comedy books that celebrate all that’s great about midlife - and make you laugh about anything that isn’t.  

She's the Sunday Times bestselling author of 15 novels, five of which were published under ...

Amy Wilson, the brilliant co-host of the "What Fresh Hell" podcast and author of Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser (Jan 2025, Zibby Books), joins me for a fabulous conversation about owning your story through writing.

We dive right into the real stuff—like what it’s actually like to share personal essays (and how to spill your truth without accidentally blowing up your family’s group chat). Amy opens up about her journey from writing the hilarious chaotic When Did I Get Like This? on parenting to exploring deeper themes, like people-pleasing, that resonate with an audience far beyond parents.

And for anyone out there staring down an editing deadline or wondering what in the world the publishing gods are up to—Amy shares some hard-earned wisdom. From her writing routines to her secret recipe for mixing humor with “let’s get real” moments, she provides an inside look at what makes her stories connect with so many people.

So, grab your favorite drink (and maybe one of yo...

What if you could transform a lived experience into a compelling narrative that reads like fiction?

In this episode, I chat with the talented Sarah Gormley, author of The Order of Things. In a candid discussion about "memoir plus," we explore how memoir can deliver powerful messages while engaging readers with its storytelling.

The conversation also turned to the intricacies of publishing. We explored the merits of hybrid publishing versus publishing services, with insights into marketing strategies that can elevate an author's reach. 

ABOUT SARAH

Sarah Gormley is a writer and art gallery owner living in Columbus, Ohio. Her undergraduate degree from DePauw University reinforced an early love for literature and writing, while the heavy sprinkling of liberal-arts fairy dust taught her how to analyze and articulate a clear point of view. She rounded out this foundation with concentrations in marketing and operations from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Her marke...

Ann Garvin writes books for "women to do too much in a world that asks too much." Enough said; take all my money already!

She published her first book in her late forties, even though one of her professors/mentors used to say to her on a regular basis, “You’re the worst writer I’ve ever met.” (He wasn’t being funny.)

During this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Ann and I had so much fun discussing the novel-writing journey, from writing to publishing to marketing (and a whole lot in between!).

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Ann's journey from being a nurse (with a PhD) to being a full-time writer and how she thinks about her future in this space. 
• A fascinating look into what’s moving the levers in the publishing space right now. It’s extremely eye-opening, and allows YOU, as the author, to make much more well-informed decisions when it comes to publishing and marketing.
• Going from 102 to 21K reviews (and whether she reads those reviews!)
• How her process has evolve
...

From writing the first chapter of The Undercurrent (Zibby Books, Oct 2024) as a standalone piece to fleshing out a full literary suspense novel I can’t put down, Sarah Sawyer has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we discussed: 

• What has most surprised her about the publishing process
• Sarah's view of the editing process (which is one to adopt immediately, if not sooner!)
• The formidable task of securing blurbs (which even traditionally published authors often have to do themselves)
• How writing this book has caused her to look at other books and authors differently

CONNECT WITH SARAH

Sarah's debut novel, The Undercurrent
Sarah’s website: www.sarahsawyerauthor.com
Sarah’s Instagram: @SarahSawyerAuthor

WHAT SARAH’S READING

James by Percival Everett
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Swift River by Essie Chambers

Megan Tady's second novel, Bluebird Day, launches on Dec. 3, 2024 (pre-order now!) In her second appearance on the podcast, we had the most wonderful chat about: 

• How book launching is like a salmon run (it's such a great analogy). 
• Strategies for best working with an editor while writing 
• Meg's writing process, from first to final draft, and how it evolved from the first to the second book
• The best part of Meg's publishing journey
• Meg's strategies for navigating the “wacky and wild” publishing industry and What she wasn’t at all prepared for when it comes to being an author

CONNECT WITH MEGAN

Order your copy of Bluebird Day
Meg's Instagram: @megtady
Meg's website: MeganTady.com
Meg's writing, editing & strategy services: Word Lift
Meg's first WTDBA podcast interview: Episode 36  

WHAT MEG'S READING NOW

All Fours by Miranda
Big in Sweden by Sally Franson
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

BOOKS MENTIONED

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George...

Emma Grey is the Australian author of the international bestseller, THE LAST LOVE NOTE, which was both a Book of the Month and Target Book Club pick, and was praised in Oprah Daily as “relatable, hilarious and charming".

She’s back this November with her new novel, PICTURES OF YOU — a suspense-filled romance about love and control that explores the way a sparkling relationship can morph into darkness and what might happen with a second chance at first love.

In her second appearance on the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we chatted about Emma's experiences with prologues, her collaborative work with editors (from different countries, no less), and the evolution of her book-writing process. She also reflects on the challenges of writing a second novel after the success of her first, emphasizing the importance of pushing through the "messy first draft."

CONNECT WITH EMMA

Emma's website: www.emmagrey.com.au
Emma's Instagram: instagram.com/emmagreyauthor
Click here to order The Last L...

Mary Jones' book, The Goodbye Process (July 30, 2024, Zibby Books), is, in four words, hard to put down. Her raw, vivid descriptions of characters and experiences alike quickly pierced my soul and extended my bedtime!  

In this episode, Mary and I discussed her love of the short story form, some (perhaps surprising truths about writing and organizing short stories/essays, thoughts on beta readers, the querying and submission process, and our mutual love of "Days of Our Lives."

CONNECT WITH MARY

Book: The Goodbye Process

Instagram: @maryjoneswriter

X: @maryfjjones 

Threads: @maryjoneswriter

Website: www.maryjoneswriter.com

WHAT MARY'S READING

All Fours by Miranda July

MENTIONS

I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith 

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Gail Priest is the author of five books (including a trilogy). Her latest, Soul Dancing, was released on April 2024 through Red Adept Publishing. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, Gail shares her writing process using mind mapping and discusses her approach to marketing and pitching her work.

CONNECT WITH GAIL

Instagram: @gailpriest_author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGailPriest

Website: gailpriest.com/

GAIL'S BOOKS

Soul Dancing

Eastern Shore Shorts 

Annie Crow Knoll: The Complete Collection:

WHAT GAIL'S READING NOW

A Very Crowded House by Kelly Elizabeth Huston 

Of Lies and Honey by Donna Norman-Carbone 

When the World Goes Quiet by Gian Sardar

NEED A LIBRARY OF AMAZING BOOK MOCKUP SHOTS?

I've used MockUp shots for years to create attention-grabbing images great for social media.

It usually costs $207, but they're offering a 60% discount on lifetime access with lifetime updates. It's a great way to get an unheard-of price on a product th...

Drew Linsalata has been my go-to for years when it comes to audiobooks and podcasts as well as any "How do I get the most bang for my buck?" questions when it comes to tech hardware. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, he helps dissect the why, when, and how of audiobook creation. 

Topics include:

• Gear setup (for under $70)
• The popular mic everyone thinks they should use (but shouldn’t)
• What device to read your book from for best flow and quality
• Recommended audio editing software (that’s free!)
• The truth about the cost of producing an audiobook as well as expected earnings (advertised numbers are a bit misleading)
• How to determine if it’s “worth it” to create an audiobook  
• The biggest misconceptions authors have about audiobooks

CONNECT WITH DREW

The Anxious Truth:  A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Panic, Anxiety, and Agoraphobia

Seven Percent Slower: A Simple Trick for Moving Past Anxiety and Stress: The Anxious Truth: Anxiety Educa...