In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda is joined by Annie Dike, author of Clovis, her debut literary fiction novel. 

Annie’s writing life is anything but ordinary: she’s an attorney by profession, a long-time sailor, the author of several bestselling sailing books, and a travel writer whose work has grown out of years spent cruising the East Coast of the United States and the eastern Caribbean with her partner, Phillip, on their 46-foot sailboat.

But Clovis comes from somewhere much deeper.

Annie grew up in Clovis, New Mexico, and the novel is rooted in the memories, atmosphere, grit, and emotional truth of her childhood. In this conversation, she shares how her life as a sailor unexpectedly connects back to her upbringing as a cowgirl—both worlds requiring resourcefulness, problem-solving, toughness, and the willingness to fix whatever breaks.

Rhonda and Annie talk about what it means to write autobiographical fiction: how much truth to include, how much to fictionalize, and what it feels like to write honestly about real people you love. 

Annie opens up about the vulnerability of portraying her father and brother in the book, and how writing truthfully allowed her to connect more deeply with the story.

They also dig into the craft and business of writing. Annie shares how Clovis began as a huge 255,000-word manuscript, and how working with editors helped her see what needed to stay, what needed to go, and how revision ultimately made her a stronger writer. 

She also speaks candidly about querying agents, self-publishing, marketing, and the emotional resilience required to keep going when the book world feels discouraging.

Annie also gives us a glimpse into what’s next: Austin, the sequel to Clovis, and a third book, Roswell, which will go back in time to explore Callie’s mother’s story. Through it all, Annie’s fascination with mother-daughter relationships, memory, place, and identity shines through.

This is a beautiful conversation for any writer who has wondered whether their own life, family stories, or complicated past might become fiction—and how to write from truth without being trapped by it.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Aga Maksimowska, author of Becalming and Giant, for a thoughtful conversation about voice, literary fiction, and what it means to return to a character after more than a decade. 

Aga’s latest novel, Becalming, is anything but calm. It’s propulsive, emotionally layered, and deeply attentive to the messy, often contradictory experience of early adulthood—something Aga knew from the beginning she wanted to capture on the page.

We begin by talking about Gosia, the protagonist of Becalming, who readers may recognize from Aga’s earlier novel Giant. Though Aga never intended to write a sequel, Gosia returned—older, more complicated, and shaped by the difficult work of becoming an adult while still carrying the imprint of childhood. 

Aga shares what it was like to revisit a character she already knew and discover how much more there was to uncover once Gosia was placed in new relationships, new responsibilities, and the complicated emotional terrain of adulthood.

Aga also talks about her deep love of first-person narrative and voice-driven fiction. We explore why she’s drawn to intimate, character-rich storytelling and how her background in journalism shaped her curiosity about people and the stories they carry. 

She reflects on the craft choices behind Becalming—particularly her desire to write about frustration, disappointment, and emotional upheaval without creating an angry narrator. Instead, she leans into humor, tenderness, and the kind of emotional complexity that feels deeply human without tipping into sentimentality.

One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation centers on language, migration, and identity. Aga shares how writing across cultures allows her to explore the ways personality shifts through language, and how Gosia is, in many ways, a different person in Polish than she is in English. 

✨ It’s a rich conversation about inheritance, history, and how identity is shaped not only by where we come from, but by the language we move through.

We also talk about titles, process, and Aga’s affection for difficult books—the kind that ask readers to do a little work, to make leaps, and to trust what’s unfolding on the page. She shares why Becalming became the right title, how she wrote much of the book at 5 a.m. and in Toronto libraries, and why she believes some books are meant to stay in the drawer. It’s a generous, thoughtful conversation about writing with depth, trusting your instincts, and allowing the work to become what it wants to be.

There’s something fascinating about stories that sit just outside the spotlight—moments in history that don’t always get the same attention, but quietly shape the world we’re living in now. That’s exactly where this conversation with Melanie Anagnos begins.

Melanie’s novel Night Swimming is set in the 1970s—a decade often overshadowed by the cultural upheaval of the 1960s, but one that was just as complex, just as charged, and in many ways, still echoing today. 

As she shares in this episode, it was a time of enormous social change: the women’s movement gaining momentum, early conversations around gay rights, and shifting economic realities. It’s also a moment that feels surprisingly familiar when you look at today’s cultural conversations.

What’s especially interesting is how Melanie came to write this book. Like so many writers, she had a first novel that never made it out into the world. 

But instead of being a dead end, that project became the seed for something new. 

A minor character from that earlier manuscript—Jamie—grew into the central figure of Night Swimming, a young police officer navigating both a homicide investigation and a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

And here’s where it gets even more compelling: Melanie didn’t set out to write a police procedural. In fact, she initially felt completely unqualified to do so. But inspired by a David Bowie quote about pushing beyond your comfort zone, she leaned into the unfamiliar—and discovered not only a new genre, but a new creative energy in her work.

We talk about the deep research that went into bringing this story to life—from listening to police interviews and podcasts like Small Town Dicks, to digging through archives on Newspapers.com to capture the everyday details of the 1970s. Because when you’re writing in a pre-digital world, every small detail matters.

But at the heart of it, this isn’t just a story about crime—it’s a story about character. Melanie is deeply drawn to character-driven fiction, and that’s clear in how she approaches Jamie. 

He’s not perfect. He’s not heroic in the traditional sense. But he’s decent. He’s trying. And that, as Melanie points out, is often what makes a character feel real—and worth following into a series.

We also explore one of the most nuanced challenges of writing historical fiction: how to portray women accurately within the constraints of the time, while still creating characters that resonate with modern readers. It’s a delicate balance, and one Melanie approached with thoughtfulness and care.

This conversation is such a beautiful reminder that writing often asks us to step into uncertainty—to try something we’re not sure we can do, to follow an idea even when it feels unfamiliar. And sometimes, that’s exactly where the most interesting work begins.

If you’ve ever found yourself polishing the first chapter of your novel over and over again while the rest of the story stubbornly refuses to move forward, this episode is going to feel very familiar—and very reassuring.

In this conversation, I’m joined by editor, author, and book coach Rebecca Pickens, and we talk about something that doesn’t always get as much attention as plot or structure, but might actually matter more than anything else: emotional impact.

Rebecca works with a lot of writers on their debut novels, and she sees a very common pattern. Writers learn all the craft tools—story structure, narrative arc, opening hooks, character arcs—and they apply them carefully and thoughtfully. But somewhere along the way, they start to lose touch with the very thing that made them want to write the story in the first place: the emotional heart of the story and the characters they fell in love with.

As Rebecca points out, writers often love craft, but readers love characters. Readers remember characters who feel real, complicated, and emotionally alive, even more than they remember perfectly structured plots or beautiful sentences.

We talk about how emotional impact often comes from two key tools: interiority and subtext. Interiority is what the character is thinking and feeling inside—the things they don’t say out loud. When readers are given access to those private thoughts and feelings, they feel closer to the character and more invested in what happens to them.

Subtext, on the other hand, is what’s happening beneath the surface of a scene. Instead of telling the reader exactly what a character is feeling, we show it through their behavior, their reactions, and what they don’t say. Readers get to connect the dots themselves, and that makes the story more engaging and more emotionally powerful.

Rebecca also talks about how emotions become more compelling when they are connected to a character’s identity—who they believe they are, what they fear, what they want their life to mean. When conflict threatens a character’s identity, the emotional stakes become much higher and the story becomes much more compelling.

We also talk about when writers should think about emotional impact—during outlining, drafting, revising, or editing—and why, for many writers, it’s actually easier to put all the emotional material into the first draft and then shape it later, rather than trying to add emotional depth after the story is written.

Finally, we talk about endings—why writers often get stuck when they reach the end of their manuscript, and why a satisfying ending usually depends less on the final chapter and more on whether the character has truly earned that ending through a believable character arc.

Rebecca has also created a free workbook to help writers craft stronger endings, with prompts and checklists you can use to evaluate whether your story is landing the way you want it to. You can download that free workbook here and use it as you revise your ending.

This is a thoughtful, practical, and encouraging conversation about how to make readers not just read your story—but feel it.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m talking with novelist Whitney Cubbison, who lives in Paris and writes romantic comedies inspired by her experiences as an American expat navigating dating, divorce, friendship, and life abroad. 

But what makes Whitney’s story so interesting isn’t just the Paris setting or the dating disasters—it’s how she became a novelist in the first place.

Whitney didn’t grow up planning to write novels. She spent many years working in communications and PR for Microsoft, writing speeches and corporate communications. Writing was always part of her life—she journaled for years—but fiction wasn’t something she had seriously considered. 

That all changed after her divorce, when she found herself going on a series of truly terrible dates in Paris. Every time she told the stories to friends, they kept saying the same thing: “You have to write a book.”

Eventually, she did.

She started writing down her experiences on a plane after a work trip, without really knowing how novels worked or how to structure a story. Like many first-time writers, she wrote first and figured out structure later. 

She describes that early draft as basically pouring her life onto the page and then trying to figure out how to turn that into an actual novel. What followed was a long learning process—hiring editors, restructuring the story, rewriting large sections, pitching agents, getting rejected, hiring another editor, and rewriting again. 

Through that process, she learned how novels are built and what it really takes to turn a story into a book.

Her first novel, Will There Be Wine?, grew out of that experience and became a romantic comedy about an American expat in Paris trying to rebuild her life after divorce. 

But her second novel, Will There Be Love?, was a completely different challenge. This time she wrote a fully fictional story told from four different points of view and set mostly over the course of a single dramatic weekend in Ibiza. She intentionally wanted to challenge herself as a writer by working with multiple narrators, writing from male perspectives, and compressing the timeline of the story.

One of my favorite moments in this conversation was when Whitney said that after her first book, she still wasn’t sure she was really a writer. But after writing the second book—from a blank page, building characters and story from scratch—that was when she finally thought, “Okay, I think I’m a writer now.”

We also talked about self-publishing and marketing, because of course when you self-publish, you’re not just the writer—you’re also the marketing department. Whitn

If you love stories that explore art, history, identity, and the lives of women artists across time, this episode will absolutely fascinate you.

In this conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by writer, translator, and literary critic Merav Fima, author of the short story collection Late Blossoms and the forthcoming novel The Rose of Thirteen Petals and the Pomegranate Tree. 

Merav’s work explores the lives, struggles, and artistic legacies of Jewish women artists across history, and this conversation is a wonderful deep dive into how a book can grow slowly over many years and eventually become something much larger than originally imagined.

Merav shares that Late Blossoms actually began as part of her master’s thesis in creative writing, but the earliest story in the collection was written even earlier, inspired by a painting she encountered while studying art history. That moment sparked a story about Else Lasker-Schüler, a Jewish expressionist poet and artist persecuted by the Nazis, and that story eventually became the seed for an entire collection focused on Jewish women artists and their lives, struggles, and creative work.

One of the most fascinating parts of this conversation is how the collection came together over more than twenty years. Rather than writing all the stories at once, Merav wrote them slowly—sometimes only one story per year—until she eventually realized she had a full collection. 

We also talk about the challenge of structuring a short story collection and how important it is to think about the book as a whole, not just individual pieces. Merav shares how organizing the stories chronologically and thematically helped create a narrative arc across the collection.

We also talk about her upcoming novel, The Rose of Thirteen Petals and the Pomegranate Tree, which follows a contemporary Sephardic family tracing their lineage back through history to medieval Spain. The novel moves backward through time across different countries and generations, exploring migration, memory, identity, and cultural legacy. Merav explains how this novel grew out of her doctoral research and required extensive historical and literary research to bring the settings and time periods to life.

Another wonderful part of this conversation is our discussion about writing across different genres. Merav has written short stories, novels, memoir, scholarly writing, and even picture books, and she shares how each form requires a different mindset and writing process. She talks about how short stories focus on a single turning point, while novels require expansion and deeper emotional exploration, and memoir required a completely different drafting process.

We also talk about perfectionism, mindset, and learning to see a book as a whole project rather than just individual chapters or stories — something so many writers struggle with.

This is a thoughtful, inspiring conversation about writing across genres, writing about art and history, and how books sometimes take many years to become what they are meant to be.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a personal essay might actually be the seed of something much bigger—or if you’ve felt the tug to write a memoir but weren’t sure where to begin—this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Carolyn Flynn: eight-time published author, TEDxWomen speaker, winner of the 2014 Rick Bass Montana Prize for Fiction, and founder of The Story Catalyst at Soulfire Studios. 

Carolyn is also the author of Boundless, a moving and darkly funny memoir that grew from an essay published in Fourth Genre into a full-length book after nearly a decade of reflection.

Carolyn shares how that transformation happened—and why memoir often begins not with “my whole life story,” but with one meaningful slice of life that won’t let you go. 

For her, that slice was a season of enormous change in 2017, when her twins were leaving for college at the same time she was stepping away from a long career in journalism. In other words: two huge parts of her identity were shifting all at once.

What followed became the emotional heart of Boundless, which Carolyn describes as a tragicomic empty-nest memoir guided by one central question: When you have become no one, how do you become someone again?

We talk about what makes memoir different from autobiography, and Carolyn offers such a smart, grounded way of thinking about it. Memoir, she says, is about selecting the events that carry the most meaning—and then reflecting on them. 

She explains the importance of the two voices always present in memoir: the remembering self who narrates, and the experiencing self who is living through the events without yet understanding them. That distinction alone is worth the listen.

Carolyn also shares several of the “superpowers” she believes memoir writers need. We discuss why theme can be more useful when framed as a main dramatic question, how time-boxing your memoir can keep it from sprawling, and why writing in scene is essential if you want readers to feel the story instead of simply being told what happened.

And yes—we also talk about one of her most memorable pieces of advice: get a therapist. Carolyn speaks candidly about the vulnerability memoir requires, and why emotional support can be just as important as craft support. 

She also makes a compelling case for working with a book coach—someone who can help you shape the scope, validate your voice, and keep the revision process from becoming overwhelming.

This is such a rich conversation about identity, reinvention, structure, and the courage it takes to turn lived experience into art. If memoir has been calling to you—or if you’re navigating a season of change and trying to write your way through it—I think you’ll find a lot of wisdom here.

If you love historical fiction that uncovers the hidden stories of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, this episode is going to pull you right in.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by historical novelist Diane Shotton, author of Motty’s Vow and her latest novel, The Dictograph Case. 

Diane writes the kind of fiction that shines a light on forgotten people and overlooked moments in history—and this story began with one of those astonishing discoveries that simply won’t let a writer go.

Back in 1999, while researching her family history in a local library, Diane stumbled across a newspaper story about seven men accused of treason during World War I for talking among themselves in a shoe shop. 

The case involved a “Dictograph”—an early listening device used to secretly record their conversations—which were then used against them in court. Three of the men, all over the age of 65 and respected in their community, ended up in jail. Diane knew immediately this was a story she had to tell.

What makes The Dictograph Case especially compelling is the way Diane blends fact and fiction. At the core is a real historical event, but around that she builds a richly imagined mystery with noir undertones, a slow-burn romance, and a town full of secrets. 

We talk about the choices she made as a novelist: why she told the story through Michael, the grandson of the shoe shop owner, and how Olivia—whose father was killed during the events surrounding the case—became an essential part of the narrative.

Diane also shares some of the craft challenges behind writing the book, including working with dual point of view for the first time, trusting readers to pick up on clues without over-explaining, and figuring out how to raise the stakes for the antagonist so the mystery had real tension. 

It’s a thoughtful look at how historical fiction is shaped not just by research, but by storytelling decisions on the page.

We also talk about the delicate balance between truth and invention. Diane is a genealogist, so facts matter deeply to her—but in this case, fiction allowed her to explore what history left behind. 

In reality, the town seemed to move on and never speak of the incident again. In the novel, Diane imagines what it might look like if the emotional and social consequences lingered for decades.

Our conversation also touches on the eerie relevance of the novel’s themes today: free speech, patriotism, public pressure, and the ways fear can be used to divide communities. This is one of those historical novels that doesn’t just immerse you in another time—it also throws light on our own.

If you’ve ever wished someone could take all those slippery, hard-to-explain storytelling principles and turn them into something you could actually see, this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by book coach and editor Lori Puma, and we dive into a topic that is both delightfully nerdy and wildly useful: story structure infographics.

Lori came to this work in a fascinating way. With a PhD in epidemiology and a background as a Story Grid editor, she brings both analytical precision and deep story knowledge to the table. 

After working with writers and realizing that many of their biggest questions weren’t fully answered by the craft systems already out there, Lori set out to build visual tools that could help writers better understand what’s happening in a story—and how to manage multiple story elements at once.

And truly, that’s what makes this conversation so valuable.

We start with Lori’s action story diagram, which she explains is designed for any story where a hero must defeat a villain and save a victim. That includes action-adventure, crime thrillers, fantasy quests, and high-stakes “save the world” stories. 

Lori walks us through the eight major panels of this structure, from the moment harm is done, through complications, failed plans, rising stakes, and finally the one-on-one climax. Along the way, she introduces a set of “thermometers” that measure different types of danger—physical, social, environmental, and institutional—and explains how tracking those threats can help writers create stories that feel dynamic and escalating.

What I especially loved is how practical Lori makes all of this. She talks about time pressure, resources, allies, and even compares the flow of an action novel to a video game, which honestly makes so much sense. Using examples from The Hunger Games, Killing Floor, and The Martian, she shows how structure isn’t about formula for formula’s sake—it’s about helping the reader feel tension, momentum, and emotional investment.

From there, we shift into the investigation rhythm, which I found especially juicy as someone working on a historical mystery. Lori introduces the idea of “lenses”—different ways an investigator might interpret clues, suspects, motives, or locations. She explains how mystery plots move through discovery, narrowing, stalls, plot-twisting clues, resets, and eventual solution. 

One of the most helpful takeaways here is her insight that a real plot twist should actually change the diagram. If the way the clues fit together doesn’t fundamentally shift, it’s probably not a true twist.

We also touch on romance structure, including attraction, adhesion, connection, and the emotional vulnerability required for a satisfying happily-ever-after. Lori’s concept of “adhesion”—the force that keeps love interests in each other’s orbit even when things get hard—is especially smart and useful.

This is such a rich episode for writers who love craft, structure, and understanding why stories work. If you enjoy seeing the bones beneath the book, you’re going to love this one.

***TAKE LORI'S BREAKOUT NOVEL QUIZ HERE!

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring a whole historical world to life on the page—without losing your reader in the weeds—this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by author Sharon Curcio, and we’re talking about her indie-published historical novel, Asayi: An Autistic Teen’s Journey to Topola Shogun in Medieval Japan. 

Sharon shares how this book (volume one of a trilogy) has already earned four medallions of excellence and a historical fiction finalist award from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards—and why readers have been responding so strongly to it.

Sharon takes us back to the unexpected origin of this story: her early years in the advertising world in New York, and a deep fascination with sumi-e art—the traditional Japanese black-ink painting practice that demands intense precision and presence. 

That discipline, Sharon explains, was part of what catalyzed her long-term “journey into Japan,” eventually including a visit in 2024.

From there, we dig into one of the most compelling creative choices in Sharon’s novel: writing an autistic teenage heroine. Sharon describes a moment of realization—she could paint Japanese symbols beautifully, but she wasn’t literate in Japanese and didn’t know what the characters meant. 

As she approached retirement, she began to ask: what kind of child might live inside that gap between skill and spoken understanding? Her answer became Asaii—an autistic teen whose strengths, perception, and determination shape the entire story.

We also talk about history. Sharon explains what a shogun actually is (and why it’s more than “a warlord with a gang”), touching on the bakufu, legal structures, and the fierce importance of land in Japan, where only a small percentage is arable. 

Then she shares the real historical anchor point that sparked her plot research: the assassination of Yoshinori Ashikaga in 1441, an event Sharon uses as a fixed historical milestone while weaving fictional characters into the true historical timeline.

One of the craft highlights of our conversation is Sharon’s approach to a mute protagonist. In the novel, Asaii understands language but cannot speak it—and Sharon describes the challenges (and opportunities) of building a character who communicates through expression, action, and rapid sketching. It’s a fascinating look at how story can move powerfully without relying on dialogue.

We also chat indie publishing realities: the cover design process (including the surprising agony of getting sizing right for upload), Sharon’s decision to publish independently to avoid years-long waits, and the marketing maze—what worked, what didn’t (including Amazon Ads), and how podcasts and legitimate book clubs helped her reach real readers.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a brand-new novelist takes a big, brave swing—tackling history, identity, community, and book bans all in one story—this episode is for you.

Today on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Julie Snider, a retired public school teacher near Sacramento who now writes both fiction and nonfiction with a big-hearted focus on social justice and connection. 

Julie’s debut novel, Chapel Bay Secrets (released January 2026), is set in a small town where the secrets don’t belong to just one person—they ripple through an entire community.

Julie shares how the seed of this novel was planted years ago, when she visited the site of the Tule Lake Internment Camp in Northern California. She describes walking through cold, dirty barracks and feeling shocked that Japanese American incarceration during World War II wasn’t something she’d been taught growing up. 

That moment stayed with her—“like an arrow through my heart,” as she puts it—and eventually became part of the emotional backbone of her story. As Julie researched further, she also learned more about intergenerational trauma, and how the impact of incarceration can be carried through families for decades.

From there, Julie built a “layer cake” of characters and issues—centered on her protagonist Brenda Cato, a Japanese American lesbian librarian whose mother was incarcerated. Brenda is grappling with grief on the anniversary of her mother’s death, and she’s also searching for a father she never knew—because her mother died without telling her who he was. And then there’s the catalyst that brings everything into sharp focus: Brenda is suddenly facing a book ban at her library.

Julie talks about how the intensity of book bans in the early 2020s fueled her anger as a former educator—and how she did her homework by connecting with librarians and staying informed through the research shared by others in her network. 

Even with heavy material, Julie intentionally brought in humor, warmth, and everyday life—quirky characters, a best friend with a sharp sense of humor, and yes, a romance that blossoms when Brenda meets someone on a run. 

Julie also shares her process behind the scenes: color-coded timelines, lots of revision, and the moment her developmental editor told her, “I can’t believe you made it to the end.”

We talk self-publishing, cover design choices (no faces—so readers can imagine!), and Julie’s belief that books are written and shared in community. If you love thoughtful, genre-blending stories with heart, history, and hope, you’ll love this conversation.

Learn more about Julie and her work at https://juliesniderauthor.com/ and subscribe to her Substack, Impermanent Joy.

If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if the “perfect” PTA mom had a secret life… this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by women’s suspense author Kendra Pecci, and we’re talking about her debut novel, Focus on Deception—a deliciously fun, high-stakes story set in a world of soccer games, fundraisers, and wine moms… with a twist.

Kendra introduces us to Stella Meyers, a photographer who blends right into her ritzy Connecticut suburb by day—capturing weddings, parties, and PTA events—while secretly robbing people blind at night. 

Stella lives for the thrill, but when an exhilarating new connection starts to make a steady paycheck (and a more “normal” life) look appealing, everything changes. A ruthless blackmailer uncovers Stella’s identity and threatens her daughter, and suddenly all bets are off.

Kendra describes the vibe perfectly: Ocean’s 8 meets Big Little Lies with Gilmore Girls energy—and honestly? Yes. Please.

We also dig into the long road it took Kendra to bring this book to life. The seed of the story came years ago, when Kendra was living in Anchorage, Alaska and spotted the president of the PTA—seemingly flawless, “the whole package.” Kendra wondered, What if this is all a ruse? And just like that, Stella was born.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: Kendra originally wrote Stella’s story as women’s fiction. She queried it back in 2011 and kept hearing the same feedback: “You’ve got a thriller on your hands—you need to raise the stakes.” Kendra resisted that for a long time (a decade, in fact), because she wanted to tell a story about a mom taking risks without having to “wreck” the character. 

Eventually, she made the difficult (and powerful) craft decision to shift the book into women’s suspense—while still honoring the relationships, inner life, and emotional texture that make Stella feel so real.

Kendra also shares what it was like to self-publish Focus on Deception in 2025—describing it as riding a roller coaster while building the roller coaster (and learning how to build it at the same time). 

We talk about the importance of deadlines, editing support, and figuring out what kind of writer you are—pantser, plotter, or (as she learned from Lewis Jorstad) a “puzzler” who uses intuitive outlining to create direction without crushing creativity.

And underneath all of it is a message writers need: finishing a book is often 90% mental. There really is a path for everybody—you just have to find the one that fits your brain, your life, and your season.

If you’ve ever had a moment where something about your life suddenly made sense—and at the same time opened up a whole new set of questions—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by writer and memoirist Julie Green, author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance. Julie shares the long, layered journey that led her to this book, beginning with her son’s autism diagnosis and eventually leading to her own, years later, in midlife.

Julie talks about what it’s like to be diagnosed later in life—and how that diagnosis sends you back through your memories: childhood, adolescence, early adulthood. It can be clarifying, emotional, and surprisingly tender, as long-held beliefs about who you are (and why certain things felt so hard) begin to shift.

We also talk craft, because Motherness didn’t come together by accident. Julie shares how she found what she calls the “container” for the story: a structure that allowed her to weave together parenting scenes, personal history, and research on autism without losing the heart of the memoir. 

Each chapter explores a different aspect of the autistic experience—sensory differences, giftedness, eating and food, gender, special interests—layering her son’s experiences alongside her own, and showing both overlap and difference across generations.

A central theme of this conversation is radical acceptance. Julie reflects on how autism is often portrayed in extremes—either as tragedy or superpower—and why neither of those stories feels true to lived experience. Autism, she says, simply is. Some days are genuinely hard, especially in a world that isn’t built for neurodivergent people. 

And there can also be humor, joy, and deep connection. Julie was intentional about holding the full truth of that on the page.

We also dig into how she integrates research in a way that supports the reader without overwhelming the story—moving from scene to context and back again—so the book stays grounded in lived experience. 

Julie shares what her publishing journey looked like with ECW Press, including the courage it took to revise and resubmit after an initial “almost,” and what she’s working on now.

This is a thoughtful conversation about writing from lived experience, trusting stories that take time, and learning—again and again—to meet ourselves with more compassion.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda is joined by Robert Boyle and Joe Cimenti, longtime friends who co-authored Thai Hut Tuesdays—a collection of short, heartfelt stories that’s meant to be both comforting and genuinely funny. 

They describe the book as “Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Nate Bargatze”: emotional, relatable, and light enough to make you laugh at the things that once felt overwhelming.

The idea for the book began years ago—around 2006—after Bob and Joe spent decades doing leadership and sales training together. Over and over, they heard the same feedback: people might not remember the bullet points… but they always remembered the stories. That insight became the seed for the book. 

What started as a leadership-focused project (and even took on a spiritual angle at one point) eventually evolved into what it needed to be all along: real stories from real life—parenting, marriage, work, mistakes, growth, and the everyday moments that shape us.

The title comes from a weekly ritual: meeting at a restaurant on Tuesdays, with a mix of people across ages, swapping life experiences and wisdom in community. That spirit of connection runs through the whole conversation. Bob (a psychologist in private practice) and Joe (a corporate executive) share how life’s responsibilities didn’t make writing easy—especially with four children each—but they kept returning to the project year after year, recommitting whenever life allowed.

Rhonda also asks about the practical side of co-writing: how did they actually do it? Bob and Joe share that they split the stories (each wrote half), and they also made space for intentional writing retreats—sometimes literally setting up shop in the common area of a Courtyard Marriott, laptops out, writing, talking through drafts, and cheering each other on. 

Their collaboration worked because their styles are different—but compatible—and because they built the book around a consistent element: the lesson learned at the end of each story.

A big turning point was getting support from book coach Meg Calvin, who helped the project finally materialize. Bob and Joe talk candidly about how powerful it was to have someone in their corner who could guide them, simplify the publishing process, and help them believe, “Yes—you can do this.”

By the end of the episode, what lingers is the heart of Thai Hut Tuesdays: these are bite-sized, 3–5 minute stories you can pick up when you’re spinning, stressed, or doubting yourself—and come away remembering that so much of what we go through is shared human territory.

What happens to creative writing—and to us as writers—when artificial intelligence becomes part of the conversation?

In this solo episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I share why I'm introducing video to the podcast in 2026, and then dive into a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about AI and creative writing. 

This is not a how-to episode on using AI to write your book. Instead, it’s an invitation to slow down, think critically, and decide—intentionally—how (or if) AI belongs in your creative process.

I begin by acknowledging that many writers are curious about AI, and that some are already using it to help finish their books. I also share a resource, from my friend Ana Del Valle of The Novelists Studio, for those who feel strongly that AI is right for them, pointing to tools designed with ethical and copyright considerations in mind. 

But I want to be very clear: when it comes to my own creative work, I choose not to use AI—and I explain why in this episode.

At the heart of my perspective is this belief: in an age of rapidly advancing technology, human creativity matters more than ever. We come to books to feel less alone, to understand what it means to be human, and to experience the world through another person’s voice. 

👉 No large language model can replicate lived experience, imagination, or the emotional truth that comes from a real human mind wrestling with language.

I also share research suggesting that reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT may erode critical thinking skills over time. Writing is a “use it or lose it” practice. Brainstorming, problem-solving, and shaping language are muscles—and if we stop using them, they weaken. That’s why I still reach for my favorite brainstorming technology: a notebook and a pen.

Beyond creativity and cognition, I also want to raise ethical and environmental concerns. From hallucinated information and unreliable outputs to troubling experiments showing unethical behavior by AI systems under pressure, I just want writers to think carefully about what we’re participating in. 

I'm also very much concerned about the environmental toll of large-scale AI infrastructure—energy use, water consumption, and resource extraction—especially in a world already facing climate crisis.

Finally, I circle back to what matters most: your voice. Your way of seeing the world. Your metaphors, rhythms, and instincts. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, your work is needed—not despite the rise of AI, but because of it.

If you’ve ever wondered, “If AI can write books, what’s the point of me writing mine?” this episode is your answer. The point is you. And the world needs your very human stories now more than ever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether that wild, complicated story in your family could become a novel, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by award-winning author Barbara Sibbald, whose latest book, Almost English, began as a family legend, became a genealogy project, then tried to be creative nonfiction—before finally settling into the form it needed all along: a historical novel.

Barbara’s great-grandparents lived in Quetta, on the Northwest Frontier of British India (now Pakistan) between 1885 and 1912. Growing up, she’d heard half-true tales about an Indian princess and a pet elephant, but it wasn’t until her mother spent nearly two decades compiling a detailed family genealogy—and shared boxes of letters and photographs—that the real story came into focus.

In this conversation, Barbara walks us through how she turned that wealth of material into fiction, while still honouring the lives at the heart of it. We talk about:

• How her mother’s meticulous genealogy and bundles of family letters sparked the idea for Almost English
• Why the story first appeared to be creative nonfiction—and what made Barbara realize it actually had to be a novel
• The moment she understood she needed access to her characters’ inner lives, thoughts, and conversations, and why that pushed her toward fiction
• The central question that finally unlocked the book:
   How could her great-grandfather, Stephen Turner, a quarter Indian man, ever be accepted into the racist power structure of the Raj?
• How Barbara used that central question as a compass for cutting thousands of words and tightening the narrative
• The research she did into the Raj, the Durand Line, household life, women’s work, and even period undergarments (!), to bring the world to life
• Her use of real letters versus invented ones, and how both helped her build an emotionally resonant narrative

We also talk about the book’s unusual structure. In addition to the main historical storyline, Barbara includes short nonfiction pieces she calls “interstices”, where she reflects on her own search for belonging as the child of an itinerant military family—and how that parallels her great-grandparents’ experience.

That blending of historical fiction, biography, and autobiography made the book hard to categorize—and hard to sell. Barbara shares candidly about the seven drafts, nearly three years of querying, and 48 approaches to publishers before the book was finally acquired by Bayeux Arts in Canada, and then by Vishwakarma Publications in India.

If you’ve ever struggled to decide whether your story should be memoir, creative nonfiction, or a novel, you’ll find so much reassurance and practical insight in Barbara’s journey with Almost English.

Welcome to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

My podcast editor is in sick leave this week, so thanks for your understanding with this unedited episode. 🥰

The stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year's can feel like a creative black hole for writers. Between holiday preparations, family gatherings, and end-of-year obligations, that precious writing time often disappears completely. In this episode, I offer a powerful mindset shift to help you protect your writing practice during the busiest season of the year.

The reality many writers face is stark: you enter the holidays hoping to finish a chapter, complete a draft, or prepare your manuscript for querying in the new year. Instead, six weeks vanish, and by early January you wake up exhausted, guilty about not writing, and disconnected from your project. When you've been away from your manuscript that long, the characters feel distant, the plot grows hazy, and climbing back into a consistent writing rhythm becomes another mountain to scale.

The goal isn't to write a novel in December—it's to stay connected to your creative identity and maintain momentum. 

Whether you choose to take a guilt-free break or carve out intentional writing time, the choice should be yours, made consciously rather than surrendered by default to holiday overwhelm.

If you’ve ever felt like your novel is taking far too long—or wondered whether you can keep writing through big life challenges—this conversation with novelist Melanie Schnell will speak straight to your writer heart.

Melanie is the author of While the Sun is Above Us, which won both the Saskatchewan First Book Award and the City of Regina Award and has been part of the ELA A30 curriculum in Saskatchewan schools. 

Her new novel, The Chorus Beneath Our Feet, began with a single, vivid image: two women standing on a tree branch in the middle of a violent storm. That image stayed with her for 15 years, slowly growing into a story about siblings, war, grief, and everything that lies hidden beneath our feet—and beneath our lives.

In this episode, Melanie shares how that first image evolved into the fictional city of Ravenswood, a Regina-inspired setting anchored by a central tree. She talks about how research into unmarked graves at the Regina Indian Industrial School, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, mass graves in Ireland, and the history of the British Home Children all fed into the novel’s themes of buried histories, family bonds, and unseen networks—like fungi and tree roots—running under the surface.

We also dig into her unforgettable characters. Jes, a grief-stricken soldier returning from Afghanistan with his best friend’s body, and Mary, his ethereal, elusive sister, form the emotional core of the book. 

Melanie describes the challenge of getting Jes’s voice right, balancing his trauma and anger with real vulnerability, and how early reader feedback helped her deepen both siblings until they felt fully alive on the page.

Melanie is candid about what it took to finish this novel over 15 years while raising her son as a single mother, navigating a demanding academic career, and living with chronic illness. 

She talks about losing the ability to read and write for stretches of time, the frustration of feeling like the book was always moving ahead without her, and the moment an editor helped her finally “see” what the story needed structurally—especially around Mary’s voice and the ending.

If you’re a writer living with chronic illness or other big life constraints, Melanie offers gentle, hard-won encouragement: you are not your illness, and your story is coming from a central, lit-up place inside you that doesn’t disappear, even when you can’t reach it every day.

If you’ve been wondering whether it “still counts” if your book is taking years to finish, I think this conversation with Melanie will remind you that deep work takes the time it takes—and that the story is still there, waiting, even when you have to step away.

If you’ve ever wondered whether self-publishing is “worth it,” or felt overwhelmed by all the moving parts—editing, design, distribution, marketing—this episode is for you. 

I’m joined by Leanne Janzen of FriesenPress, the author-services arm of Friesens Corporation, a century-old Canadian printer trusted by traditional publishers and indie authors alike. 

Leanne has worn multiple hats—from publishing specialist to leading a sales team—and she’s passionate about demystifying today’s publishing landscape so writers can make informed, confident choices.

We start by clearing up an old term—“vanity publishing.” In 2025, it’s out of date. Leanne breaks the indie space into two practical paths: DIY self-publishing and service-provider self-publishing. 

With DIY, you’re the project manager: you learn what you can, hire freelancers (editor, formatter, cover designer), and quarterback the whole timeline. It can be empowering—but also time-intensive and overwhelming, especially for first-timers. With a reputable service provider, you still retain creative control (yes, you can reject a cover or choose your price!), but you also get a dedicated project manager, pre-vetted editors and designers, and quality checks at each stage so you don’t miss critical steps.

We dig into costs and transparency. Expect a range: a basic path without editing at FriesenPress sits around $2,200, while a premium, all-in “masterpiece” path (specialty cover, three rounds of editing, promo coaching, social planning, promos) can reach $15,000. 

Industry-wide, a commonly cited average to produce a quality book is $5–6K—and if you’re spending in that zone with a service provider, Leanne says at least one round of editing should be included. 

👉 The big lesson: clear pricing pages, plain-English agreements, and upfront explanations of scope matter. If a company won’t share a contract before you pay—red flag.

Leanne also flags common author pitfalls: designing files before checking trim sizes and distributor specs; assuming one print file fits all platforms; and underestimating the time cost when you try to save cash. Her advice: if you’ll eventually want help with distribution, talk to potential partners early and get their external design specs before you commission files.

We also touch on resources and funding. FriesenPress offers free guides (author’s publishing guide, crowdfunding, writing templates). Crowdfunding (think Kickstarter) can bridge the budget gap, and in Canada, arts councils and provincial/federal grants may help—worth exploring. 

Finally, we clarify service provider vs. hybrid presses: they differ in distribution channels, royalty formulas, and sometimes rights. Read agreements carefully, especially around content ownership. And if your dream requires strong creative control (like a specific cover), indie publishing is often the better fit than traditional.

If you're looking for more information on self-publishing, grab one of these free guides from FriesenPress:

Author's Guide

Writing Guide

Crowdfunding Guide

If you’ve ever wondered how a writer turns the messiness of lived experience into a story readers can’t put down, this conversation with Shani Mootoo will light you up. 

Shani—novelist, poet, and visual artist—joins me to talk about her newest book, Starry Starry Night, a work that took root more than 35 years ago and slowly transformed from raw, private pages into a fiercely crafted novel.

Shani shares how, in her early years, she was primarily a visual artist and video maker with zero intention of writing. Still, she found herself “brooding,” jotting things down that troubled her. Those notes eventually turned into about 65 pages—never meant for public eyes—until a mentor quietly slipped them to a publisher. 

What followed was a career of nine books (including one of my all-time favorites Cereus Blooms at Night!), poetry, awards, and the long apprenticeship required to write this book the way it needed to be written.

We talk about the slippery line people call “auto-fiction” and why that label can be too reductive. Shani describes the deliberate choice to keep the narrator’s point of view rooted in childhood—from ages four to twelve—without letting her adult intelligence step in to explain. 

That decision demanded astonishing restraint: a child doesn’t analyze; she perceives, and those perceptions must carry the weight of the story. Shani also reflects on the power (and difficulty) of “becoming every character,” including the abuser in Cereus Blooms at Night, to portray complex human beings rather than one-note villains.

You’ll hear how attention to language—word choice, sentence placement, even a single comma—reshaped Shani’s understanding of the story over time. We touch on family, secrecy, memory, and the tender urge to honor the child we once were. 

There’s a beautiful moment about her father’s final encouragement—“Don’t censor yourself”—and what that permission unlocked. We also talk about epigraphs, photographs (yes, there are real family photos in the book), and how visual art and writing cross-pollinate in her creative life.

If you care about voice, point of view, and truth-telling on the page, this episode is for you.

If you’ve ever wondered how your personal history and lived experiences might shape the stories you write, this conversation with novelist and poet Bruce Hunter will move and inspire you.

Bruce joins Rhonda to talk about the re-release of his award-winning novel In the Bear’s House (Frontenac House, 2024)—a powerful story set in 1950s and ’60s Alberta about a young mother raising her deaf son, told through two unforgettable points of view.

Born in Calgary on Treaty Seven lands, Bruce was deafened as an infant and has lived with low vision most of his life. His path to becoming a writer was anything but ordinary: he worked as a laborer, equipment operator, and Zamboni driver before earning a poetry scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts, where he studied with W.O. Mitchell and Irving Layton.

In this heartfelt discussion, Bruce shares how his lived experience shaped both the mother and son in In the Bear’s House—and why empathy, patience, and craftsmanship matter more to him than speed. 

He also opens up about the deep research that went into the novel, including his discovery of family connections with the Stoney Nakoda people and the true story of a friendship pipe that became a symbol of reconciliation.

Rhonda and Bruce talk about:

• Writing from multiple points of view and why he nearly abandoned the novel halfway through.
• How In the Bear’s House was translated into Italian before the English edition came out.
• The importance of place, memory, and sensory detail when writing about the Kootenay Plains.
• Balancing historical accuracy with emotional truth.
• The resilience it takes to stay creative across decades.

Bruce’s reflections on deafness, isolation, and finding one’s voice—both literally and artistically—make this a moving and unforgettable conversation.

Whether you’re deep in your first draft or revisiting work from years ago, this episode reminds us that storytelling is an act of endurance, curiosity, and care.

Links mentioned:

• In the Bear’s House by Bruce Hunter — Frontenac House (2024 edition)
• Bruce’s website.

If you’ve ever ended a writing day with sore wrists, tight shoulders, and a brain that feels like mush, this conversation is for you. 

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer—author of 19 books and the creator of two signature programs: Fiction Writing: American Indians (for writing authentic stories that honor Native history and culture) and the Dictation Bootcamp for authors. 

You may know Sarah from Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn podcast, Jane Friedman’s blog, or Writer’s Digest. She’s generous, practical, and wildly encouraging about helping writers write more comfortably and consistently.

Sarah didn’t become a “natural” dictator overnight. In fact, she tried and failed multiple times—starting back in 2013 with Dragon Anywhere—before finding a simple routine that stuck. 

The turning point? A kitchen-sink moment when a full backstory scene arrived in her head and she spoke it into her phone while doing the dishes. Twenty minutes later she had ~1,500 words that would have otherwise vanished. That one experiment led her to dictate an entire novel, and since then she’s dictated 14 books (11 already published, with more on the way). Her writing speed doubled, but more importantly, she built a healthier, more sustainable practice.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why dictation isn’t just about speed—it’s about sustainability, creativity, and capturing scenes before they disappear.
  
  
• Practical ways to dictate (curled up on the couch, during a morning routine, on a walk, or at your desk).
  
  
• How to start messy on purpose so your brain learns the new skill without shutting down.
  
  
• The three biggest beginner mistakes—and how to avoid them.

About the Dictation Bootcamp:
 Sarah’s four-day Bootcamp is intentionally beginner-friendly. We start with a casual “pre-party,” then three days of step-by-step training. Day 1 is simply getting your existing device to work (no fancy setup required). Day 2 builds confidence with an easy, low-pressure exercise. Day 3 guides you into dictating your first scene of fiction. 

There’s community support for device quirks (PC, Mac, Android, iPhone) and simple workflows into your writing software (e.g., Scrivener or Atticus). The goal isn’t to finish a novel in a weekend—it’s to lower the bar so you can take your first real steps.

Join Me!
 I’m signing up for Sarah’s Dictation Bootcamp, and I’d love for you to come with me. Even if you decide it’s not your forever tool, you’ll finish knowing exactly how to make dictation work for your writing life. Click the link above and let’s try this together.

Welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

This week, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Aamir Hussain, whose debut novel Under the Full and Crescent Moon is officially out in the world. 

This is no ordinary debut. It’s a speculative historical novel that asks a bold and fascinating question: Could there be a Muslim matriarchy—and what would that world look like?

The story follows Khadija, a young woman growing up in the imagined city of Madid al-Agham, where faith, politics, and the law intertwine. Over the course of 11 transformative months, Khadija becomes a mufti—a scholar and writer of fatwas. She’s pulled into debates, courtroom-style conflicts, and life-changing choices, all while negotiating family ties, mentorship, and an intellectual rival who challenges her beliefs and authority.

Aamir shares with us how this novel took root. Raised in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and later the Greater Toronto Area, he experienced different expressions of Islam firsthand. 

After 9/11, he saw the faith misrepresented online—flattened into stereotypes. That disconnect led him to years of research into Islamic history and law, and eventually into the story that became Under the Full and Crescent Moon.

We talk about:
 ✨ The long road to this debut—from early prologue drafts in 2015 to a finished manuscript in 2022.
 ✨ Writing on Toronto’s TTC and GO Train during his daily commute.
 ✨ Balancing heavy research with a compelling narrative (and how his editor, Julia Kim, helped cut 40,000 words!).
 ✨ The challenge of writing a female protagonist with honesty and respect—and how early readers gave him confidence in Khadija’s voice.
 ✨ What it means to show, not tell, when weaving faith, politics, and history into fiction.

What struck me most in this conversation is Aamir’s hope for readers. For Muslim readers, he hopes Khadija’s world reflects the richness and diversity within their own communities. For non-Muslim readers, he hopes the book challenges stereotypes and sparks curiosity about the depth of Islamic history and interpretation. 

More than anything, he wants readers to see that communities, like individuals, are varied, nuanced, and deeply human.

On publication day, Aamir admits to feeling a little overwhelmed—but grateful. He didn’t originally set out to be a writer, but the story insisted on being written. Now, he’s embracing the identity of “novelist” and looking ahead with humility. Will there be another book? Inshallah—God willing.

If you love novels that mix immersive worldbuilding with thought-provoking questions, you’re going to love this conversation—and you’re going to love Khadija.

Grab your copy of Under the Full and Crescent Moon and join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how it came to be.

Here's one for the poets!

In this special episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda Douglas hosts a poetry panel featuring four accomplished poets: Kess Mohammadi, Guy Elston, Lorne Daniel, and Melissa Powless Day. 

Together, they read from their latest works and share an honest conversation about building poetry collections, navigating mentorship, and growing alongside their readers.

Each poet begins by reading a piece from their newest collection. Lorne Daniel shares “Crushed” from What Is Broken Binds Us (University of Calgary Press), a raw reflection on family challenges, addictions, and the small, startling moments that carry us through. Guy Elston lightens the room with humor and poignancy in “Statement from the Board of Directors,” from his debut collection The Character Actor Convention (The Porcupine’s Quill, 2025). Kess Mohammadi reads a dreamlike, image-rich untitled piece from Book of Interruptions (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025), a manuscript deeply influenced by mentorship and philosophical inquiry. And Melissa Powless Day brings us “Tree Museum” from her debut full-length collection A Bow Forged from Ash (Anstruther Press, 2023), weaving Indigenous history and relationships to the land with lyrical power.

From there, Rhonda invites each poet to talk about the origin story of their latest books. For some, like Lorne, the poems emerged out of lived experiences and personal struggles, gradually coalescing into a manuscript. For Guy, the breakthrough came when he shifted from confessional writing to persona poems, realizing that even when he inhabited different characters, his own voice still shone through. Kess shares how mentorship opportunities, supported by the Ontario Arts Council, provided guidance for a more intentional project. And Melissa reflects on how themes naturally braided themselves through her poetry, growing into a cohesive collection.

The conversation also touches on what it feels like to publish a debut collection versus later works. Guy and Melissa speak to the excitement (and the “high”) of holding a first full-length book, while Kess and Lorne reflect on the evolving nature of readership and how the literary landscape has shifted over decades. Kess notes that book two often feels different, with less external excitement but deeper engagement from dedicated readers.

Finally, the poets discuss mentorship—formal and informal. Lorne recalls receiving letters and guidance from Al Purdy, and the importance of staying connected to community. Guy admits he’s still finding his way with mentorship, while Kess explains how seeking a Muslim elder for conversations on Perso-Islamic philosophy shaped Book of Interruptions. Melissa describes mentorship as something rooted in community, often happening organically through relationships, and pays tribute to her “literary auntie,” Shani Ray Rogers.

Whether you’re a poet just starting out, working on your first manuscript, or deep into your writing journey, this conversation will leave you inspired. Our guests remind us that poetry is as much about relationships—between writers, readers, and community—as it is about the words on the page.

What if the truest way to write your story is to follow feeling instead of chronology? 

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by award-winning Iranian-Canadian author Hollay Ghadery, whose work fearlessly crosses genres: memoir, poetry, flash fiction, and even a novel narrated by a sock puppet.

Hollay’s debut memoir Fuse won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Award for Nonfiction/Memoir, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever read. Rather than laying out her life in neat order, she trusted her own non-linear way of experiencing memory. 

For Hollay, moments bleed into each other like inkblots on a page, and she honored that in her book. The result? A layered, fragmented form that feels truer than any straight-line telling could.

She also shares how writing changed when she got sober. For years she produced work while living in addiction, but it wasn’t until sobriety that she found the discipline to sit, revise, and shape her words with clarity. Her message is refreshingly down-to-earth: writing isn’t about waiting for a magical state to arrive—it’s about showing up and doing the work, imperfectly but consistently.

Since then, Hollay has released the poetry collection Rebellion Box and the flash-fiction collection Widow Fantasies. And coming in 2026, her debut novel The Unravelling of Ou—a playful, fierce, and absurd meditation on patriarchy, joy, and queer identity, told entirely through the voice of a sock puppet named Ecology Paul. 

As Hollay explains, the puppet narrator was no gimmick: it’s the most honest way she knows to tell this story, bypassing shame and revealing truths we might otherwise hide.

Our conversation also explores the realities of publishing. Hollay loves small presses, where collaboration feels intimate and books are treated as art objects. She talks about the highs and lows of awards season, and why it’s essential to celebrate every win—whether it’s a longlist mention or a kind note from a reader. One of her favorite lessons? “It means something to win, but it doesn’t mean anything not to win.”

Hollay practices what she calls “sympathetic joy”: celebrating other writers’ successes without letting envy creep in. She reminds us that another person’s achievement doesn’t take anything away from our own path. If you stay in your lane, there’s no traffic.

If you need a reminder that your quirks, your feelings, and even your sock puppets belong on the page, this episode is for you. Hollay’s wisdom is equal parts candid, funny, and deeply encouraging.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sit down with award-winning indie author Eveline Rose, creator of the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series. If you love page-turning romantic suspense set against the backdrop of a cozy small town, you’ll want to listen in.

Eveline shares how her love of storytelling began back in high school, and how it grew into a nine-book series featuring strong heroines, protective heroes, and the found families that keep us coming back for more. Book Six releases this month, and she’s already planning a Christmas special and even a cookbook with recipes from her novels.

Writing across romance and suspense means balancing swoony moments with high-stakes danger. Eveline admits that sometimes she gets caught up in the suspense and has to remind herself to bring in those cozy small-town touches—family gatherings, coffee shop meetups, and community connections that make her books so beloved.

We also talked about why Eveline chose the indie publishing route. For her, finding the right mentor made the difference. While indie authors wear many hats—writer, editor, marketer, planner—Eveline has leaned into the freedom and speed of publishing her own stories. She shares candidly about the challenges of marketing and why connecting with readers in person lights her up.

Eveline researched the best covers in her genre, then worked with design company GetCovers to create branding that perfectly fits her series, right down to the custom Sheppard & Sons logo. She’s also a pantser who often dictates while driving, using every spare moment to keep her stories moving forward.

Looking ahead, she has a historical romantic suspense series outlined for the Tudor and Plantagenet period—told through the eyes of the servants who witnessed history unfold. Doesn’t that sound incredible?

This was such a fun conversation. If you haven’t yet started the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series, begin with Book One, Taken—and prepare to binge your way through these page-turners.

👉 Start reading Eveline’s books here:

• Taken (Book One)
• Beaten (Book Two)
• Betrayed (Book Four)
• Author Website

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we break down the complete roadmap for finishing your book—because contrary to what movies show us, it's not just "type, spell check, publish." 

Finishing a book requires a systematic, step-by-step approach that prevents overwhelm and helps you track real progress.

Why You Need a Step-by-Step Process

Our culture perpetuates myths about book writing—think Jo March in Little Women or countless Christmas movies where characters magically go from manuscript to bestselling author tour. The reality? Finishing a book takes everything you've got and requires becoming the writer you need to be to complete your unique project.

Breaking the process into clear phases gives you momentum, prevents paralysis, and allows you to celebrate milestones along the way. Instead of facing an overwhelming 300-400 page project, you work through manageable steps, always knowing exactly where you are in the process.

The 11-Step Process to Finishing Your Book

Step 1: Prepare Your Project Plan Treat your book like any other major project in your life. Calculate how many words you need, determine your weekly writing capacity, and create a realistic timeline. For example: if you need 50,000 more words and typically write 3,000 words per week, you're looking at approximately 16 weeks to complete your draft.

Step 2: Complete the Essential Book Outline Create a basic outline that tracks your protagonist's journey from beginning to end, including their desires, obstacles, and transformation. This serves as your roadmap for brainstorming scenes.

Step 3: Fast Draft Using "Rules for the Draft" Focus on getting the story down without perfectionism. The goal is completion, not perfection.

Step 4: Optional Manuscript Evaluation Consider getting professional feedback on your messy first draft to understand what's working and what needs development before diving into revision.

Step 5: Story Clarity Revision Shape your draft by determining what story you really want to tell and ensuring that vision translates clearly onto the page.

Step 6: Submit to Beta Readers Send your revised manuscript to 3-4 genre readers who can provide supportive critique. Ask specific questions about pacing, character development, and any sections where they found themselves skimming.

Step 7: Integrate Beta Reader Feedback Carefully evaluate feedback and decide what serves your book's vision. This may require additional revision passes.

Step 8: Line Edit Perfect your language, sharpen verbs, and ensure every sentence serves your story. Only do this after incorporating beta feedback to avoid attachment to scenes that might need cutting.

Step 9: Copy Edit Focus on spelling, grammar, and catching typos—especially important if you use dictation software.

Step 10: Prepare to Publish Choose your publishing path (traditional or indie) and complete the specific requirements for that route.

Step 11: Build Your Author Platform Develop a minimalist marketing approach that builds your presence without taking over your life—whether for pitching agents or self-publishing success.

The Power of Process

This step-by-step approach transforms an intimidating project into manageable milestones. You can see your progress, celebrate achievements, and maintain momentum knowing exactly what comes next. Each completed step moves you closer to your goal and proves you're further along than ever before.

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Book Finishers Bootcamp, September 11-17

In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, we dive deep into one of the most common struggles writers face: the feeling that their book is taking forever to complete. If you've ever caught yourself thinking "I'm too slow" or "this book will never be finished," this episode is for you.

The Story We Tell Ourselves

About 80% of the time, the feeling that our writing is "too slow" is simply a story we tell ourselves. This unhelpful narrative often stems from comparing ourselves to other writers, particularly indie romance or cozy mystery authors who publish multiple books per year. 

But here's the truth: it's not about the most words—it's about the right words for your project.

Why Books Take Time

Writing a book is fundamentally about becoming the writer you need to be to finish that particular book. Sometimes this transformation requires more time for deep thinking and problem-solving. 

As Alice Munro famously said, some of her best writing happened while staring out her kitchen window—the thinking process is just as valuable as the actual typing.

The Perfectionism Trap

Many writers slow themselves down by trying to perfect each scene before moving on. This approach ignores a fundamental truth: revision is a necessary part of the creative process. 

Your brain literally cannot hold all the elements needed for a perfect scene simultaneously—there are simply too many craft elements to juggle at once.

Attempting to write perfect first drafts is not only impossible but counterproductive. You cannot create work that makes you immune to criticism or judgment. 

Art is subjective—just look at the one-star reviews for Ernest Hemingway on Amazon. The goal isn't perfection; it's creating the best work you can right now.

The Two-Brain Problem

Your creative brain (which gets the draft down) and your editorial brain (which scans for mistakes) work differently. Trying to use both simultaneously is the slowest possible way to write a book. 

As Sir Terry Pratchett (RIP) said, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

Practical Solutions

When progress genuinely feels slow, the only practical solution is more consistent time with your book. Books are built through consistency—20 minutes here, an hour there, paragraph by paragraph, scene by scene.

Consider these strategies:

• Increase your writing frequency from twice to three or four times per week
• Schedule writing retreats or long weekend sessions
• Use small pockets of time throughout your day
• Take temporary breaks from volunteering commitments
• Write during lunch breaks or before the household wakes up

Embracing Your Writing Pace

Every writer is different. Some produce 1,200 words in 45 minutes, others write 250 words in the same time—and both are perfectly valid. The key is learning to accept the writer you are rather than suffering because you think you should be different.

Remember: you are an artist whose medium is words, and art takes time. That's not just okay—it's necessary.

Resources mentioned: DIY Writing Retreat Guide 

Welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this solo episode, Rhonda tackles a sneaky form of procrastination that plagues so many writers—what she calls “procraftination.”

You know the feeling. You sit down to write that tricky third scene in Act Two… and suddenly you need to read just one more writing craft book. 

Or register for a new workshop. Or spend two hours researching the Victorian medical tools your character might use—even though that detail doesn’t show up for three more chapters.

Sound familiar?

Rhonda dives into why this kind of procrastination feels productive (because hey, it’s writing-adjacent!), but actually gets in the way of finishing your draft. 

She shares her love for craft books, research rabbit holes, and workshops—but also offers a crucial mindset shift: these tools are powerful when used in the right phase of the writing process.

Inside the episode, you'll learn:

• Why we often turn to writing education instead of writing the next scene
  
  
• How to recognize when you're avoiding your draft in disguise
  
  
• The best times to read craft books or take workshops (hint: not mid-draft!)
  
  
• Rhonda’s “square bracket method” for handling research without interrupting your creative flow
  
  
• Why fast-drafting your book—without trying to perfect every line—is so essential to long-term success

Rhonda also unpacks how fear, self-doubt, and “this book might be mediocre” thinking can trick us into busywork that feels safe. 

She shares how becoming a conscious observer of your own creative process can help you spot the difference between genuine growth and sneaky procrastination.

💬 One key truth from the episode:
 All good books aren’t written—they’re rewritten.

This liberating mindset shift can help you finally give yourself permission to write a messy first draft and save the polish for later. Because you can’t revise what you haven’t finished.

Whether you’re tempted to re-read Save the Cat one more time or you’re lost in 19th-century historical medical texts (true story), this episode is your gentle but firm reminder:
📣 It’s time to finish the damn draft.

🎧 Listen now and get clear on how to make progress that actually moves your book forward:

Resources Mentioned:

• Rhonda’s Book Finishers Bootcamp (returning in September!)
  
  
• Rhonda’s 12-Step Revision Process (taught inside First Book Finish)
  
  
• Craft books and workshops: when to use them, and when to pause
  
  
  

In this solo episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda dives into one of the most common struggles writers face—imposter syndrome. 

If you’ve ever heard that insidious voice whisper, “Who do you think you are?” or “Your writing isn’t good enough,” this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone—and that voice is lying.

Drawing on thousands of weekly check-ins from writers inside her First Book Finish program, Rhonda unpacks why imposter syndrome shows up (especially for those working on their first book), and how to move through it without letting it derail your progress.

Rhonda shares personal stories and writing truths, including:

• Why even published and award-winning writers still struggle with imposter syndrome
  
  
• How our brains look for “proof” that we can’t do something when we’re learning new skills
  
  
• The dangerous myth of a “magical moment” when you’ll finally feel good enough to write

She also explores how our culture reinforces the idea that you’re not a “real writer” until you’ve published something big, and how that messaging gets internalized—especially if you haven’t yet finished your first book.

But here’s the heart of the message: Writing is a skill you can learn. 

Just like you once learned to cook, lift weights, or drive a car, you can also learn how to write compelling dialogue, structure scenes, or move your story across timelines.

Rhonda encourages writers to trade perfectionism for progress, and comparison for compassion. She offers a powerful mantra that has helped her and many of her students silence that inner critic:

📝 “I’m always learning and growing as a writer.”

It’s a reminder that we don’t become great writers overnight—and even our future selves will look back and see how much we’ve grown. This kind of growth is not only normal, it’s necessary. It's also deeply human.

She shares how even after publishing books and winning awards, she still edits and improves her past work when she reads from it. Why? Because growth is ongoing. And that's a beautiful part of the creative process.

Whether you’re just starting your first draft or revising your fifth, this episode will reassure you that you're not an imposter—you’re a writer in progress, and that’s exactly where you're supposed to be.

🎧 Tune in now to reframe your mindset and take your next step with more confidence.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Rhonda’s upcoming Book Finishers Bootcamp (11-17 September)
  
  
• Workshops from Jane Friedman and Writer’s Digest
  
  
• The mantra: “I’m always learning and growing as a writer.”
  
  
  

Welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this solo episode, Rhonda dives into two of the most common struggles writers face: finding the time and the focus to write consistently—especially during emotionally and politically challenging times.

She shares how global events and personal overwhelm can lead to creative paralysis, making it feel almost impossible to stay on track with writing goals. 

But rather than waiting for the perfect time or long, uninterrupted hours, Rhonda encourages a more compassionate and strategic approach to fitting writing into your life as it is right now.

Drawing from her own experience and her work with writers inside her First Book Finish program, Rhonda introduces the concept of scheduling both “long time” (30–45 minute sessions) and “short time” (those unexpected 10–20 minute pockets throughout your day) to make real progress on your book. 

She also explains why binge-writing on weekends often leads to long stretches of inactivity—and how consistency, not intensity, is the key to getting your draft done.

You'll learn how to shift your mindset by planning your week as a writer first—before all the other roles and responsibilities take over. 

Rhonda walks through her Sunday planning ritual and encourages listeners to do the same using her free resource, The Writer’s Weekly Planner, which helps you carve out writing time with intention.

She also shares how having a “mobile writing kit” (la tote bag stocked with notebooks, prompts, and pens) allows you to take advantage of unexpected downtime. Even just 15–20 minutes can be enough to outline a scene, sketch character backstory, or brainstorm story ideas.

The episode wraps with a powerful reminder: no one is going to hand you leftover time to write—you have to claim it. 

Rhonda emphasizes that writing just 2–3 times a week can be enough to finish a book, and that when you put your creative life first, everything else tends to flow more easily.

If you’re struggling to focus, Rhonda also recommends checking out her Focused Writer Workshop, which breaks down the science of focus and helps you create a writing ritual that actually works with your brain, not against it.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• Writer’s Weekly Planner – FREE Resource
• The Focused Writer Workshop

DM Rhonda on Instagram: @resilientwriters

If you’ve been toying with the idea of writing a memoir — or you’re knee-deep in draft pages wondering what now? — you’re going to love this conversation with memoir coach and author Wendy Dale.

Wendy’s the author of Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and the creator of The Memoir Engineering System, a structured seven-step process for turning your life stories into page-turning memoirs. 

She’s also been a memoir coach for 17 years and has read more than a thousand memoirs along the way — so when she says she’s seen it all, she means it.

We kicked off our chat with the age-old memoir question: what stays in and what gets cut? Wendy shares that the biggest mistake new memoirists make is treating their book like an autobiography — including everything — rather than crafting a story with a clear premise. 

Whether you’re writing about a time in your life, a specific relationship, or a transformational journey, you need to know what your memoir is about before you start writing.

And then comes the kicker: structure. Wendy opens up about how her first memoir attempt got a big fat “no” from agents because — as one of them told her — she had no idea how structure worked. That rejection became the catalyst for developing her Memoir Engineering System. 

According to Wendy, structure is the foundation of a memoir — just like a well-built house. Readers might not notice it when it’s working, but if your structure’s missing? No one’s sticking around to admire your prose.

We also talked about plot, and how “what actually happened” isn’t the same as a compelling story. Memoirists need to shape their real-life events into a sequence that builds tension and invites readers to turn the page. 

That includes identifying the conflict at the heart of your book — what Wendy calls the “narrative want” — and writing scenes where something happens, even if it’s just an emotional realization.

Wendy also offers some brilliant insight into the power of subjective writing — how your thoughts, reflections, and unique perspective are what breathe emotion into your scenes and allow readers to truly feel your story.

We even tackled the tricky question of whether you can write part of a memoir in third person. Wendy’s take? It’s risky and rarely works well — unless you’re a phenomenal writer and handle it with nuance and restraint.

If you’re working on a memoir — or have a dusty manuscript sitting in a drawer — you’ll want to check out Wendy’s free video series at freememoirclass.com, and of course, grab a copy of The Memoir Engineering System.

This episode is full of insight, warmth, and practical tools to help you move from messy draft to compelling memoir. Don’t miss it!

Hey there, Writer—welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of short fiction with the wonderful Pamela Gwyn Kripke. If you’ve ever been curious about writing short stories, how to build a collection, or what publishing with a small press actually looks like—this conversation is for you.

Pamela is an award-winning writer with bylines in The New York Times, Elle, Seventeen, Newsweek and more. Her debut novel At The Seams was published by Open Books in 2023 and her brand-new short story collection And Then You Apply Ice is also out now. (Yes, you can find links to both in the show notes!)

She joined me to chat about how she moved from journalism and essays into short fiction—something she only began exploring about four years ago. She found that many of her essays had a narrative quality to them, and that natural storytelling instinct drew her into writing fiction. She leaned into the short form during the pandemic and quickly found a rhythm that worked for her. 

Pamela shares how she pulled together her stories by focusing on recurring themes—especially around the idea of transgression—and how some of the characters appear across stories at different points in their lives.

We also talked about her decision to publish with a small press and what that process actually looked like. (Spoiler: she sent queries to about 25 publishers!) Her approach was smart and strategic—targeting presses that aligned with her voice and genre. 

Pamela also pitched both her novel and story collection at the same time and found a supportive home with Open Books. She opens up about the differences between traditional publishing and her long-time experience freelancing for magazines, and the pros and cons of working with a smaller press—including the realities of doing your own book publicity.

You’ll love Pamela’s grounded and generous wisdom about the writing life. She talks about her daily writing routine (dog walks included!), how she transitions between essays, journalism, and fiction, and how being a working writer has taught her not to wait for the muse—but to get in the chair and do the work.

And of course, I had to ask her what it means to be a resilient writer. Her answer was beautiful—it's about maintaining emotional equilibrium and trusting that you’ve done your best, no matter the outcome.

This episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and encouragement—especially if you’re navigating the ups and downs of publishing or wondering where short stories might fit into your own creative path.

Hey there, Writer—this week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re diving into something so many of us wrestle with: how to get that first draft down… faster. And more importantly—without all the agony.

I’m joined by Daphne Gray-Grant, who brings a lifetime of experience to the writing process. She grew up in her family’s newspaper business, later worked as a senior editor at The Vancouver Sun, and somewhere in the middle of all that, gave birth to triplets! If anyone understands writing under pressure, it’s Daphne.

In this episode, Daphne shares how she went from struggling with writer’s block to developing powerful tools to help writers draft more quickly and confidently. One of the biggest shifts she teaches? Start small. Like, five-minutes-a-day small. 

We also talk about the deep psychology behind why writing feels so hard sometimes—especially for those of us who love editing more than drafting (hi, I see you!). Daphne explains why school doesn’t prepare us for the emotional challenges of writing and offers simple, mindset-shifting strategies to help you work with your brain, not against it.

One of her favorite tricks is ending your writing session with a few quick notes for tomorrow—so when you return to the page, you’re not wasting time wondering what comes next. That little shift can make a huge difference.

We also had a great chat about mind mapping, which Daphne has adapted into an incredible tool for writers. Instead of just putting a topic in the center of the page, she suggests starting with a question. This sparks creativity and helps you move past the blocks that outlining often creates. I’ve used this myself in my poetry, and let me tell you—it works wonders.

This conversation is packed with practical advice that’s gentle, doable, and grounded in real-life writing experience. If you’re someone who wants to finish that draft but keeps getting stuck, I think you’ll find a lot of relief—and inspiration—here.

Well hey there, Writer—and welcome to another cozy conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show! 

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with speculative fiction author M.T. Solomon, and let me tell you—this one’s for you if you’ve ever wondered how to balance real life with writing big, bold stories.

M.T. grew up in Alaska, and the vast, rugged wilderness she called home now infuses the lyrical, emotionally resonant stories she writes. She’s been creating stories since she was six (including hand-stitched books at age 11—how adorable is that?) but it wasn’t until after college and becoming a mom that she fully embraced her dream of publishing novels. 

We talk about her journey from self-publishing her first novel, All the Fragile Hearts, to continuing the duology with Whispers in the Dark, and how she ultimately found her way to traditional publishing with Liar Queen—a lush, politically charged fantasy series released through Golden Scales Publishing. 

M.T. shares how empowering it was to have a team behind her this time, supporting everything from editing to cover design. But she’s also refreshingly honest about what it took to self-publish—yes, including marketing her own books and even flying out of Alaska to sell them in-person at events.

We also dig into her approach to world-building—hint: it involves lots of people-watching, note-taking, and a fully developed story bible. If you’re writing speculative fiction and struggling with how to build a believable world, you’ll love M.T.’s practical and creative insights.

Of course, we couldn’t let the conversation go by without talking about how she gets the writing done—because M.T. is a mom, a partner, and a coach. From early-morning writing sessions to squeezing in time in the school pickup line, she shares how she carves out time and energy for her work. She’s refreshingly real about what it takes to prioritize writing without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you’re working on your first novel, wondering about the self-pub vs. traditional debate, or trying to write your book in the chaos of daily life—this episode is full of heart, encouragement, and grounded advice.

Grab your tea (or coffee!) and come join us. You’ll leave inspired to keep going, one messy, magical page at a time.

P.S. Here's some great news! The Resilient Writers Radio Show is featured as one of the Top 90 Book Podcasts on the web. You can find the list here.

Hey there, Writer—welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show! Today, I’m chatting with author Terra Luft, a speculative fiction writer whose imagination leans toward the dark, twisty, and psychologically thrilling. 

Terra’s been writing since 2008 and just released her first solo short story collection, Nightmares of My Own. If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, felt like your writing life doesn’t look “ideal,” or wondered if your small pockets of time could actually move your book forward—this episode is for you.

Terra opens up about her journey from isolated kitchen writing sessions to finding her footing in the writing community—and why that community was the game-changer that kept her going. 

For over a decade, she’s published short stories in various anthologies, always dreaming of someday putting together a collection of her own. That dream became real in December 2024, and in this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of how it happened.

We talk about why short stories became her chosen form—spoiler: instant gratification plays a big role! Terra shares how writing short fiction allowed her to sharpen her craft in the midst of a demanding life, including full-time work in healthcare IT, going back to school, and raising a family. 

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when Terra shares how attending my Book Finishers Bootcamp shifted everything for her. She let go of the idea that she needed perfect conditions to write and leaned into consistent, realistic goals. She started writing on weekends while camping with her family—yes, literally around the campfire in a folding chair—and that’s how her book got finished.

Terra also walks us through her first foray into self-publishing, with all its surprises, challenges, and lessons learned. From choosing the perfect cover design to figuring out proofreading order (hint: it’s trickier than it seems!), Terra’s honest insights will resonate with anyone considering self-publishing. 

She shares how she curated the stories in her collection—crafting a reading journey from sci-fi to psychological horror to paranormal—and how discovering the unifying theme of “nightmares” helped her land on the perfect title.

We also talk about what she’s working on now: revising her favorite novel, with a goal of two writing sessions a week and 3,000 words. I loved hearing how the skills and confidence she built through short fiction and bootcamp are now fueling her longer work.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s “too late,” or if you have “enough time,” or if your first book needs to be perfect...this episode will remind you that the real magic is in starting anyway.

You can grab Nightmares of My Own

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the thoughtful and talented Canadian author, Rebecca Morris. 

Rebecca’s debut novel, Other Maps, was published in 2024 with Linda Leith Publishing, and it’s a powerful exploration of friendship, trauma, healing—and the quiet resilience that carries us through. 

In this conversation, we dive into her creative process, the emotional weight of writing about difficult topics, and how she supports other writers through their own journeys.

Rebecca began her writing life with the big dream of crafting a novel, but quickly found herself leaning into short fiction to learn the craft and get those satisfying wins of finishing and publishing smaller pieces. That experience gave her the structure and confidence she needed to return to the long-form project that became Other Maps. 

Originally told from the perspective of one character, the story evolved into a dual point-of-view narrative when Rebecca realized the emotional depth and importance of her second character’s voice. The final novel alternates chapters between two women navigating past trauma and present reconnection—a structure she carefully mapped out with color-coded Post-It notes!

We also explored the challenges of writing trauma with care. Other Maps is a “Me Too” novel, and Rebecca spoke with such grace and honesty about the responsibility of holding emotional truth in fiction. 

She emphasized the importance of taking breaks, checking in with yourself, and doing research to ensure that you’re treating sensitive material with both realism and deep respect. Even in fiction, readers bring their real-life experiences to the page—and that connection is powerful.

One of my favorite parts of this chat? Talking about writing routines and how to stay focused in a noisy world. Rebecca is a big fan of analog tools (me too!), like egg timers and sand hourglasses, to carve out intentional writing time without the distraction of her phone. She starts her days with freewriting to clear her head, and aims to protect her most creative hours in the early morning—something so many of us can relate to.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Matty Dalrymple—thriller author, podcaster, speaker, and indie publishing pro. 

Matty’s not only the writer behind the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, but also a passionate advocate for the power of short fiction—and trust me, she has so much wisdom to share.

We kick things off with Matty’s love of all things nautical (yes, even boat-watching on vacation!), and quickly dive into how she first began writing short fiction. What started as a way to keep her readers engaged between novels quickly turned into a cornerstone of her writing life. 

Matty’s “snippets” from the Ann Kinnear universe are fan favorites—and she now has a growing collection of suspenseful short reads that offer bite-sized thrills and deep character moments.

Matty walks us through the practical side of indie publishing short fiction, sharing tips on affordable cover design, working with beta readers, and even bringing her stories to life through audio narration. 

Her approach is smart, approachable, and encouraging—perfect for writers who want to do more without burning out or breaking the bank.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation? Hearing how short fiction can act as a creative refresh. Whether she’s exploring a quirky character like Garak Mazur (Ann’s ghostly, curmudgeonly mentor) or experimenting with settings and ideas that don’t quite fit a full novel, Matty embraces short stories as a playful way to stay inspired—and sometimes, they even lead to new books she hadn’t planned on writing!

And if you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a real market for short fiction? Matty’s answer is a resounding yes. Her short stories continue to sell (even with minimal promotion!), and they’ve become an unexpected income stream as well as a way to keep her readers excited and engaged.

We wrap up with encouragement for any writer who’s curious about short fiction but unsure where to start. Matty’s advice? Don’t overthink it—just try it out. A short story can be a creative experiment, a reader gift, or even a new path forward in your writing career.

Tune in and fall in love with the possibilities of short fiction, all over again

In this week's episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ana del Valle Distasio, author, book coach, and host of The Novelist Studio podcast. 

Ana brings a fascinating mix of creative writing chops and tech-savvy brilliance to the table — and she’s on a mission to help writers harness the power of AI without compromising their voice or creative control.

We talked about everything from her early love of storytelling (her first story was a love story… written in Spanish at age six!) to her journey through Silicon Valley and why she made the bold leap from fantasy YA under her pen name S.N. Blue to her upcoming humorous women’s fiction novel, Valley of the Dudes.

But where things really got juicy? When we dove into how Ana is using tools like ChatGPT to support novelists — not to replace their creativity, but to amplify it.

Ana’s take is refreshingly grounded. She reminds us that AI isn’t some evil robot out to steal your manuscript. Instead, she likens ChatGPT to a super-smart assistant — like a “robot librarian” that can help you brainstorm, organize, and refine your work… if you know how to guide it properly.

We got into the common fears writers have around AI — like privacy, copyright, and whether the output is even any good (spoiler: it can be, but only if you know how to prompt it well). Ana explained how she’s built a thoughtful framework for using ChatGPT to outline, edit, and develop character backstories — all while ensuring that the writer remains in full control of the story.

We also didn’t shy away from the big-picture stuff: bias in AI, its environmental impact, and whether we risk losing skills like summarizing or editing when we rely on tools like this. Ana had such a thoughtful and honest perspective — especially on how to train ChatGPT to work in a way that actually supports your process.

If you're curious about using AI as a co-creative ally — especially for outlining or developmental edits — this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Canadian author Alexis von Konigslow—and what a fascinating conversation it was.

Alexis is the author of The Capacity for Infinite Happiness, and her latest novel The Exclusion Zone is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. 

Set in the haunting and still-radioactive landscape surrounding Chernobyl, it follows a scientist grappling with fear—both personal and collective—and offers an atmospheric, anxiety-tinged exploration of what it means to confront the unknown.

We dug into the origin of Alexis’s obsession with the Exclusion Zone (spoiler: it started with a commute and a news article) and how her deep dives into science and nature sparked the seed of this novel. 

Alexis brings a unique perspective as someone with a background in mathematical physics and a day job as a technical writer—she’s fluent in both the scientific and creative languages, and she uses that skill to craft stories that bridge the two.

I loved hearing about her writing process, which, as she humbly shared, involved a lot of “stolen moments”—from writing in the Notes app on her phone while standing in line at the grocery store, to letting scenes unfold in her mind during a daily commute. 

This book took ten years from first draft to publication, and Alexis doesn’t shy away from how real life—work, parenting, and all the everyday details—complicated that process. But she kept going, one minute at a time.

We also talked about writing fear and tension into your setting and how emotional honesty—pulling off the band-aid, as Alexis put it—can help create that lived-in, visceral feeling for the reader. She shared some beautiful insights about being open to observation and about writing the kind of book only you can write, even if it takes longer, and even if it’s different from what the market “wants.”

If you’re someone who’s balancing writing with a busy life, wondering how to stay true to your creative voice, or just love a good science-meets-story moment, this episode is for you.

The Exclusion Zone is out in May 2025 from the always-fabulous Canadian indie press Wolsak & Wynn. Go grab your copy—and get ready to be unsettled in the best possible way.

What happens when your personal journey of healing and transformation inspires a novel? 

That’s exactly what happened to this week’s podcast guest, award-winning author SL Clarke (Sherrie Lynn Clarke), whose debut novel, When He Returns, explores resilience, trauma, and redemption.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Sherrie Lynn shares the fascinating backstory behind her novel’s evolution—from its first publication as True Strength to its rebranding and relaunch as When He Returns.

We discuss the deep emotional roots of the story, how martial arts played a crucial role in her personal growth, and why she ultimately decided to change the book’s title and cover to better fit the women’s domestic suspense genre.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

✨ How Sherrie Lynn channeled her own emotional transformation into her protagonist’s journey 

✨ The challenges of self-publishing and why she decided to rebrand her book 

✨ How she tackled cover design, book marketing, and genre alignment 

✨ What it’s like to write about deeply personal experiences while keeping fiction fictional 

✨ Her current memoir-in-progress about grief, faith, and self-discovery

If you’ve ever struggled with finding the right title, cover, or marketing approach for your book, this episode is packed with insights! Plus, you’ll love hearing about Sherrie Lynn’s creative journey—from marching band and martial arts to indie publishing and beyond.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sat down with the wonderful Kat Caldwell — and let me tell you, it was such an energizing, heartfelt conversation that I just know you’re going to love.

Kat is the host of the Pencils&Lipstick podcast, a multi-genre indie author, and someone who’s passionate about helping writers like us stay creative and resilient. 

She’s been on this writing journey for over a decade, and together, we dove into the realities of what that path actually looks like — spoiler alert: it doesn’t magically get easier after you publish your first (or third!) book.

Kat opened up about how she first fell in love with stories as a kid, rewriting endings and imagining new adventures. But like so many of us, she struggled to figure out how to “make writing a real thing” when it came to careers and degrees. 

One thing that really stuck with me was how honest Kat was about the mental hurdles we face. She described the fear of finishing one project and worrying there might not be another idea after it. I could completely relate — I’ve been there too! 

But Kat reminded me (and all of us) that even when you switch genres or work on a new type of project, it’s always a fresh beast to tackle. Each book, each story, demands its own unique approach, and that’s part of what keeps this work exciting (and yes, sometimes maddening!).

We talked about the importance of joy in the writing process — how crucial it is to write what you love, without judgment. Kat encouraged writers to let go of the idea that every word or every story has to be “literary” or world-changing. 

Whether you’re passionate about romance, sci-fi, or even writing short flash fiction pieces just for fun, it’s all valuable. Not every word needs to be published — sometimes writing just for yourself is what keeps the spark alive.

Kat also shared some smart advice about learning to toss out what isn’t working (including, in her case, tossing a whopping 60,000-word draft!) and recognizing that not every review or piece of feedback matters. What truly matters is creating work you’re proud of.

She even gave us a sneak peek into her resource: 10 Ways to Bring Joy Back Into Your Writing Life — which you can grab at the link. 

If you’re feeling stuck or disconnected from your writing right now, this is the episode for you.

I walked away from this conversation feeling re-energized and reminded that we are resilient writers — we keep going, not because it’s easy, but because we love the process and the stories we’re here to tell. I hope you tune in and feel the same spark of inspiration I did!

In today’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m absolutely thrilled to sit down with the incredible Canadian author Catherine Bush. 

Catherine has written five novels—including Blaze Island and The Rules of Engagement—and has racked up an impressive list of accolades along the way. But today, we're diving into something a little different: her very first collection of short stories, Skin.

I loved hearing Catherine talk about why she turned to short fiction after years of working in long-form novels. Like many of us, she found herself exhausted during the pandemic and needed a new creative challenge—something playful, something pleasurable. Short stories, flash fiction, and even novella-length pieces became her way back into joy.

Skin isn’t just a collection of new work either; it brings together pieces from across her writing life, reimagined and revisited with the wisdom she’s gained over the years. I loved hearing her describe it as a "fractured writer’s autobiography."

We also explore how Catherine’s work continues to weave in themes of climate change and environmental intimacy, from a man obsessed with extreme windstorms to a woman’s strangely moving encounter with a glacier. 

Catherine shares how she tries to reframe the typical “doom and gloom” narrative around climate change by writing about it in ways that are fresh, intimate, and full of wonder. Her reflections on finding new, non-cliché language to capture the natural world were so inspiring.

One of the things I found especially fascinating was how Catherine thinks about revision. Whether working on a novel or a short story, she approaches the process slowly, deeply, and with a fierce dedication to re-seeing the work each time she sits down. 

Revision isn’t just about tweaking words—it’s about returning to the heart of the story, again and again, to bring it closer to its fullest, most alive version. Hearing how she balances specificity with liveliness was a real reminder to be patient with our own messy drafts.

We also talked about tenderness—how important it is to bring a loving, attentive gaze to both our characters and our readers. Catherine’s thoughts on writing as a reciprocal act, a gift exchange between writer and reader, really stayed with me. It's not about judgment; it's about listening and offering something meaningful.

Catherine’s new collection Skin is published by Goose Lane Editions, and she shares a bit about what it was like working with them (hint: she’s thrilled with the stunning cover!). Plus, she talks about the gift of working with fellow writer André Alexis as an editor for this project—how his intense, detailed feedback pushed her stories to an even deeper level.

Whether you’re working on a novel, experimenting with short stories, or simply needing a boost of creative inspiration, this conversation is full of encouragement, wisdom, and heart.

Thanks for tuning in, Writer—I'm so glad you're here!

I've got some news...this week I am going back to producing the show on a WEEKLY basis, instead of doing Seasons of 12 episodes. Expect more writerly goodness to come!

I’m so excited to introduce you to the wonderful Sarah Selecky — award-winning author, beloved teacher, and founder of the Sarah Selecky Writing School. In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah and I dive into the rich and beautiful connection between creativity, mindfulness, and the writing life.

Sarah shares how she’s come to see writing not just as an art form, but as a contemplative practice — a way of being present, tuning into curiosity, and connecting with wonder. 

We talk about her brand-new book, Story is a State of Mind: Writing and the Art of Creative Curiosity, where she distills decades of her teaching and personal writing practice into a thoughtful, encouraging guide for writers who want to nurture both their intellect and intuition.

During our conversation, Sarah and I explore something I know many writers struggle with — the balance between structure and creative freedom. She shares how her early writing grew from intuition rather than structured plotting, and what it looked like for her to learn how to bring structure into her storytelling without losing the sense of mystery and discovery that makes writing feel so alive.

Sarah even offered a simple, beautiful exercise you can try — using pen and paper to list words starting with a single letter — to help ease into creativity without judgment. It’s such a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the smallest rituals can gently open the door to deeper creative work.

We also talked about the power of community — and how important it is for us, as writers, not to try and do this alone. Sarah shared her journey from solitary writer to community builder, and how her online space, Centered, grew out of a desire to support writers in a way that feels nourishing, intuitive, and sustainable. 

I love how Centered invites writers into a creative life rooted in wonder, rest, and shared joy — not hustle or competition. I've been part of this community and can highly recommend it!

You can join in a workshop Sarah is offering through Centred on May 14th, with Amy T. Won, entitled Creative Contemplation Through Wonder, for just $20 as a drop-in fee.

Throughout our conversation, what touched me most was Sarah’s emphasis on giving ourselves grace. Writing creatively isn’t easy — it asks us to bridge the worlds of structure and imagination in a way that’s neurologically complex and deeply human. 

If you’ve ever struggled to trust your own creative instincts or felt overwhelmed by the pressure to “get it right,” this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. I hope you’ll find inspiration here to be gentler with yourself, reconnect with your love of words, and savor the deep, sustaining beauty of the writing life.

Welcome back to the podcast -- I'm so glad you're here!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of building your author platform? Not sure where to start or how to connect with your readers? You’re not alone! 

In this week’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sit down with author and certified book coach Nicole Meier to break it all down into simple, actionable steps.

Nicole is the author of The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay, and The Second Chance Supper Club, and her latest book, City of Books, is out now! She’s also a developmental editor and co-founder of Bookworks, where she helps writers create an engaging author platform that aligns with their goals.

In our conversation, Nicole shares why so many writers feel stuck when it comes to marketing themselves—and how to move past the overwhelm. If you’ve ever thought, Do I have to be on every social media platform? Do I need a newsletter? What kind of content should I even be sharing?—this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways:

✅ Start with Your “Why” – Before diving into social media or email marketing, take a moment to reflect on what you want from your platform. Do you want to connect with readers? Build credibility? Attract an agent? Understanding your purpose will help you make smarter choices.

✅ Go Where Your Readers Are – Not every platform is right for every author. Romance writers might thrive on Instagram, while nonfiction writers may find their audience on LinkedIn. Nicole shares how to identify the best place to focus your energy.

✅ Less is More – The biggest mistake writers make is trying to be everywhere at once. Nicole recommends choosing one platform and showing up consistently rather than spreading yourself too thin. Quality and consistency matter more than quantity!

✅ Be Authentic – You don’t have to dance on TikTok or create elaborate content if it doesn’t feel right for you. Share your writing journey, behind-the-scenes moments, and insights into your creative process—authenticity is what truly connects readers to authors.

✅ Newsletters Are Gold – Social media is great for visibility, but email lists convert better when it comes to book sales. Nicole explains why a newsletter (via Substack or another platform) can be a game-changer for your author career.

✅ Avoid Common Mistakes – Nicole highlights the top three mistakes authors make: not knowing their purpose, overcommitting to too many platforms, and feeling like they’re not “worthy” of having a platform. She reassures us that small, consistent efforts are what really matter.

If you want a step-by-step plan to grow your audience, this episode could be exactly what you need!

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had an absolute blast chatting with sci-fi suspense author JC Spark about her thrilling debut novel, Dire Contact: No Brainer Book 1. 

JC is a recent graduate of my First Book Finish program, so it was a real delight to catch up!

If you love books that keep you up at night turning pages, this one’s for you! JC describes Dire Contact as “if Good Omens and Doctor Who had a baby.” (I mean, come on—how fun does that sound?) 

But beyond the book itself, we dive deep into her incredible journey from idea to published novel, including the challenges of outlining a complex, multi-POV sci-fi series and navigating the world of self-publishing.

Some highlights from our conversation:

📌 From Spreadsheet to Page-Turner: JC shares how she meticulously plotted her book using a detailed spreadsheet (yes, she’s a planner!) and how early on, she realized she had not one but three books in the making.

📌 Crowdfunding for Authors: Instead of taking the traditional publishing route, JC launched her book via a crowdfunding campaign on BackerKit’s Booktopia. She opens up about why she chose this path, the highs and lows of the campaign, and the joy of building a community around her book.

📌 Illustrated Special Editions: JC went the extra mile with her book by incorporating stunning character artwork inside her special editions. She shares how she worked with an illustrator and how she’s using these visuals across social media to build her book world.

📌 Publishing in Two Languages: Did you know Dire Contact was released in both English and German? JC walks us through the challenges of managing two versions of her book, from translation to marketing (and even a little spine-labeling mishap she learned the hard way!).

📌 Lessons from Self-Publishing: From finding the right printer to getting the perfect cover (after a few failed attempts), JC offers some hard-earned wisdom for anyone thinking about going indie with their book.

And exciting news—JC’s next book, Space Time: No Brainer Book 2, launches via crowdfunding on March 25th, alongside the wide release of Dire Contact on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and more. 

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking your book from an idea to a reality, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and real talk about what it takes to make it happen.

👉 Grab your copy of Dire Contact here!

Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Am I really a writer?” or “Is my work even good enough?” If so, you’re not alone! 

Confidence is something so many writers struggle with, which is why I’m thrilled to bring you this week’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show featuring confidence coach and book editor, Kirsten McNeill.

Kirsten is the founder of Worthy Writers Editing and the host of the Worthy Writers Podcast. She helps writers break through self-doubt, embrace their creative journey, and build a writing life filled with passion and confidence. 

If you’ve ever hesitated to share your work or doubted your ability to finish a book, this episode is packed with insights just for you!

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

✅ The real reason self-doubt keeps holding you back—and how to break free from it.
✅ Why embracing imperfection is a game-changer for your writing.
✅ How your why can fuel your confidence and motivation.
✅ The connection between craft and confidence—and why you don’t need to be an expert to start.
✅ Simple, practical strategies to boost your belief in yourself as a writer.

Kirsten also introduces her Feed Your Horses Confidence Thought Exercise, a fun and insightful workbook designed to help you reframe negative thoughts and build a more confident writing mindset. You can grab your free copy here!

If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and want to feel more confident about your writing, don’t miss this episode.

Hey there, Writer! Welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show.

This week, I had an inspiring conversation with Laura Jevtich—a writer, author, and social media creator with a fascinating journey that took her from geology to writing memoirs and beyond.

Laura’s story is anything but conventional. Originally trained as a geologist, she spent over a decade in the field before jumping ship during the Y2K era to become a computer trainer. This shift led her to start her own business in 2003, helping realtors with website content and blog posts. Little did she know that this early experience in writing would pave the way for her future as an author.

In 2005, Laura and her husband Sasha made a bold decision that would change their lives forever—they bought a truck camper and hit the road, embracing a nomadic lifestyle that was nearly unheard of in their Northern Virginia community. As they traveled, Laura began documenting their journey, which led to the creation of her memoir, Unusual Adventures Traveling Through Life: A Memoir of Frugalness to Financial Freedom.

Their journey wasn’t just about travel; it was about reclaiming their time and energy. The couple realized that homeownership was holding them back from the adventurous life they craved. So, in 2006, after a six-week sabbatical, they sold their house and nearly all their possessions, choosing instead to live full-time in their RV. Their travels took them to national parks across the U.S., where Laura worked as a park ranger in places like the Grand Canyon and Canyonlands. Along the way, she continued writing, capturing their experiences in long-form articles and blog posts.

By 2018, Laura decided to take a break from the road, settling in Pahrump, Nevada, where she and her husband built a home. But the writing never stopped. Encouraged by her father, she pivoted from writing about organization and minimalism to focusing on her memoir. 

We talked about how she dived into the writing world, reading memoirs, joining online communities, and learning the craft of storytelling. In 2022, she committed to finishing her memoir, winning NaNoWriMo by typing up her handwritten manuscript and completing the draft. After a rigorous self-editing process, she published the book in July 2023.

Laura didn't stop there. She returned to her unfinished book on organizing, completing and publishing it in early 2024. She has since been deeply involved in the writing community, attending conferences like 20 Books to Vegas (now Author Nation) and embracing direct sales and marketing strategies.

Now, Laura has once again jumped ship—this time from nonfiction to fiction. She’s currently writing a historical romance, sharing her journey on Ream Stories, and was even featured on their homepage for historical romance.

Throughout the episode, Laura shares valuable insights on following your passions, embracing change, and navigating the self-publishing world. She’s a true example of resilience and reinvention, proving that it’s never too late to chase a new dream.

Enjoy the episode!

If you’ve ever worried about using tropes in your writing—wondering if they make your story predictable or overdone—this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show is here to change your mind. 

I’m joined by Jennifer Hilt, USA Today bestselling author, story consultant, and the brilliant mind behind The Trope Thesaurus series. She’s an expert in crafting compelling plots and characters using tropes in fresh, exciting ways.

We often hear about “tired tropes” or “overused storylines,” but Jennifer breaks down why tropes are actually the essential building blocks of storytelling. She explains how they create familiarity and connection with readers while still allowing for creativity and originality. But tropes are at play everywhere -- the trick is knowing how to twist them in unexpected ways so they feel new.

Jennifer shares how she first became fascinated by tropes during the pandemic, diving deep into books, movies, and TV shows to analyze what makes stories work. She also clarifies the difference between tropes and stereotypes—tropes are neutral storytelling tools, while stereotypes often come with negative connotations. By understanding this distinction, writers can use tropes effectively without falling into lazy or problematic storytelling.

Understanding how tropes function can be a game-changer, especially if you’re feeling stuck in the middle of your book. Jennifer shares practical ways to use tropes to guide your story forward. Instead of staring at a blank page, ask yourself: What tropes am I already using? Can I flip one on its head? Can I combine multiple tropes to create something fresh? This can help you revitalize your plot and character arcs, keeping both you and your readers engaged.

Jennifer also has a free trope list to help spark new ideas in your writing! You can find it in the show notes, along with links to her books, including The Trope Thesaurus, The Horror Trope Thesaurus, and The Trope Thesaurus: Romance.

So grab your notebook, tune in, and get ready to embrace the power of tropes in your storytelling!

Have you ever sat down to write only to suddenly need to do the dishes, scroll TikTok, or reorganize your bookshelf? You’re not alone! 

Writing resistance is real, and it can show up as procrastination, perfectionism, self-doubt, or just an overwhelming sense of stuckness.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I talk with Monica Hay, a writer, coach, and mentor who has spent years studying the brain science of writing resistance. She shares why resistance happens, how it’s completely normal, and—most importantly—how to work with your brain, not against it, to build a sustainable writing practice.

For many of us, writing was easy as kids. We wrote stories just for fun, without that nagging inner critic. But as we got older, perfectionism crept in. We started worrying about whether our writing was good enough, if we were real writers, or if our stories would ever get published.

Monica shares that resistance isn’t about laziness or lack of talent—it’s just how our brains are wired. It all comes down to a battle between:

🧠 The Prefrontal Cortex – The part of the brain that wants to write and accomplish long-term goals.
⚡ The Amygdala – The “dramatic little biatch” (as Monica calls it!) that constantly scans for danger and tries to conserve energy.

So, if resistance is always going to show up, how do we move past it? Monica shares practical, brain-friendly strategies that make writing easier and more enjoyable.

In this week's episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re diving deep into the world of character development with the amazing Megan Fuentes! 

Megan is a writer of flash fiction and historical fiction, specializing in strong female leads and captivating narratives set against the backdrop of real-world events—especially the fascinating history of World’s Fairs.

In our conversation, Megan shares her journey as a writer, from her earliest days of storytelling to the moment she realized she had no idea how to create a proper character arc. (Yes, even published authors hit those moments of doubt!) 

She talks about working with a former Penguin Random House editor who gave her the eye-opening feedback that changed everything, and how she then dove headfirst into mastering character development.

If you’ve ever struggled with crafting compelling character arcs, you won’t want to miss this episode! Megan breaks down her process for building deep, meaningful character transformations using a modified version of Dan Harmon’s Plot Embryo and Eva Deverell’s One-Page Novel method. She walks us through an 8-step framework that helps writers ensure their characters grow in believable, emotionally satisfying ways.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to write characters that truly resonate with readers. Whether you’re writing historical fiction, romance, or any other genre, Megan’s insights will help you craft deeper, more compelling protagonists who keep readers hooked.

This week, we're diving deep into the art of crafting heroic characters—the ones who overcome obstacles, stand for something greater, and keep readers turning the page. Joining us is Mary Dezember, award-winning author of Wild Conviction and a seasoned writer of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Mary’s novel, Wild Conviction, is a historical, socially conscious epic adventure with a touch of magic. Set in 1858—a tumultuous period just before the U.S. Civil War—the story follows Twilight, a young woman who discovers life-altering secrets on her 16th birthday. Raised in the North by an abolitionist grandmother, Twilight is forced to return to her parents in Memphis, Tennessee—the largest inland trading port for cotton and enslaved people. As she grapples with the burden of truth, she embarks on a dangerous journey, trying to reconcile the world as it is with the world she wants to help create.

Mary shares her process of writing heroic characters, exploring what makes them compelling. Heroism, she explains, isn’t just about grand, world-changing acts. Sometimes, it’s about inner transformation, fighting personal battles, and standing by one’s values despite opposition. Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir, or poetry, a heroic character gives your story urgency, emotional depth, and a sense of purpose.

We also discuss the challenges of writing historical fiction. Mary shares her meticulous research process to ensure historical accuracy, while also making creative decisions to avoid reinforcing outdated narratives. For example, she chose not to use certain historically accurate but harmful language, opting instead for inventive, respectful alternatives.

Mary shares her framework for believing in your story, which includes:

• Character connection – making characters human through universal emotions and struggles.
• Power of urgency – crafting a compelling story that demands to be heard.
• Magic of the muse – embracing the creative flow and trusting your instincts.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt about your writing or felt unsure if your story is worth telling, this episode is for you. Your voice, your perspective, and your characters matter.

Hey there, and welcome back to another episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show! This time, we’re diving into all things editing with the wonderful Stacy Juba, founder of Shortcuts for Writers. 

Stacy has been crafting stories since her school days, and her passion for writing has led her to publish everything from mystery novels featuring determined women sleuths to sweet and sassy chick-lit, plus books for children and young adults. In other words, Stacy really knows her stuff—and she’s here to share her editing know-how so we can all polish up our manuscripts and become better writers.

In this chat, Stacy breaks down the different types of edits your manuscript might need. We cover developmental editing, which looks at the big-picture elements like plot, structure, characterization, and pacing. Get those foundations right, and the rest of your editing becomes so much easier.

Next, she explains line editing, the stage where you tighten your prose, eliminate redundant words, and make your sentences sing. Think of it as the polishing phase for your unique writing voice. 

Finally, there’s copy editing, which handles all those nitty-gritty grammar, punctuation, and spelling details. 

One of the coolest resources Stacy shared is her Looks and Gazes Quick Start Guide, a handy list of fresh ways to describe how characters look at each other—so you’re not stuck writing “He looked at her” or “She gazed at him” for the thousandth time! It’s completely free and a perfect example of Stacy’s knack for simplifying the editing process.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the idea of polishing your manuscript or you’re ready to level up your writing skills, you won’t want to miss Stacy’s insights. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident about tackling your own edits—plus, you’ll discover new tools to make the process smoother and more fun.

Listen in, take notes, and get ready to embrace the power of editing! Your future, fully polished novel will thank you.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda speaks with bestselling author and TEDx speaker Marcy Pusey -- diving into the often-feared challenge of writer’s block, exploring its deeper causes and offering insights on how writers can overcome it. 

Marcy, who is also a therapist, shares her unique perspective on how writing can be a deeply therapeutic process, connecting the act of storytelling to emotional healing. She explains that writer’s block is not always about a lack of creativity but may be linked to unprocessed emotions or trauma, stored in the brainstem, which can affect one’s ability to find the right words.

The episode breaks down the various types of creative blocks that writers experience, such as mental, emotional, and scarcity blocks. She emphasizes that these blocks are often rooted in deeply held beliefs or fears, such as the idea that there’s not enough time, money, or talent to succeed. Understanding these psychological hurdles can help writers address the root causes of their resistance and find ways to move past them. 

In addition to offering tools for overcoming writer’s block, Marcy also addresses the debilitating issue of imposter syndrome, which often holds writers back, especially those just starting out. She encourages writers to challenge their limiting beliefs and embrace the idea that they are on a journey of growth. By focusing on learning and evolving, writers can shift away from the perfectionism that keeps them stuck.

This episode is a must-listen for any writer struggling with creative blocks or self-doubt, as Marcy offers both practical advice and emotional support to help you move forward with your writing projects.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas sits down with Mia Botha, a seasoned writing coach and creator of popular writing challenges like "12 Stories in 12 Months" and "30 Days of Flash Fiction." The conversation dives into the common struggles writers face, particularly the ever-present hurdle of procrastination.

Mia shares her unique journey from grappling with unfinished manuscripts to creating community-driven deadlines that transformed her productivity. She explains how procrastination can sneakily disguise itself as "productive" activities—like cleaning grout or taking yet another writing class. Recognizing this, Mia emphasizes the importance of balancing indulgence in these distractions with discipline and accountability. For her, outsourcing discipline through public deadlines and collaborative challenges has been a game-changer.

The episode also explores the concept of "procraftination," where writers spend more time learning about writing than actually writing. While craft development is essential, Mia advises being mindful of when it shifts from helpful to avoidant behavior. For her, it’s crucial to focus on writing more than procrastinating, even if the writing feels imperfect or experimental. In fact, she believes that magic often lies in the brave, "wonky" stories.

This episode is packed with practical advice and a warm reminder that writing is a journey best traveled with intention, community, and a bit of self-compassion. Whether you’re struggling with procrastination or looking for ways to reignite your creative spark, this discussion offers encouragement and actionable takeaways to help you build a resilient and joyful writing life.

In this first episode of Season 6 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas dives into the world of nonfiction writing with expert Meghan Stevenson. 

Meghan, a seasoned professional in crafting nonfiction book proposals, shares her wealth of experience, having helped her clients secure over $5 million in publishing advances and contributing to the success of 16 New York Times bestsellers.

The conversation explores the distinct differences between nonfiction and fiction markets, emphasizing how nonfiction is driven by purpose—whether to educate, solve a problem, or inspire change. Meghan highlights the importance of recognizing books as products, a mindset shift essential for authors looking to navigate the publishing world successfully.

The discussion also demystifies the nonfiction book proposal—a pivotal tool for securing an agent or publisher. Meghan likens it to a “mullet of publishing,” combining business-driven content in the front with creative writing in the back. Proposals typically include an overview, chapter summaries, a sample chapter, and business sections detailing marketing strategies, comparative titles, and a compelling author bio. Meghan strongly advises against writing the full book before selling it, as the publishing process often involves refining and reshaping the idea.

The episode is packed with valuable advice for writers aiming to break into the nonfiction space. Meghan’s blend of candid humor and actionable insights provides a clear roadmap for authors to navigate the challenging but rewarding world of publishing. From recognizing the business side of writing to understanding the importance of collaboration and patience, listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed as a nonfiction author.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, expert, or simply someone with a great idea, this episode serves as an encouraging guide to bringing your nonfiction book dreams to life. Rhonda and Meghan's warm and engaging conversation reminds writers that with the right tools and mindset, they can overcome the hurdles of publishing and create lasting impact with their work.

In this last episode of Season 5 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about a step-by-step guide on how to create your own DIY writing retreats.

These DIY retreats, which I’ve organized for myself for over 20 years and now include in my First Book Finish program, have helped me reconnect with my projects and make significant progress on my manuscripts.

Here's a link to where you can find the DIY Writing Retreats resource I mention in the show.

That is it for Season 5 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. We are going to be kicking off Season 6 in about four weeks time. See you soon!

--Rhonda xo

In this week’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I interview Jeanne Blasberg. Jeanne is a bestselling author known for her novels Eden and The Nine. Her latest novel, Daughter of a Promise, came out in April 2024. 

This latest novel is a contemporary retelling of the Biblical story of David and Bathsheba, set in modern-day New York. Jeanne explains that while she kept the essence of the original plot, she made significant changes to reflect contemporary themes, including giving her heroine more agency than Bathsheba had in the Bible.

Our conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of reimagining classic stories in a modern context. Jeanne was inspired to explore the timelessness of themes like consent, attraction, and power dynamics, especially during the #MeToo movement. 

By writing from the perspective of Betsy (her modern Bathsheba), Jeanne gives a voice to a character who, in the original story, is largely voiceless. 

Towards the end of the interview, we also get into indie publishing vs. traditional publishing – a topic I know a lot of think about! 

This week's episode from The Resilient Writers Radio Show features an interview with Sue Brown-Moore, a book coach and developmental editor. We go deep into the intricacies of developmental editing, particularly for fiction and romance authors. The conversation dives into the purpose, timing, and benefits of developmental editing.

When it comes to self-editing, Sue encourages writers to conduct their own developmental edits by stepping back from their manuscripts before revisiting them with fresh eyes. She  offers a free 30-minute webinar teaching authors to pre-edit their manuscripts to ensure foundational storytelling issues are addressed before a formal edit.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I host my friend, author and book coach Emma Dhesi, to explore the psychological and practical challenges that writers face, especially when completing a novel. 

Emma shares her personal journey of overcoming sporadic writing, highlighting how a realistic understanding of the difficulty of writing is crucial. She notes that aspiring authors often underestimate the work involved, partly due to idealized portrayals of writers in media. The conversation also covers Emma’s "four pillars" for a successful writing practice. This episode serves as a reminder of why writers started, encouraging enjoyment of small achievements and creative freedom.

Something a little different this week! In this episode, I am speaking with Brooks Elms, a professional screenwriter and coach who shares his insights into screenwriting. Our conversation covers both the technical and creative aspects of the craft, as well as tips for those who are new to screenwriting or looking to transition from other writing forms, such as novel writing.

Brooks offers advice for beginners, emphasizing the importance of just starting and having fun with the process. He suggests beginning with short scripts and experimenting with the unique structure of screenwriting, which relies heavily on what is seen and heard rather than interior thoughts. He breaks down the basics of screenplay formatting, including the use of slug lines and action lines, and encourages writers to focus on the subtext, which conveys a character's emotions and motivations through actions rather than explicit dialogue.

One of the key topics discussed is how screenwriting differs from other forms of writing, particularly novels. While novelists often rely on interiority to express characters' thoughts and feelings, screenwriters must find ways to show this visually. Brooks explains that a character's emotions can be revealed through subtle actions, gestures, or dialogue that suggests deeper meaning. For example, how a character enters a room can indicate their emotional state without them needing to state it outright.

Listen to the full episode to see if screenwriting is for you!

This week I have an interview with Kevin T. Johns, a writing coach and author who is also based in Ottawa, Canada, where I live. Our conversation revolves around the challenges aspiring authors face, particularly in completing their first draft, and how writers can better approach storytelling and the writing process.

Kevin emphasizes that many writers spend too much time perfecting their first few scenes, not realizing that once the manuscript is complete, those scenes often need rewriting or cutting. His key advice is to write the first draft quickly to have something to work with, as the real work begins during the revision process. Kevin also points out that the education system contributes to the misconception that writing is a one-and-done process, as students often submit essays without ever revising them.

Kevin’s approach to helping writers focuses on commercial genres, such as horror, romance, sci-fi, and fantasy, where there are clear expectations for plot structure and genre conventions. He runs a program called "Story Plan," which helps writers plan the fundamental aspects of their story, from genre and structure to character arcs and theme. He encourages writers to know their genre and the expectations readers have, as this forms a contract between the writer and the reader. Planning helps create a coherent story and gives the writer confidence as they move through the drafting process.

This week's episode features an interview with Janelle Hardy, a multifaceted creative with expertise in dance, somatic experiences, and memoir writing. We explore how body awareness influences creativity and our writing. Janelle shares her journey from feeling disembodied to becoming more connected through somatic practices and nervous system regulation. She emphasizes the importance of using the body as a resource in creative processes, such as memoir writing, to avoid mental burnout and re-traumatization.

Our discussion concludes with thoughts on how memoirs can be a healing process and a means of making meaning from life experiences, with Janelle advocating for working slowly and intentionally with both mind and body.

This week, I interview Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, an author, speaker, and Choctaw storyteller from Texas who has published 19 books. 

Sarah writes historical fiction, primarily focusing on American Indian characters, particularly from her own Choctaw heritage. Her *Choctaw Tribune* series, for example, highlights the Choctaw people, although she also includes characters from other tribes like the Chickasaw and Cherokee. 

Sarah shares the importance of writing about American Indian characters authentically. We discuss her frustrations with historical fiction's common stereotypes and how Native characters were often depicted inaccurately. 

And then we talk about the use of dictation in writing, a technique she has mastered to write more efficiently and comfortably. Dictation has doubled her writing speed, allowing her to produce up to 4,000 words an hour, making it easier on her body and reducing the exhaustion associated with typing.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm chatting with author and life coach Riley Lindhardt. We dive into Riley's journey as a writer, her experience as a life coach, and how she helps other writers overcome mental blocks to finish their novels.

Throughout the episode, Riley offers practical advice for writers, such as how to set daily writing goals, develop detailed plot outlines, and use life coaching techniques to maintain momentum. She encourages writers to focus on becoming the type of person who can write great books, rather than fixating on publication from the start.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm interviewing my friend Traci Skuce. We get into her philosophy on embodied writing, which integrates body awareness and mindfulness into the creative process. Embodied writing involves tapping into the physical, emotional, and sensory experiences of both the writer and the characters, creating richer, more nuanced narratives. 

Traci encourages writers to slow down, fully inhabit scenes, and write from a place of presence rather than rushing to finish or relying solely on their intellect. She emphasizes the importance of patience, deep inquiry, and allowing stories to unfold organically, without adhering strictly to templates or formulas. 

Join us for this episode and use what you learn to go deeper with your own writing!

Sign up for Traci's new workshop here: You're Not Doing It Wrong!

Editing your book can be fraught. There are so many different types of editing: developmental, line, copy, proofreading. Which ones do you need most? How do you prioritize? And what should you expect from each kind of editor? In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm talking to the editing experts at Gemini Writers Studio to get answers to these questions and more!

Wondering how to outline a book that works without spending hours and hours detailing every beat in a spreadsheet? My guest Lewis Jorstad of The Novel Smithy teaches a new method called Intuitive Outlining. Listen to the episode to hear us talk about this (and so much more!) and then be sure to sign up for his free class on Intuitive Outlining happening on September 12th!

This episode features an interview with Meggie Lee Calvin, an Amazon bestselling author, coach, and speaker, who specializes in helping spiritually attuned writers market and sell their books. The conversation delves into Meg’s journey from writing plays as a child to becoming a published author and coach for writers. In addition to her spiritual approach, Meg discusses the practical aspects of becoming an Amazon bestselling author. She outlines 7 pillars for achieving bestseller status, which include creating a compelling book cover, developing a strong personal brand, and utilizing organic social media marketing. Meg emphasizes the importance of building a promotional team and doing thorough research on Amazon's algorithms to maximize a book's visibility and sales.

You can find out more about Meg at megcalvin.com.

In this last episode of Season 4 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about how to choose a writing project, as well as the mindset shifts we need to make in order to stick with the project we've chosen. Let's banish Shiny New Idea Syndrome once and for all!

Here's a link to where you can find the Essential Book Outline resource I mention in the show.

I'm taking a few weeks off now to record new episodes. See you soon for Season 5 of the show!

--Rhonda xo

This week on the podcast, I'm speaking with a poet and that always means opening our heart, doesn't it? Join us as we explore the heart-centred, authentic and more vulnerable sides of this art of writing -- and enjoy a little poetry break as well!

Meredith Heller is the author of Writing by Heart, Write a Poem, Save Your Life, and several poetry collections. A poet, singer-songwriter, avid nature lover, and educator with degrees inwriting and education, she leads writing workshops online and in-person at schools, juvenile detention centers, women’s prisons, and wellness retreats. Visit her online at MeredithHeller.com.

Writing the book is one thing, but many authors cringe when it comes to put ourselves "out there" and ask people to buy the book.

Today I'm speaking with book marketing expert Emily Enger, who advocates for "good enough" book marketing so that you don't have to sell your soul while selling your book. Listen in as we dive into how to do just that!

You can learn more about Emily at: emilyenger.com

In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m speaking with Chelene Knight, an acclaimed author known for her novel "Junie" and memoir "Dear Current Occupant." Chelene is also the founder of Breathing Space Creative, a literary studio focused on creative sustainability and coaching for writers. 

In this episode, we’re talking about Chelene's latest book, "Let It Go: Free Yourself from Old Beliefs and Find a New Path to Joy." The book explores themes of self-love and joy, topics she had only touched upon in her previous works. The process of writing the book helped Chelene uncover new aspects of herself and expanded her professionally and emotionally.

The book is organized by seasons, a structure that Chelene finds both practical and symbolic. Seasons act as pillars of stability, reflecting the cyclical nature of life and creativity. Chelene reveals that she adapts her personal and creative routines to different seasons, recognizing that each brings out different facets of her personality and work.

One unique feature of "Let It Go" is the inclusion of community call questions, designed to prompt introspection and clarity. Questions like "What do I need or want to make space for right now?" encourage readers to slow down and reflect on their inner lives. 

We also talk about the importance of setting boundaries to protect our writing time, especially given our busy schedules serving other writers. 

This is a special episode because I am sharing a replay from my First Book Finish program when we had Monique from Atticus.io come into to speak with us about how to use their easy software to format your books for self-publishing.

During the episode, Monique offers a special deal for listeners of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. Sign up for Atticus before the end of June and get access to their special online course on publishing for Indie authors! Go to:  https://www.atticus.io/resilient to get the course.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm speaking with author and publisher Lynne Golodner. Lynne is the author of nine books, as well as many articles, and host of the Make Meaning podcast.

Our discussion focuses on Lynne's writing journey, her latest novel "Woman of Valor," and her experiences within and outside the Orthodox Jewish community. We also talk about maintaining control over your story via self-publishing and dive into Lynne's experience creating a hybrid publishing company: Scotia Road Books.

This week on the podcast, I am delighted to be speaking with my friend Sara Power. We're talking about short stories! Sara has just published her first collection of stories, to much acclaim. We talk about the story as an offering and staying true to the story. If you're a lover of short stories, you don't want to miss this episode!

Sara Power’s stories have appeared in journals across Canada, the US, and the UK, and most recently in Best Canadian Stories 2024. Sara was a finalist for the RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award and received a nomination for a National Magazine Award in the fiction category. Her stories have been recognized with fiction awards from The Malahat Review, Riddle Fence, The Toronto Star, Prairie Fire Magazine, and The New Quarterly.

Sara completed a Bachelor of Science from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia. Originally from Labrador, Sara currently lives in Ottawa with her husband, three children, and coonhound. Her debut work is a collection of short stories: ART OF CAMOUFLAGE, just out with Freehand Books.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm chatting with Savannah Gilbo. Savannah Gilbo is a certified developmental editor and book coach who helps fiction authors write, edit, and publish stories that work. She’s also the host of the top-rated Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast, where she delivers weekly episodes full of simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away. When she’s not busy crafting her own stories, you can find Savannah curled up with a good book, a cozy blanket, and her three dogs. 

In this episode, we get into how to start writing a novel, covering five key areas that authors should consider before drafting: theme, genre, protagonist, setting, and plot.

Savannah emphasizes the importance of addressing these areas to create a solid foundation, which helps prevent common pitfalls like writing without a clear direction or having a protagonist without a clear goal. She also discusses the value of community for writers, sharing experiences, and overcoming self-doubt.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m chatting with my friend Danika Bloom. Danika is a USA Today bestselling romance author and the lead cheerleader at AuthorEverAfter.com where she mentors and supports pre-published romance writers to finish and indie publish their first books. Her most recent book is The Billionaire's Shrubbery.

We talk about writing romance novels, how to write sex scenes, as well as self-publishing, book promo and what makes for a great book cover...among other things!

This week, I'm speaking with Beth Kaplan -- a fellow Canadian author -- about writing non-fiction. We get into finding the right shape for memoir,  finding the thematic "hot moments" for your story, and the true nature of drafts.

Beth is a former actrress and the author of a biography and two memoirs -- All My Loving and Loose Woman. The latter was a finalist for the Whistler Independent Book Award. She also the author of True to Life, a textbook guide to creative writing. She has taught nonfiction writing at two Toronto universities for thirty years and is the winner of the University of Toronto’s Excellence in Teaching award.

Her new memoir-in-essays, Midlife Solo: Writing through Chaos to Find my Way in the World, was described in a newspaper review as “an extraordinary life, written with tremendous heart, insight, and humour.”

It’s currently available from the publisher, Mosaic Press,

https://mosaicpress.ca/products/midlife-solo 

More information about Beth, her teaching, books, articles, and blog, on her website

https://bethkaplan.ca/ 

This week on the podcast I'm speaking with Beth Barany,  and we get into story structure, play and experimenting -- especially for Science Fiction and Fantasy.
 
Beth is an award-winning novelist, master neurolinguistic programming practitioner, and certified creativity coach for writers. She's also an experienced international speaker and podcaster. When she's not helping writers, Beth writes magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives. And she makes short films and TV shows. You can learn more about Beth and sign up for her newsletter here. She also has a great podcast for Science Fiction and Fantasy writers, called How to Write the Future.

This week, I'm chatting with Karen Lea Armstrong, about her novel DROWNPROOFING, which is set in Northern Ontario. We talk about what it means to write a so-called "regional novel" -- one with such a strong sense of place. And we talk about Karen's publishing journey. Karen was in my First Book Finish program, so it's such a delight to see this book out in the world.

In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Elizabeth Chatsworth, who is the author of the steampunk fantasy series, The Brass Queen. She’s also been in my First Book Finish program. We talk about how she wrote the sequel to The Brass Queen – Grand Tour: Brass Queen II – while facing some challenging life circumstances, and the roller coaster ride of publishing that followed.

Writing can be challenging at times, even more so when we’re tired. The problem nowadays is that it seems like we’re all always tired. Doesn't it feel that way to you?

If we want to write for the rest of our lives and finish our books, we need to make sure we’re getting enough rest so we have the energy to write. But don’t fret—there are lots of little steps we can take to make a big impact on how we generate new energy as part of our creative process.

In this final episode of Season 3, I'm going back to interviews with writers who answered my final question: "What does it mean to you to be a resilient writer?" Listen to see if their answers match up with your understanding of what it means.

In this final episode of this Finishers mini-series, I am sharing some of the lessons I've learned in the past four years from helping nearly 200 writers to finish their books -- finish drafts, revise, edit and get their books out into the world

There are times when we wonder if it's all worth it, if our intention to finish a book and get it out into the world really matters. Join me for the first episode in a series dedicated to all the writers intending to finish their books in 2024.

Here's a truth: no one really has time to write a book, especially a first book. Yet we can still manage to get them written and out into the world. In today's episode I'll walk through how you can fit finishing your book into an already busy life. And here's a free resource for you as well -- my guide called 30 New Ways to Find More Time to Write.

In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through the six phases of writing a book, which will not only make the overall book-writing process easier, but will help you defeat your self-doubt and get your book out into the world. 

As we start work on our book and the idea starts to take shape, the amount of work a book-length project takes can feel overwhelming. You’re left paralyzed and with a half-done draft—so now what? 

You have to change the way you view your book so you can turn it into a manageable project. Don’t let fear hold you back. It’s time for you to finish! Today's episode will show you how.

Writing a book and getting it published is a wonderful, fulfilling process… and it’s also very intimidating, especially for first-time authors and beginning writers. 

But don’t worry, writer - there’s a lot you can learn to make these processes easier, and Ellen Baker knows all about them. As she’ll tell you, some things take a lot of trial and error, but in the long run, they’ll help make your book the best it can be. 

Doing research may be the highlight of the writing process for you, or it might be the part you put off as long as possible. Either way, research is critical—but it doesn't have to involve sitting at the computer for hours. 

Instead, author Mary Carroll Moore used the people around her as resources. Their insight helped make Mary’s writing accurate and engaging enough for her audiobook to remain on the Amazon bestseller list to this day. 

Writer, have you ever been afraid of sharing your work? Finding the courage to do so can set you down a new path in your writing life, perhaps one you never thought was possible. 

Author Esther Schultz has been writing her whole life, but she never shared her work with anybody until her mother-in-law moved in. But after receiving encouragement from her, Esther took the leap into writing books and becoming independently published.

Life has a wonderful habit of getting in the way of our writing time. But if we want to finish our books, we can't stand by and let it happen. 

We need strategies to make time to get to the page. Author Debra Martens developed her own while constantly moving between countries and dealing with recurring illness, and even uses a lesson from time spent in recovery to this day to bolster her writing life. 

As writers, we may sometimes write myths - but we can also be affected by them. I’m not talking about fantastical stories in this case, though. I’m talking about myths about writing, which harm us and can keep us from making progress, or keep us from writing, period. 

This week, we'll explore three myths that impact writers and how, once we know how to identify them, we can work through the issues they may cause in our writing lives. 

As writers, we can be avoidant when it comes to sharing our writing. It can be an uncomfortable experience, especially with something as intimate and close to our lives as a memoir.  

Author Stephanie Kain faced this dilemma when writing her memoir, and it left her wondering how she could get past her discomfort, especially when living in a small town. But eventually she had to choose what was more important - her comfort, or sharing her story.

Kimberly Ward knew she wanted to write a book about her experience taking her family sailing around the Caribbean. She came to my Book Finishers Bootcamp and took what she learned there to finally FINISH the book that had been years in the making. In this episode, Kimberly shares her experience as a new Indie writer. Listen for tips on finishing a book started  a long time ago and for tips on Indie publishing. 

Achieving a state of flow in your writing life may sound difficult, or even like an impossible dream. But there are concrete ways that you can cultivate more flow in your life, and you don’t need anything special to get started. 

Insights from the field of positive psychology can have a huge impact on us as writers, and by learning a little more about it, you can get closer to living a writing life that you love. 

I'm so pleased to welcome my friend Mari Ruddy to the show today. Mari is an alumna of my First Book Finish program, and her new book is just being released. Mari leaves nothing out in sharing her long and satisfying book completion journey with us, including lessons about self-publishing a quality book and how she raised the necessary funds to get her book out in the world.

Get Mari's new book here: Extreme Healing: Reclaim Your Life + Learn To Love Your Body.

Welcome Resilient Writer! We're here for you with another Season of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. Inspired by your feedback and the thousands of downloads so far, here's what you can expect from Season 3.

Our identities, experiences, and connections all play into our writing. They’re convenient sources of inspiration, and they allow us to write confidently. But does writing our own experience let us connect with others?

Author Gary Barwin says yes, as he believes that if we analyze how our own lives are interesting and why we write from them, we can form a connection by sharing the experience of what it is to be in the world. We get into the role of the writer in today's world and more in today's episode.

This is it, writer: we’ve reached the end of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Season 2. Tune in to this episode for a brief recap of what’s been covered in this Season, as well as a quick look into what you can expect in Season 3. 

We’ll also talk about persistence, which is key for us as resilient writers, and the upcoming Book Finishers Bootcamp. Thanks so much for listening to the show!

As writers, we have a lot of feelings about finishing our books. But whether we feel excited or apprehensive at the idea, we can’t finish our books unless we’re ready. 

Now, being ready doesn’t mean having a completed draft. It certainly helps, but getting to the point of being ready to finish can come much, much earlier in the process than that. In fact, if you’ve ever dreamt of finishing a book, you’re already part-way there.  In this episode, we'll look at what a readiness to finish really looks like.

When Merilyn Simonds was asked by a friend to be the author of her biography, Merilyn agreed. The problem Merilyn then ran into was that she didn’t like or read biographies, but couldn’t abandon her promise.

It wasn’t until Merilyn made an observation, one deeply connected to her friend’s life story, that the biography began to flow. And from the beginning, Merilyn’s ideas allowed her to follow her usual, and unusual path of breaking with writing convention. 

Part of the writing process is learning, though that may mean learning things besides new skills. This was the case for author Jane Baird Warren when she was in her MFA program and discovered the perfect genre for her was one she originally didn’t want to write in. 

Along the way, Jane also learned that writing one book doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to write the next.

Now, as a published children’s literature author with Scholastic, Jane is working towards writing YA novels that break the mould. After all, who says adults can’t enjoy Kid Lit, too? 

A long writing session may sound tantalising, like the “perfect” time for writing. But there is no perfect time to write, and the very idea keeps us from making progress. In fact, it can even send us down the rabbit hole of creative anxiety. 

But Short Time writing sessions are our friend—they allow us to stay consistent and connected to our work. All we have to do is find the time, which is easier than you might think! 

When we’re looking for a new writing project, it might crop up in an unexpected place. At least, that’s what Rona Maynard discovered. 

She needed a new writing project after leaving behind her role as an editor with a major women's magazine, and she found her inspiration through fresh eyes after adopting her dog, Casey.  But Rona didn’t realize she'd found her new project, or even that it was a memoir in essays, until much, much later. After all, who would start writing a memoir through Facebook posts?

You might want an MFA, but is attending an MFA program right for you? 

They aren’t for everyone, and for some, programs aren’t even accessible with barriers like location, cost, and regular life responsibilities getting in the way. 

But Gabriela Pereira has the solution. She’s the founder of DIY MFA—born from her love of attending an MFA program herself and recognizing these barriers—the MFA for those who aren’t served by the traditional MFA system. 

Inspiration can come from many places, but what really matters is how we writers choose to use it. 

Take Anita Lahey, poet and nonfiction writer, who let her inspiration drive her poetry to new heights. And this led her to co-create a new project, FIRE MONSTER, one unlike anything she’d previously done: a graphic novel in verse, created in collaboration with an artist/illustrator. 

Remember, there is so much more to writing than just what words we are able to put on the page.

Some stories come along and take us over. It feels like we're compelled to write them, almost as if we had no choice. Historical fiction can have that sense of urgency for some writers, and because the historical reality comes with such high stakes -- as in the case of the Second World War, for example -- these stories also make for fabulous novels.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, award-winning author Natalie Morrill takes us behind the scenes in writing historical fiction. We talk research, knowing when it's your story to write, sensitivity readers and more!

Feedback is a great writing tool—if you get it at the right time. Writers have a bad habit of asking for feedback way too early in the first draft process, when often they’re not really looking for feedback, but something else entirely...

But this is something we can avoid, as Rhonda Douglas tells us in this Episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. All it takes is knowing when you’re actually ready for feedback, and what kind of feedback you might actually find most useful.

Self-publishing gives us a lot of freedom, but it also means we have a lot of learning to do. Especially when it comes to marketing our own books. 

In today’s internet age, we can reach countless people. But how do we reach the ones who want to buy our books? Shelby Leigh, book marketing strategist, has the answer, and all the tips you need to use TikTok (BookTok) to get your story the attention it deserves. Shelby is a bestselling poet, so she definitely knows whereof she speaks! (For those in The Writer's Flow Studio, Shelby's also our Visiting Writer for August 2023!)

If you knew your writing personality, it would make developing a writing routine a lot easier. And thanks to Brooke Adams Law of We Are Writing Brave, you can learn your writing personality through a simple quiz.

Besides writing routine know-how, Brooke also has a wealth of knowledge on hybrid publishing. As a book coach, Brooke was introduced to the world of hybrid publishing thanks to a question posed by a client—which led her to become a publisher herself. She shares her journey with us in this episode.

Tempted as you may be to break the mould, sometimes sticking with the classics is the way to go. Specifically in today’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re talking about a classic story structure—the essential three act structure.

In this first episode of Season 2, Rhonda Douglas explains in some detail how the three act structure works, and how it helps with everything from plots to scenes to helping us avoid a passive protagonist. Readers love a story that wraps up neatly, and we can use the structure to ensure we don’t leave important threads hanging. 

Thanks for being with us for Season 1 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show! We've loved being on this journey with you and hope you have enjoyed it too.

We're now preparing Season 2 for you which will air in early July 2023. So stay tuned! And if you haven't yet written a review, would you take a second and do that now? Thank you! And we'll talk again soon.

For writers, creative anxiety is almost unavoidable. It can make us doubt ourselves, our work, and whether we should continue—which makes it critical that we learn how to manage it. 

There are plenty of different techniques out there, and in this week's episode, host Rhonda Douglas share techniques she finds make a big difference, and walks us through implementing them in our own writing lives.  

Writers, do you make sure you take time to play? No? Well today’s guest, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, is here to tell us why we should. 

In fact, she’ll tell us about four Ps that are very important—play (of course), passive protags, planning, and pantsing. With the right know-how, we can make our stories stronger, and shorten our writing time. As Gail says, a clear map can take us from nine years writing a draft to one. 

Don’t let the title mislead you—author Michael Blouin knows a lot. Specifically, he knows a lot about persistence, and how it can impact your writing life forever.

Michael’s learned firsthand how almost giving up could have cost him big, and how we can’t let rejection bog us down. After all, sometimes all it takes to change everything is one acceptance letter, and the next thing you know, your writing is going to the moon!

In the world of publishing, small and independent presses don’t get nearly enough love.  Large publishing houses may have all the metaphorical glitz and glamour, but working with an independent press has its own advantages. 

Aimée Parent Dunn, owner of Palimpsest Press, tells us what working with an independent press is like, from manuscript selection to the book’s release. Take some notes—you might learn that getting published by a small press is exactly right for you!

As writers, we have tons of tools at our disposal. Strategies, motivation, beloved writing utensils or software… 

But many writers are missing an incredibly valuable tool—self-compassion. In this solo episode, host Rhonda Douglas shares how we as writers can use just a little bit of grace and self-compassion to create a writing life we love. 

We need to make writing enjoyable if we want to love our craft. What better way to do that than showing ourselves some kindness when we write?

Indie publishing. Does that send shivers up your spine, or leave you buzzing with excitement? 

For author Emma Dhesi, it’s definitely  excitement. Becoming a self-published (also known as Indie) author is a fascinating process, and one that requires a lot of learning. 

But as Emma’s published books show, it’s one we can learn, and it gives us plenty of options and benefits that traditional publishing doesn’t. In fact, Indie publishing might be YOUR perfect publishing path.

Focus is both a great boon and a great curse to writers. We need it, but finding it can be difficult… and that was before we lived in a world built to distract us!

Luckily, there are specific techniques we can use to improve our focus. All we have to do is commit to being focused, and learn the techniques that work for us—taught this week by our podcast host, Rhonda Douglas.

In his new book, On Writing and Failure: Or, On the Peculiar Perseverance Required to Endure the Life of a Writer, author Stephen Marche argues that writing is, and always will be, an act defined by failure. The best plan is to just get used to it. 

Join me for this interview as we talk about facing rejection, artistic failure and continuing to write anyway. (And we go on a little tangent about AI there at the end!)

The writing process has many critical aspects, but a very important one often falls to the wayside: writing community.

Today’s episode features poet and short fiction author Frances Boyle, who tells us the ins and outs of her experience with the writing community. We’ll learn about the value of writing groups, connections in the community, how to approach rejections and how Frances finds inspiration in the compost heap.

Being a writer can feel lonely and difficult, but it doesn’t have to. There’s always ways for us to find and connect with community. 

For writers, it’s not just a work-life balance—it’s a work-life-writing balance. And we have advice for finding yours!

In this interview, we learn about Elisabeth de Mariaffi’s journey of finding time to write while working, being a mom, and rolling with life’s punches. And of course, we get tips for writing literary thrillers, ones Elisabeth herself discovered while writing The Devil You Know. 

Maybe organizing your writing life can be thrilling too!

Novel writing involves brainstorming, research, drafting, and editing. Barbara Joan Scott has inside tips on it all. 

In this interview, we discuss Barbara’s journey while writing The Taste of Hunger. No stone is left unturned—we learn about the writing process from concept all the way to the reviews that come after publication. 

Remember: even the authors of our favourite book didn’t write the perfect first draft. They always turn out in a different shape. 

“I’ve been published!” is a phrase authors dream of saying. Of course, authors know being published is no small feat. 

One who knows this particularly well is Kate Heartfield, who had to wait years to get published. Now a bestselling author, Kate has plenty of tips on persisting with your writing even when you’re discouraged.

She also reminds us that being published isn’t the end-all be-all of being an author—continuing to write matters, too. 

Welcome to this first episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. This is a short episode, also known as a Trailer, just like in the movies, to introduce you to myself as your host and the show—so that you can know what to expect as you follow and listen to the show.