Episode 40: Danielle Marietta, Creator of Books & Things Publishing
Danielle Marietta joins the podcast to discuss Books & Things Publishing, the children’s book sphere, and the importance of promoting diverse authors. Tune in to learn more about Danielle’s writing journey, and her tips on self-publishing, social media marketing, and connecting with your target audience.
Episode 39: Allison Speka, Self-Published Romance Author
Romance author Allison Speka joins the pod to discuss her journey into writing and self-publishing. She talks about her love for the romance genre, and shares her experience with self-publishing, including tips on cover design, book marketing, and the value of learning from other indie authors.
Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach
Katie Wolf joins the pod for an inspiring conversation about getting started in publishing, work-life balance, and writing to market. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health and why self-awareness is key in developing your writing craft.
Episode 37: Heather Dixon, Debut Fiction Author
Thriller vs. Suspense... what's the difference? Heather Dixon, whose debut novel Burlington hits shelves this week, chats with Mary Kole about getting published and the appeal of suspenseful women's fiction.
Episode 36: Rob Kent, The Middle Grade Ninja
Rob Kent, author and host of the Middle Grade Ninja podcast, joins Mary Kole to talk about his illustrious publishing career and provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring writers. He discusses the importance of managing expectations for success in your writing career, as well as writing for your own personal happiness.
Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author
An uplifting conversation with author Wendelin Van Draanen, where we discuss the therapeutic nature of writing and the silver lining in a difficult path to publication.
Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author
An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience.
Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger
Book Marketer and PR Coach Emily Enger joins Mary to talk about some of the aspects of the writing process that might leave a yucky taste in our mouths. Tune in for actionable tips and insights into a publicist and marketer's side of the publishing world.
Episode 10: Brittany Thurman, Picture Book Author
Debut picture book author Brittany Thurman discusses writing about complex issues for a young audience, bias in the publishing industry, and supporting Black writers.
Episode 5: Jake Burt, Middle Grade Author
A podcast interview with middle grade author Jake Burt, all about writing diversity from a place of privilege.
Picture Book Word Count
How long can a picture book manuscript be? What if mine’s much longer? Or much shorter? Will I be automatically rejected by an agent? What if my story needs those words? Are there different lengths for different types of picture book manuscripts?
Let’s answer these questions.
Episode 35: Gretchen McNeil, YA Horror/Suspense Novelist
Dark YA novelist Gretchen McNeil joins Mary in an episode all about recognizing and executing a good story idea. They discuss the shifting young adult book market and embracing diversity, mastering storytelling structure and the importance of shaping the reader's experience, and the controversial subject of IP development.
Episode 30: Benjamin Roesch, YA/MG Author
Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer.
How to End a Chapter
Approaching how to end a chapter is tricky territory. It’s very easy to lose your reader in the white space and page break there, unless you give them a reason to stay and turn the page. Distractions are always beckoning, and nowhere is your grasp on your audience more tenuous. Check out this video to learn how to end your chapters in a compelling way!
Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author
Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain YA genres and how that affects YA authors who specialize outside of those genres.
Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author
Leslie C. Youngblood shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?
I Need a Hero: Writing an Active Protagonist
An active protagonist drives the story. Meaning? Your main character should want specific outcomes and fight for them. That’s where the conflict in the story comes from: everything that fights back. For tips on activating the hero of your story, read on.
Episode 24: Mindy McGinnis, YA Author
Mindy McGinnis, mystery, suspense, thriller author and dog haver, joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about her upcoming work with James Patterson, shit-shoveling, book snobbery, and showing characters' humanity.
Episode 18: Patricia Faithfull and Rick Williams, Aspiring Writers
A conversation about "The Emotion Thesaurus" as well as writing tools in general and whether human input can ever be replaced by tools.
Episode 20: Rachel Orr, YA and Children's Literary Agent
Decades-long agent, Rachel Orr, talks about real life clients as she shares what agents and editors are looking for, what to include in your query letter, and how to challenge the status quo.