WRITER 2.0: Writing, publishing, and the space between

On episode 114 of the podcast I spoke with J.L. Oakley about: * pen names; * living in Hawaii; * historical fiction; * her award-winning World War II novel, The Jossing Affair. About our guest: Award-winning author J.L. Oakley writes historical fiction that spans the mid-19th century to WW II with characters standing up for something in their own time and place. she grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After college, she worked her way west to the Hawaiian Islands. While going to school there, she met her future husband and for a time they lived on the Big Island. They moved to the Pacific Northwest where they raised three sons. An historian as well as an award winning author, her writings appear in various magazines, anthologies, and literary publications. Before publication, The Jossing Affair, was a finalist twice at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest and in 2013, received a first place Chaucer category win. Her other historical novels, Tree Soldier, set in 1930s Pacific NW, won the 2012 EPIC ebook Award, selected as an Everybody Reads, and the 2012 Chanticleer Grand Prize. Its prequel, Timber Rose, won a silver in historical fiction from the prestigious 2015 WILLA Awards and a first place 2014 Chaucer Award. Recently, she began writing mysteries. Saddle Road and Coconut Islands, Lei Crime Kindle World novellas, are best sellers. When not writing, Oakley demonstrates 19th century folkways at national parks and museums, and presents history workshops to school age students. Good times!

On episode 113 I spoke to screenwriter, director, and novelist Andrew (Drew) Chapman. We talked: * marketing budgets for books vs. marketing budgets for TV; * his novel, THE KING OF FEAR; * the best book-marketing advice he ever got; * the biggest issues he hears from his circle of writer friends; * traditional vs. self-publishing; * whether you should write a TV pilot; * the Golden Age of television. Plus, on Today in Writing, happy birthday to Bruce Springsteen. About our guest: Drew Chapman was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in History. His early work history included: newspaper reporter, bartender, bike messenger, knish vendor at Yankee Stadium, and bootleg T-shirt salesman. He wrote his first novel in fourth grade. It remains unpublished. After college Drew moved to Los Angeles and began working in film production. He got an agent and took a position as staff writer for Disney Animation. He has since written on projects for studios including Disney, Fox, Universal, Warner Brothers and Sony. He wrote and directed a feature film, Stand Off, with Dennis Haysbert and Robert Sean Leonard. He also works extensively in television. He has sold pilots to ABC, Fox, ABC Family, and Sony TV. Drew wrote and produced an eight-part limited-series for ABC called The Assets, and most recently wrote and co-executive produced the second season of the spy show Legends for TNT. His second novel, The King of Fear, was released digitally, in sections, by Simon & Schuster starting on November 3, 2015.

On episode 112 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with award-winning sci-fi author James R. Wells. We discussed: * what “caving” is and how to get started; * his path to publication; * his debut novel, THE GREAT SYMMETRY; * pros and cons of traditional and self-publishing; * creating a cover for a self-published book; * what we liked about THE MARTIAN; * 3 books, 2 people, and 1 life change that impacted his writing career. Plus, on “Today in Writing,” happy birthday to James Baldwin. About our guest: James R. Wells writes about the intersection of humans and the natural world. A life-long caver and outdoor adventurer, he has explored and mapped new passages in many of North America’s great caves. When not writing or with family, James can be found in a cave, on a mountain, or anywhere else outside. James is the great-grandson of pioneering science fiction author H.G. Wells.

On a much-delayed episode 111 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with novelist Dave Fromm. We discussed: * his brief semi-pro basketball career in Prague; * his first book, EXPATRIATE GAMES; * the process of working with Tyrus Books; * why books are never finished, just published; * his new book, THE DURATION. Plus, on “Today in Writing,” Bob Dylan goes electric. Who is Dave? Check out this bio from his website: Hi.  My name’s Dave.  I’m a writer and/or a lawyer.  I grew up in western Massachusetts, in a small town called Lenox.  It’s a beautiful town, maybe the most beautiful town in the world.  Probably not.  But definitely beautiful. I went to college in Boston and law school in Washington D.C.  In between I spent a couple of years living in Prague, where I played basketball for a mid-level Czech semi-pro club — emphasis on the “semi-“.  We didn’t get paid and nobody came to watch us except our girlfriends, and half the time they didn’t come either.  Fun season, though.  I wrote a book about that season called Expatriate Games: My Season of Misadventures in Czech Semi-Pro Basketball. It’s not a great book, although one reviewer said it stood with the best of George Plimpton.  Which is insane.  You can buy it on here somewhere if you want. I spent about a decade as a lawyer and will probably do it again at some point.  As a career choice, it has its moments.  But until then, I’m writing.  My debut novel is called The Duration.  It’s a tragic bromance set in Berkshire County. Comes out from the great Tyrus Books on May 1, 2016.  I encourage you to buy, like, eight copies immediately.

On episode 110 of the WRITER 2.0 I spoke with R.K. Slade, whose debut novel just hit #1 on Amazon’s New Release list in Teen & Young Adult Music Fiction. We discussed: * how he developed a massive online community around marching bands; * whether marching band is a sport; * why and how he creates memes; * how often he posts to engage his audience; * why he built a platform BEFORE writing his debut novel; * how he decided to write in first-person present tense; * geek culture; * his debut YA novel, BECAUSE; * this one time, at band camp. About our guest: R.K. Slade writes marching band and music oriented fiction for young adults (and young at heart adults, too!). Combining eight years of marching band and a lifetime of music experience with a love for the history of music, R.K. finds great joy in bringing new characters to life through the writing process. As the owner and curator of the Marching Band Is Awesome communities on Facebook and Instagram, R.K. is connected with lovers of the marching arts, music education, drum corps, and just about every form of traditional music connected to the school music experience. Having studied Music Theory and Composition in college, R.K. brings a unique perspective and insight into characters, with an expressive knack for describing today’s high school experience and yesterday’s music history. His first full-length novel titled “Because” was released in June 2016. It is Book One in the Time’s Song Series (a trilogy). You can find free “beta” chapters on the Wattpad app (where over twenty chapters have been released under the name “Just Rigby – A Marching Band Story”).  

On episode 109 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with Dave Chesson, a 9-year veteran of the US Navy and founder of Kindlepreneur. We discussed: how he started KINDLEPRENEUR, his ebook data and marketing company; the biggest money wasters Kindle authors fall for; some tips for launching an ebook; how to get more reviews; his new software platform for authors, Kindle Rocket. About our guest: Dave Chesson is a 9 year veteran of the US Navy whose passion is books. First and foremost he’s a husband and father but he also runs a business called Kindlepreneur, specializing in marketing ebooks.

On episode 108 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with Susan Shapiro, a writing professor, publishing expert, and bestselling author. We discussed: * her upcoming panel discussion at NYU, Secrets of Book Publishing; * how Amazon is viewed in NY these days; the latest from the NY publishing scene; the unrealistic expectations of some self-published authors; student/professor relationships and her latest book, What’s Never Said. About our guest: Susan Shapiro, an award-winning writing professor, freelances for The New York Times, New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Newsweek, Elle, Esquire & Oprah.com. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of 10 books, including the acclaimed memoirs Lighting Up, Only as Good as Your Word, and Five Men Who Broke My Heart, the coauthored nonfiction booksUnhooked and The Bosnia List, and the novel What’s Never Said. She and her husband, a TV/film writer, live in Greenwich Village, where she teaches her popular “instant gratification takes too long” classes at the New School, NYU and in private workshops & seminars.

On episode 107 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with award-winning travel writer Tim Leffel. We discussed: * how to get started as a travel writer; * some of his favorite gigs; * how travel writers use social media; * medical vacations; * his book, TRAVEL WRITING 2.0.  Plus, on Today in Writing, Happy Birthday to Walk Whitman. About our guest: Award-winning travel writer Tim Leffel is author of The World’s Cheapest Destinations, Travel Writing 2.0, and Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler’s Guide to Getting More for Less. He is also co-author of Traveler’s Tool Kit: Mexico and Central America and is editor of the narrative web publication Perceptive Travel.

On episode 106 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke once again with Robert Dugoni, NY Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series. We discussed: the beauty of Warriors basketball; his new book, IN THE CLEARING; the most common writing issues he comes across in his workshops; whether writing the second book is harder than writing the first; how he’s improved as a writer over the last 10 years; how he balances writing with “being a writer”; Amazon Crossing. Plus, on Today in Writing, happy birthday to Tina Fey. About Our Guest: Robert Dugoni is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series : My Sister’s Grave, Her Final Breath (September 2015) and In the Woods (May 2016). He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, David Sloane series: The Jury Master, Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One and The Conviction. Connect with him on Facebook @AuthorRobertDugoni and on Twitter @robertdugoni.  

On episode 105 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke about the closing of hybrid publisher Booktrope with Tess Thompson. In addition to being one of Booktrope’s bestselling authors, she was also one of its first authors. So, in a wide-ranging, emotional interview, we discussed: * how she got started with Booktrope * the early success of her debut novel, RIVERSONG; * changes within the industry, and within Booktrope, that made subsequent books less successful; * whether starting a blog and getting on social media actually sells books; * what worked, and what didn’t work, about the Booktrope publishing model; * how the Booktrope shutdown announcement was handled. Plus, I give my initial thoughts on the Booktrope closing. About our guest: Tess Thompson is a mother and bestselling novelist of romantic suspense. She’s also a Zumba dancing queen, though the wearing of the crown is reserved for invitation-only appearances. Recently she’s participated in obstacle course races, the hardest of which was the Spartan Beast in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. It was an awful experience that will soon be included in a novel. There was running. And climbing a mountain. And obstacles, like walls and crawling under barbed wire. She is not the running or obstacle queen. Like her characters in the River Valley Collection, Tess hails from a small town in southern Oregon, and will always feel like a small town girl, despite the fact she’s lived in Seattle for over twenty-five years. She loves music and dancing, books and bubble baths, cooking and wine, movies and snuggling. She cries at sappy commercials and thinks kissing in the rain should be done whenever possible. Although she tries to act like a lady, there may or may not have been a few times in the last several years when she’s gotten slightly carried away watching the Seattle Seahawks play, but that could also just be a nasty rumor. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two daughters and two cats, all of whom keep her too busy, often confused, but always amazed. In June she’ll be moving both kids and cats to a neighboring suburb to marry the love of her life and gain not only two bonus sons, but three bonus cats. That makes four kids and five cats. Pray for her. Tess loves to hear from you. Drop her a line, or visit her Facebook Fan Page, or follow her on Pinterest and twitter.  

In a special takeover episode of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast, friend of the show Amar Vyas interviews author, podcaster and self-publishing expert Joanna Penn. Amar is the host of the wonderful MyKitaab Podcast. They talked: * audiobooks; * translations; * publishing across platforms; * international markets. Plus, Joanna offers advice to authors who are looking to get their book published.  About Amar’s Guest: Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Professional Speaker, Coach & Entrepreneur. She was voted as one of The Guardian UK Top 100 creative professionals 2013. She is currently based out of London, England but spent 13 years as a business IT consultant in large corporates across the globe majorly in Australia and New Zealand for 11 years before becoming a full-time author-entrepreneur in September 2011. Her books include the ARKANE conspiracy thriller series, the London Psychic crime thrillers an d Risen Gods, a dark fantasy thriller. Joanna’s site www.TheCreativePenn.com helps people achieve their dream of becoming an author, and she is the host of The Creative Penn Podcast.

On episode 103 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with National Book Award Finalist Deb Caletti, who writes fiction for adults and young adults. We discussed: * whether she still struggles with self doubt; * why so many writers live near Seattle; * her latest release, Essential Maps for the Lost; * the roots of depression; * how her editing process works; * the true spark of her books. Plus, on Today in Writing, the grandfather of Ancient Alien theory. About our Guest: First of all, a confession. I am a literary addict. I read endlessly, voraciously. In lieu of a book, I will read cereal boxes (Cap’N Crunch breakfast jokes, Special K Heart Smart facts), shampoo bottles, pamphlets in doctors’ offices about kidney stones and allergies (neither of which I have), and even those self exam charts with the little arrows going around in circles. My books are multiplying, becoming furniture themselves – end tables, nightstands. On one wall, I have a bookshelf, minus the shelf. I get restless, even sad, when I leave a fictional world I love and am not yet immersed in another. The highest compliment I’ve gotten about one of my books was from a reader who said she read slower as she approached its end, rationed out the remaining pages because she couldn’t bear for it to be finished. Oh, joy. I knew just what she meant. I was happily hooked at a young age. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and was one of those quiet kids carting home a stack of books. Was? Still am. My mother says there were several years where they never saw me; they just shoved reading material and food under my door (not true, but pretty close). My parents said I’d mess up my eyes reading at night in the back of the car. They were probably right. Writing, too, was part of my life since I was six or seven. I would get an idea, then bolt off to write it down. A hippie teacher of mine gave encouragement. “Groovy,” he’d scrawl, and I had a sense I was on to something. After we moved to the Seattle area when I was twelve, I continued writing – short stories, bad poetry, and later, lyrics. Being a writer was the only thing I ever wanted to be, but I didn’t have the courage to study creative writing in college. I pictured rooms full of people wearing berets and dressed in all black, talking about Turgenev, which sounded a lot like the noise that escaped my throat whenever I was in one of those courses where they asked you to read your work aloud. I worried I wouldn’t have the talent, since I didn’t own a beret and never wanted one. So I studied journalism. I worked on the radio station, reading the news. What I learned more than anything was that I wasn’t a journalist. I earned my B.A. degree from the University of Washington, got married, won the Nobel prize (just seeing if you were still awake) and did PR work. I got serious about fiction writing after my children were born. I didn’t want to be one of those people who talked about their dream but never did anything about it. That seemed sad. I worried I would end up sitting alone at the counter at Denny’s eating pie and smoking cigarettes, and I’ve never even smoked. So I made a decision. I would write and keep writing, at least until I was published. No giving up, no going back. I would have the determination and persistence of a dog with a knotted sock. I read everything on the craft, studied, took notes, wrote and wrote, until finally, finally my fifth book, QUEEN Of EVERYTHING, was published. I would say I’m self-taught, but it isn’t true – all my years as a reader, all of those authors I read, taught me. From Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to Tess of the D’Urbervilles. From Encyclopedia Brown to The World According to Garp.

On episode 102 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke with Mark Messick, a 16-year-old self-publishing prodigy. We discussed: when and why he decided to become an author; the amazing cover of his book Stupid on Purpose; * his new venture: Book Sales Doctor; * some of the biggest mistakes he sees self-published authors make; * his best tips for writing your book synopsis/marketing copy.  Plus, on Today in Writing, a $2.2 million Bible. About our guest: When I was 10 years-old I decided that I was going to become a bestselling author. Whatever it took, I didn’t care. I would do anything. But I would become a bestselling author. Over the next 6 years I fought tooth-and-nail to fulfill that dream. I worked my butt off every single day. I never gave up on my dream, regardless of how insane it seemed. I was stubborn. I would work for 6, 8, even 10 hours a day. Writing, marketing, researching…day after day after day. And now, finally, all of my hard work has paid off. I’m 16 years-old. And I’m a bestselling author. I’ve written dozens of books, sold tens of thousands of copies, and make $4,000 a month from my royalties. Yes, I’m still a teenager. I still stay up late doing homework. I still flirt with girls on the bus. I still hate drivers’ ed as much as the next person. But I make a full-time income doing what I love. I’m living the life of my dreams. How many adults can say that? I don’t know everything. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers. But I’ve learned some things on my crazy journey over the last 6 years. And I want to share those things with you. I hope you’ll listen to what I have to say. Because it might just surprise you.  

I'm please to announce that the audio version of THE ANONYMOUS SOURCE, performed by Jeff Hays, is now available. I decided to have a bit of fun, so I put together a little audio teaser.

We discussed: why she didn’t tell anyone when her first book came out; the diversity of the romance genre; her latest book, Hearts in Florence; whether it's better to publish one long book or three short, interconnected books; marketing a book as romantic suspense vs. suspense with some romantic elements; DIY book trailers; having your kids read your books.