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Episode | Date |
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Jayne Ann Krentz Talks About the Art of Reinvention
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Tess & Karen couldn't believe their good luck in landing Jayne Ann Krentz as a guest! |
Oct 10, 2022 |
Lindsay Buroker On Her Career as a Prolific Indie Author
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Lindsay is a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who loves travel, hiking, tennis, and vizslas. She's written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award. |
Oct 03, 2022 |
Kim Taylor Blakemore on Allowing Characters to Speak
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Kim Taylor Blakemore is the bestselling author of After Alice Fell and The Companion, as well as young adult novels Bowery Girl and Cissy Funk, winner of the WILLA Literary Award. She is also the recipient of a Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award and three Regional Arts & Culture Council grants. |
Sep 26, 2022 |
Julianne MacLean on Having Creative Freedom
2560
Tess & Karen loved interviewing their friend and accomplished author, Julianne MacLean. Julianne is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the popular Color of Heaven series. MacLean is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her latest book, Beyond the Moonlit Sea, is a gripping novel about one woman’s search for answers when her husband vanishes in the night. |
Sep 19, 2022 |
Reaching Readers with Heather Wheeler Sadlemire, Owner of On Top of That Marketing
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On this episode, Tess & Karen are joined by Heather Wheeler Sadlemire, book promoter extraordinaire! Listen in as she tells what drew her to book promotion, and how she helps authors find their audience. She also discusses current trends in social media (including TikTok!) and explains the advantages of authors teaming up with others when doing giveaways. |
Sep 12, 2022 |
MaryAnn Schaefer: Working Behind the Scenes as an Author Assistant
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We were thrilled when Tess's assistant, MaryAnn, graciously agreed to come on the show! Listen in as she explains how she got her start, the importance of keeping up to date with innovations in publishing, and why she considers customer service to be part of her job. She also divulges how she assists two authors with diverse personalities, each one writing in a different genre. As a bonus, she also shares some book recommendations. |
Sep 05, 2022 |
Freida McFadden Creates Plot Twists You Won't See Coming
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#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. In today's interview she shares how she got the news that multiple parties in Hollywood were vying for the rights to her book, The Housemaid. Other topics include her writing process, how her math background helps with the intricate plotting required to write thrillers, and how she chooses her titles. https://www.freidamcfadden.com/ |
Aug 29, 2022 |
David Koepp: Filmmaker, Screenplay Writer, and Novelist
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Director and writer David Koepp has used his storytelling skills to write screenplays for more than thirty films, including the first two Jurassic Park movies, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, War of the Worlds, Ghost Town (with the enigmatic John Kamps) and Kimi. As an author, he's penned the novels Cold Storage and Aurora. In this interview, he shares how a landscaping problem led to his audiobook, Yard Work, which was narrated by Kevin Bacon. Listeners will also love hearing about his experiences working in the film industry and learning about the inspiration behind his new highly-acclaimed novel, Aurora. |
Aug 22, 2022 |
Tess & Karen On Creating Characters that Readers Will Care About
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Collectively Tess & Karen have written more than sixty books so it's not surprising that they've picked up a few skills along the way. On this episode they discuss the art of creating complex characters who will strike a chord with readers. Using specific examples from movies and books, they describe methods writers can use to get their characters to the next level. They hope you find it interesting and useful! |
Aug 15, 2022 |
Ellen Marie Wiseman and The Lost Girls of Willowbrook
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Tess and Karen loved talking to Ellen Marie Wiseman, a New York Times bestselling author of six highly acclaimed historical fiction novels. The interview covers her start as an imaginative child and concludes with a discussion of her fascinating book, The Lost Girls of Willowbrook, a novel described as a blend of fact, fiction, and urban legend. She also reveals how she chooses names for her characters and the temptation of going down the rabbit hole of research. She believes in crafting stories that cover past social injustices not widely known and creating characters that illustrate the resiliency of the human spirit. |
Aug 08, 2022 |
Tess & Karen Share Marketing Tips for Authors
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Are you an author looking for new ways to get the word out about your books? Or are you a reader wondering how authors go about marketing new releases? Well, look no further!
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Aug 01, 2022 |
Author Dee Ernst Believes It's Never Too Late
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Author Dee Ernst is a big believer in writing books with second chance themes! Her newest novel, Lucy Checks In, takes place in Rennes, France, a place she's visited and loves. In this interview, she talks to Tess and Karen about the contrasts between being published by a traditional New York publisher versus Amazon Publishing, and her earlier experiences with indie publishing. Aspiring authors will also love hearing her philosophy that for writers, it's never too late. |
Jul 25, 2022 |
Kayte Nunn, Author of The Only Child, on the Feeling She Gets from Writing
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This interview with Kayte Nunn was second to None (sorry, we couldn't resist!). But seriously, Kayte proved to be a delightful guest, sharing her unconventional process for writing a dual timeline novel, and explaining why writing in a genre helps authors build name recognition and a readership. Tess & Karen also enjoyed hearing how a walk near a lighthouse sparked the idea that led to one of her novels, and learning the food that will never get past her lips (you'll never guess!). Her newest, highly-recommended novel, The Only Child, is a contemporary-historical crime mystery. |
Jul 18, 2022 |
How Debra Clopton's Writing Routine Helped Her Recover from a Life-Threatening Illness
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Jul 11, 2022 |
Gregory Maguire, Author of WICKED: An Interview Not to be Missed!
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Gregory Maguire is a master storyteller, both in the written form and in this interview! Tess & Karen were enthralled, leading to a longer than usual episode. Listen in as Gregory tells how the process of elimination led to his writing career and how an intellectual idea sparks book ideas for him. The ladies loved learning how the composer Stephen Schwartz convinced him that the Broadway musical would honor his intention, and hearing about his experience seeing Wicked on stage for the first time. He also shared an amusing story of a visit with P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins series. |
Jul 04, 2022 |
Jodi Allen Brice: How the Pandemic Inspired a Genre Change
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Jodi Allen Brice writes small town clean and sweet romance. Her previous novels, written under a different name, were paranormal romance novels, but when the virus hit, she felt compelled to write a book that would change hearts and minds. Author Jodi Allen Brice - Author of Sweet Romance and Woman's Fiction |
Jun 27, 2022 |
From Rejection to #1 Amazon Bestseller
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When Karen McQuestion's publisher rejected her book, THE MOONLIGHT CHILD, she decided to self-publish it, then poured on the marketing to give it every advantage. Eventually the novel reached the #1 spot on the Amazon Kindle charts and was the #3 bestseller in Kindle for 2021. Listen in as she shares her strategies and chats with Tess about book marketing in general. |
Jun 20, 2022 |
Sara Rosett, Author of Cozy and Historical Mysteries
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Sara writes nonfiction for authors, including “How to Write a Series” and “How to Outline a Cozy Mystery.” She also co-hosts a podcast for writers, the Wish I’d Known Then Podcast. |
Jun 13, 2022 |
Karen McQuestion --Three Things Every Great Novel Must Have
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Amazon Charts bestselling author Karen McQuestion describes the three things every great novel has in common. |
Jun 06, 2022 |
Editor Jacque Ben-Zekry Explains the Promise of the Premise
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Jacque Ben-Zekry of Modify Editorial Services, is a Developmental Story Editor primarily working with Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Historical novels. She also works in Screen and Stage play story development. |
May 30, 2022 |
How Simone St. James' Love of True Crime Inspired a Novel
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone St. James writes books spanning genres and time periods. Listen to the interview to hear why she writes ghost stories, the difficulty of turning off the creative brain, and how her love of true crime led to her newest novel, The Book of Cold Cases. Writers will also be interested in hearing her best marketing tip (the one thing every author should have!) and the way Simone uses social media to connect with readers. |
May 23, 2022 |
Elizabeth Mackey on the Art of Designing Effective Book Covers
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This episode is all about one of Tess and Karen's favorite topics--book covers! Designer Elizabeth Mackey (who lives in Alaska, not Canada as Karen said--what was she thinking?) dropped by the show to discuss trends in book covers, the importance of consistency in branding a series, and her preferred word length when it comes to titles. You'll love hearing about the times she's had family members model for cover images and how she got her start designing book covers. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
May 16, 2022 |
Award-Winning Picture Book Author & Illustrator Chris Van Dusen on Creating Stories for Kids
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Welcome to what Tess calls her favorite interview of all time! Author Chris Van Dusen shares how he was chosen to illustrate Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson series, why he prefers to write in rhyme, and what he hopes kids get from his books. Tess and Karen were happy to learn the meaning of the word "gouache" and interested to find out how Chris's name is connected to the Bridgerton Series. This episode is for anyone who loves picture books or has considered writing one some day. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
May 09, 2022 |
Susan Mallery on the All-Important Opening Line
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. After writing more than 100 books, she has a writing process that includes prewriting, plotting using the 3 Act Structure, and figuring out the GMC (goal, motivation, conflict). Tess and Karen loved hearing how she struggles with naming characters and how cognizant she is of not repeating herself out of respect for her readers. A master storyteller, Susan's interview was full of personal stories, both humorous and touching. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
May 02, 2022 |
Actor Kristin Carey Talks Story and Character
2638
Tess's good friend and former drama school pal Kristin Carey took time from her busy schedule to talk about the life of a working actor. She also discussed the art of storytelling and revealed the process used in creating a great character. All of this combined with a fascinating personal family story makes for a compelling interview. If you're already a follower and enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Apr 25, 2022 |
Tess Thompson On Successfully Creating & Marketing a Series
2215
If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Apr 18, 2022 |
Mike Chen Pens Science Fiction Novels with Heart
3090
Mike Chen is a critically acclaimed science fiction author based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. During the interview, Tess & Karen loved hearing about his creative process and how he manages to write while working a day job and home schooling his daughter. Listen in to find out which of his novels is the book of his heart, how he uses the three-act structure to outline his novels, and what it was like to write a Star Wars novel. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Apr 11, 2022 |
Heather Gudenkauf on Writing Stories of Intrigue and Suspense
2340
Tess & Karen enjoyed interviewing New York Times bestselling thriller author Heather Gudenkauf. From writing her first novel longhand during summer break as a third-grade teacher, to landing on bestseller lists and becoming an award-winning novelist, Heather has plenty of stories to share. Listen in as she explains why she calls her first drafts "writing ugly" and how her characters tend to take over. The ladies also loved hearing why Iowa works so well as a setting for intrigue and suspense. All of this and more makes for a compelling episode! If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Apr 04, 2022 |
Author Boo Walker: the Most Interesting Man in the World
2647
Tess dubbed author Boo Walker "the coolest guest ever." Boo has worked as a composer, musician, and wine aficionado, but he eventually found his true calling as a novelist. Listen in to hear the story of how his mother-in-law served as the inspiration for his bestselling novel, The Singing Trees. He also talks about the importance of resilience for writers and how his writing process sometimes includes giving his characters a chance to live in his head. Readers and writers alike will enjoy this one! If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Mar 28, 2022 |
Sally Hepworth on Making the Puzzle Pieces of a Domestic Suspense Fit Together
2838
New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth was a delightful guest! Tess and Karen enjoyed hearing the story of how she wrote her first book as a precocious seven-year-old. More recently, she shared how she failed to maintain her cool when meeting with Amy Poehler (whose production company nabbed the rights to Sally's novel The Mother-in-Law). Aspiring writers will be interested in hearing how Sally balances the writing life with mothering three children and be relieved to hear her belief in the necessity of an imperfect first draft. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Mar 21, 2022 |
How Suzanne Redfearn's Real Life Influences her Novels
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Bestselling author Suzanne Redfearn generously took time away from the book launch of her newest novel, Moment in Time, to speak with Karen and Tess. They loved hearing how she wrote her first novel in secret and how real life events inspire her fiction. They also discussed her preference for writing in present tense and enjoyed finding out how writing in coffee shops contributes to her books. Suzanne had some fascinating stories, both humorous and thought-provoking. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Mar 14, 2022 |
Jami Davenport on Achieving her Dream as a Full Time Novelist
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Tess and Karen were thrilled to interview Tess's good friend, USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport, who writes sexy contemporary and sports romances. They were fascinated by her novel writing process, which includes seeding and layering the story, and loved learning about the tools she uses to stay on task. Other topics included her preference for writing from the male point of view, and her thoughts on dealing with those dismissive of the romance genre. As an added bonus, Tess and Karen share their most mortifying "Mom Moments" in the intro. If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Mar 07, 2022 |
Susan Meissner -- On Why She Writes Historical Fiction About Those Forgotten
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Join Tess and Karen for an interview of Susan Meissner, USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print in eighteen languages. Her many highly acclaimed novels include her most recent, The Nature If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be so grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Feb 28, 2022 |
Tori Eldridge - From Broadway Performer to National Bestselling Author
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Tess & Karen have never interviewed an author with such an eclectic background! A former Broadway performer, TV series regular, and martial arts instructor (she's a 5th degree black belt!), Tori's path to publication was definitely unconventional. Listen in as she talks about her bestselling Lily Wong series, her unusual approach to writing fight scenes, and how "thinking walks" help her creative process. This is one episode you don't want to miss! If you're already a follower and you enjoy Behind the Book, we’d be grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review helps other listeners find the podcast and Tess & Karen love reading them as well! Directions for leaving Ratings and Reviews: 1. Make sure you are on the landing page for the podcast & not an individual episode. 2. Scroll down to the bottom until you reach Ratings & Reviews. 3. Click all five stars under Tap to Rate to leave a rating. 4. Under the most recent review, tap the Write a Review button. We’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the show. Thanks in advance! |
Feb 21, 2022 |
How Lauren Fox's Family History Inspired her Novel, SEND FOR ME
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Lauren Fox is the acclaimed author of four novels, including the instant New York Times bestseller, SEND FOR ME. Tess and Karen loved hearing how a collection of family letters inspired her latest book, and enjoyed Lauren's telling of the phone call in which she learned this same novel was chosen as A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club pick. Lauren also shared her writing process and gave some tips for authors, aspiring and otherwise (put down the phone!). |
Feb 14, 2022 |
Maggie Marr on How Hollywood Chooses Books for Movies
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Feb 07, 2022 |
Karina Yan Glaser and The Vanderbeekers Of 141st Street
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Tess and Karen loved talking to Karina Yan Glaser, a kids' book author known for her acclaimed "Vanderbeeker" series, and a standalone title, A Duet for Home. Listen as she talks about how National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) served as the jumping off point in the writing of her first book. She also discusses how her family's love of animals and music made its way into the series, and explains how her books became optioned for film by Amy Poehler's production company. Her story of meeting Amy in person was a highlight of the interview. |
Jan 31, 2022 |
Rea Frey: Dispelling Publishing Myths
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Rea Frey is an award-winning, traditionally published author of four nonfiction books and four novels. In a addition, she runs Writeway, a business which helps writers get published and is the co-host of the Writeway podcast. Rea took a break from her busy schedule to talk to Tess and Karen about her pivot from non-fiction to fiction, how she rekindled her joy of writing, and why she decided to use her podcast to lift the curtain on the interactions between publishers and authors. |
Jan 24, 2022 |
Tess Thompson: From Drama School to USA Today Bestselling Author
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It's Tess Day on the podcast! Karen puts her co-host Tess squarely in the interview chair and learns a ton about her partner that she didn't know. Tess gives great advice to aspiring authors, and shares the 'ups and downs' of her publishing career as well as what inspires her. |
Jan 17, 2022 |
Elana Johnson on Finding the Unicorn
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Elana Johnson writes clean and wholesome beach romance, because she believes everyone deserves a happily-ever-after in the golden sunset. In this episode, she discusses the importance of helping other authors, the meaning of the term market-adjacent, and how she used her kids' names to create one of her pseudonyms. |
Jan 10, 2022 |
The Team from Barnes & Noble Press Tell All
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Tess & Karen were delighted to have Julie Braunschweiger, Susan McCulloch, and Albert Wu on the show. As representatives of Barnes & Noble Press they have unique insights into the ever-evolving publishing landscape. Listen in as they talk about trending genres and sub-genres, and describe their work in bringing value to the indie author community. Other topics? Marketing tips for authors and the changes coming up for Barnes and Noble stores. |
Jan 03, 2022 |
Tess & Karen Discuss the Making of a Podcast
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After USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson came up with the concept for the Behind the Book podcast, she invited her friend Karen McQuestion to join her as co-host. From there, the two worked together to make it a reality. Listen in as they talk about the process of creating a podcast--everything from the necessary equipment, distribution channels, building an audience, and making guests feel at ease. This episode is for anyone who listens to podcasts or those who are considering starting their own. |
Dec 27, 2021 |
Craig A. Hart and S.J. Varengo: Brought Together by Twitter
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Authors S.J. Varengo and Craig A. Hart are co-writers who've collaborated on several series while still maintaining a fast friendship. Listen in as they talk about the time they wrote a novella in eleven days, the fun of having a writing partner, and the benefits of having a synopsis and outline prior to writing a novel. |
Dec 20, 2021 |
Heather Huffman On Declining an Agent's Advice
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Dec 13, 2021 |
Katherine Center on Writing for the Love of It
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Tess & Karen found bestselling author Katherine Center to be a delightful guest. Her theory on why writers should follow their own compass and practice the art of self-encouragement was insightful. Listeners will also be interested in discovering why watching rom coms is part of her job as an author, and enjoy the story of the time she went to a farmer's market and bought cheese from one of her characters. |
Dec 06, 2021 |
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Mother of Nine, Talks about The Good Son
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Tess & Karen loved talking to New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard. Best known for having her debut novel, The Deep End of the Ocean chosen as Oprah's first book club pick, she's also won numerous awards for fiction and journalism and has written books for all ages. Oh, and did we mention her nine children (none of whom will read her books)? Listen as she talks about her upcoming book, The Good Son, and shares the story of her close friendship with legendary novelist, Ray Bradbury. |
Nov 29, 2021 |
Bookstore Owner Jill Hendrix Explains the Nicholas Sparks Effect
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Jill Hendrix is a lifelong reader and the owner of Fiction Addiction, an independent bookstore in Greenville, South Carolina. The store is known for fabulous author events, a well-read staff, and a curated shopping experience. Listen in as Jill talks about the challenges and joys of running a bookstore, and how serendipity led to having Nicholas Sparks as a visiting author five different times. Also, a story about a chicken! |
Nov 22, 2021 |
Jim & Nikoo McGoldrick: Partners in Marriage and Novel Writing
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Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick win the award for making Tess & Karen laugh the hardest of any interviewees to date. Listen in as they explain how they came to write together, the importance of the delete button, and why they consider themselves storytellers first and foremost. If this episode doesn't put a smile on your face, we're not sure what will. |
Nov 15, 2021 |
Kent Barnard: Behind the Scenes at a Village Library
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Both Tess and Karen love libraries, so they were thrilled to interview Kent Barnard, the Library Director of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. Kent revealed how libraries have evolved over the years. He also explained how new books are chosen and shared a common misconception about library jobs. |
Nov 08, 2021 |
Heather Webber on Believing in Magic
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Bestselling author Heather Webber is as warm and inviting as her novels. Under the name Heather Blake, she's known for her witchcraft mysteries, and as Heather Webber, she writes charming tales of magical realism. In this interview, Heather tells how an actual dream prompted her to write her first novel. She also shares a childhood story in which she bought a puppy for fifty cents ( her parents let her keep it). Tess and Karen were intrigued to hear about her love of research and what she enjoys doing in her free time. You're not going to want to miss this episode! |
Nov 01, 2021 |
Marie Force: More Than 100 Times on the Major Bestseller Lists
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Getting Marie Force on the show was a major coup! Her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list more than 30 times. In her interview with Tess & Karen, she reveals why she doesn't write multiple drafts of her novels, instead preferring to thoughtfully write the first draft and then implement fixes. Marie also shares the advantages of self-publishing over traditional publishing (she's successfully done both) and why she makes a point to incorporate humor into all her books. |
Oct 25, 2021 |
Gary Goldstein: from Screenwriting to Writing a Rom Com Novel
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Oct 18, 2021 |
Kelly Harms on Writing Through the Murky Middle
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USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Washington Post bestselling author Kelly Harms said all the things authors think but seldom reveal. She talked about the challenge of writing though a novel's murky middle and also shared her writing process, a small part of which involves staring at the ceiling. Aspiring authors and avid readers will love her insider tidbits and advice. This is an interview you won't want to miss!
IG: @Kelly Harms FB: /authorkellyharms www.kellyharms.com |
Oct 11, 2021 |
Xio Axelrod on Her Internal Soundtrack
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Karen and Tess enjoyed talking to USA Today bestselling author Xio Axelrod. She told us how she became a novelist (quite by accident), and how her background as a composer of music informs her lyrical writing style. The ladies were fascinated to hear that as a melophile Xio literally has an internal soundtrack playing all the time. Her fiction is inclusive and will appeal to anyone who loves music and those who love to see influential women characters in rock band fiction. You heard it here first: their time has come.
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Oct 04, 2021 |
How Barbara Hinske Got a Movie Deal Without an Agent
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Karen and Tess found attorney turned novelist Barbara Hinske's interview to be both entertaining and informative. During the talk Barbara discussed how her father's writing legacy served as her inspiration and how extensive research on guide dogs for the vision impaired led to her well-loved and encouraging novel, GUIDING EMILY. She also regaled us with the story of the party she threw to celebrate the airing of THE CHRISTMAS CLUB, a Hallmark Channel movie based on her novel of the same name.
You can find Barbara here:
Say hi to Karen & Tess on the BTB Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3k5J8bC |
Sep 27, 2021 |
Jami Albright Reveals How a Tough Critique Group Helped Shape Her Writing
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The ladies had fun chatting with award-winning romance author Jami Albright. She talked about the one regret she had on her milestone birthday, her consulting work with new authors, and her podcast, Wish I'd Known Then....For Writers.
Jami can be found:
Come over and say hi to Karen & Tess on the BTB Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3k5J8bC |
Sep 20, 2021 |
Edwin Hill on How Playing "What If?" Leads to Story Ideas
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Tess and Karen interviewed the delightful Edwin Hill, the Edgar and Agatha-award nominated author of Little Comfort, The Missing Ones, and Watch Her.
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Sep 13, 2021 |
Elizabeth Bromke on How The Wizard of Oz Influenced her Fiction
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Tess and Karen enjoyed interviewing Elizabeth Bromke, who writes women's fiction and small-town romance. Across all of her books, you’ll find nostalgia for a bygone era, family values, heartwarming romance, mystery, and strong female friendships. Bromke's fictional settings include charming towns with quirky casts of locals. Where you can find Elizabeth Bromke: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethbromke https://www.instagram.com/authorelizabethbromke/ |
Sep 06, 2021 |
Boyd Morrison Describes the Risks He Takes for Research
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Aug 30, 2021 |
Kelly Jamieson on Why Hockey Players Make Great Romantic Heroes
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Join the ladies for this insightful interview with veteran romance writer and USA Today bestselling author Kelly Jamieson. Despite all her success, Kelly has remained humble and kind. She gives some great advice for novice writers in addition to ideas about how to handle the ups and downs of the writing process. |
Aug 23, 2021 |
Craig A. Hart on the Joys and Challenges of Narrating Audiobooks
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In this episode, the ladies interview author, podcaster, producer, and audio narrator Craig Hart. He shares the inside scoop about narration as well as gives tips on how he handles all his jobs while caring for twin boys! Listeners won't want to miss this interview with the nicest man in the business. Web: http://www.craigahart.com |
Aug 16, 2021 |
Denise Grover Swank on Co-Writing Novels
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In this episode, the ladies interview the talented New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank. The delightful Denise shares details of her writing life, her inspirations and gives great advice for the aspiring writers out there. Plus, Karen and Denise bond over an unusual condition. One that Tess does not share! Listeners won't want to miss this entertaining and educational installment! http://www.twitter.com/DeniseMSwank https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-grover-swank https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4921525.Denise_Grover_Swank |
Aug 08, 2021 |
Lacey Baker Reveals How She Novelizes Hallmark Channel Movies
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In this episode, the ladies interview the impressive Lacey Baker about her amazing productivity, how she overcame prejudice and obstacles, and insights into her writing process. Tess and Karen were enthralled with her story and believe listeners will be as well. She writes under the pen name AC Arthur as well. Yes, she's a busy lady. FB Profile: https://www.facebook.com/lacey.baker.908 FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/LBReaderRoom Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaceyBakerbook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceybakerbooks/ BookBub: https://wwwa.bookbub.com/profile/lacey-baker Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6458381.Lacey_Baker Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/c.Lacey-Baker/e/B018H1GV3S%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share |
Aug 02, 2021 |
Karen McQuestion on Blazing a Trail as a Kindle Pioneer
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It's Karen Day on the podcast! Tess puts Karen squarely in the interview chair and learns a ton about her partner that she didn't know. Karen gives great advice to aspiring authors, shares her 'ups and downs' of a long publishing career as well as what inspires her. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and are available internationally in English. All told, her books have sold over two million copies.
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Jul 26, 2021 |
Rachel Hanna Explains Why Self-Publishing Was the Perfect Choice
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Tess and Karen continue their streak of chatting with southern authors in this interview with the hilarious Rachel Hanna. Rachel tells the ladies about her worst job ever and how it led to her writing career as well as what she would do if she could live her life over again. Enjoy her infectious laugh and southern charm in this insightful and inspiring interview. |
Jul 19, 2021 |
Liz Talley on How Robyn Carr and Kristan Higgins Helped Boost Her Career
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Karen and Tess chat with bestselling romance and Women's Fiction author Liz Talley. Liz shares her southern charm with the ladies as well as talks about her career, craft, and what brings her joy. Book Nerds, you won't want to miss this one! |
Jul 12, 2021 |
Susan M. Boyer Shares Her Method for Keeping Track of Series' Details
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The ladies were thrilled to talk with bestselling and award-winning author Susan M. Boyer. She shares insights on craft and how she started her publishing journey. She chats about how she came up with the idea for her Low Country detective series, her love of good southern cookin', and how she lives vicariously through her character Liz Talbot. |
Jul 05, 2021 |
Pamela M. Kelley on Writing Women's Fiction
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USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Pamela Kelley visits the ladies to talk about her career, craft, and how much she loves food. Enjoy this insightful visit with a wonderful author and human! |
Jun 28, 2021 |
Christine Nolfi Offers Helpful Advice for Beginning Authors
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Co-hosts Karen McQuestion and Tess Thompson were delighted to interview the thoughtful and talented novelist Christine Nolfi. In this episode, Christine shares her unique wisdom about writing, publishing, refueling the creative tank, and how to live your best life. Need inspiration? This is the episode for you! The Sweet Lake Series has been recognized by the International Book Awards, Royal Palm Literary Awards, Readers’ Favorite Awards, and Best Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews calls Sweet Lake “an uplifting and charming story.” Redbook calls the book “an enchanting story full of lovable characters.” The Liberty Series has been recognized by the Next Generation Indie Awards and Put Your Heart In A Book Awards. “Treasure Me is sure to delight and entertain. It’s light and refreshing; your old fashioned feel-good novel.” –USA Today Prior to writing fiction, Christine owned a small public relations firm in Cleveland, Ohio. Her articles and press releases have appeared regionally in The Plain Dealer, The Akron Beacon Journal, and Cleveland Magazine. Christine is the proud mother of four adopted children and two stepchildren, all of whom are now grown and in no hurry to give her grandchildren. She resides with her husband Barry and a crazy Wheaten Terrier named Lucy in Charleston, South Carolina. Join her mailing list for news and contests, and chat with her on Twitter at @christinenolfi. |
Jun 21, 2021 |
Judith Keim on the Role Book Covers Have in Envisioning the Story
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Join co-hosts Karen McQuestion and Tess Thompson as they interview the lovely bestselling author Judith Keim. She shares her publishing journey, writing process as well as advice for aspiring authors. Readers and writers alike will fall in love with Judith's inspiring and warm personality. |
Jun 14, 2021 |
Lesley Kagan on the Surprising Success of her New York Times Bestselling Novel, WHISTLING IN THE DARK
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Join co-hosts Karen McQuestion and Tess Thompson as they discuss writing with bestselling author Lesley Kagan. She shares stories from her fascinating life as an actress and radio personality as well as how she became a New York Times Bestselling author. Fans and soon-to-be fans of Lesley won't want to miss this one! |
Jun 07, 2021 |
Grace Greene on the Importance of Being True to Yourself
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In the first episode of Behind the Book, co-hosts Karen McQuestion and Tess Thompson interview bestselling Women's Fiction author Grace Greene. Grace discusses her process for writing novels, how she got her start in publishing, and gives inspiring advice for aspiring authors. BEACH RENTAL, her debut novel, won the Booksellers Best award in both the Traditional and Best First Book categories. BEACH RENTAL and BEACH WINDS were each awarded 4.5 stars, Top Pick by RT Book Reviews magazine. KINCAID'S HOPE received a 4 star review from that same magazine. Grace began writing for Lake Union, an Amazon Publishing Imprint in 2017, with the release of THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN on January 31st and THE MEMORY OF BUTTERFLIES, released on September 5th. WILDFLOWER HEART, the first novel in THE WILDFLOWER HOUSE Series, published in January 2019 and WILDFLOWER HOPE followed in September. The third in the series, a Christmas novella, WILDFLOWER CHRISTMAS, arrived in November of that same year. A LIGHT LAST SEEN ~ another Cub Creek novel (a single tile) ~ released in February 2020. Grace is currently working on a return to the beach with her next novel. Grace lives in central Virginia. Stay current with Grace's releases and appearances at www.GraceGreene.com and sign up for her newsletter. Grace loves to hear from readers. You'll also find Grace here: Amazon's Author Central: amazon.com/author/gracegreene |
Jun 01, 2021 |