Episodes
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My guest today is Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author and an icon in the historical fiction space.
Today we talk about:
* writing what you're drawn to and if/when marketability goes into that decision
* The Hero's Journey vs The Heroine's Journey for character development and plotting
* how to draw the line between fact and fiction when writing about real life people or historical events
* advice for both aspiring writers and writers who are a few books into their careers
* and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the show!
»Please leave a rating for me on Apple or Spotify 💛)
🤓 Are you serious about your writing?
Every Tuesday & Friday, you’ll get a new author interview, publishing insights, creativity mini-challenge, or something else to make you more creative, inspired, or happy. Subscribe now--it's free! CreativeInspiredHappy.com .
Want more of Kate?
The Briar Club and The Phoenix Crown are both on sale now.
You can also find Kate online on Facebook, Instagram, and her website (where you can also sign up for her newsletter and get the free Alice Network short story.)
Podcast booking inquiries:
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Taran Matharu, New York Times bestselling author with over 3 million copies sold. Taran is also co-founder of a small publishing house, Portal Books.
Today, we talk about:
* how Taran got his start on Wattpad during NaNoWriMo, and then landed multiple book deals with traditional publishers,
* advice for anyone participating in a novel writing challenge this month,
* why he decided to start his own publishing house
* what he's learned about the book industry since becoming a publisher
* how he balances his work as a writer and as a publisher,
* and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the show!
»Watch here, or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Podcasts! (please leave a rating for me on Apple or Spotify 💛)
🎥 Past episodes of the podcast live here!
»Interviews with New York Times bestselling authors including Alka Joshi, J. Courtney Sullivan, Alison Espach, National Book Award winner Sabaa Tahir, and many more.
Want more of Taran?
Taran is on X and Instagram, and you can find his books at your favorite retailer. For more information on his publishing house, you can visit Portal Books on their website.
🟨 Full video version of this interview is available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Podcast booking inquiries:
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
Missing episodes?
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My guest today is Brian Weisfeld, co-author of four middle grade books—both fiction and non-fiction—as well as the founder of The Startup Squad Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to teaching kids about entrepreneurship.
Today we talk about:
* how a personal mission can drive your writing career
* the differences in writing fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels
* what Brian has learned through some ups and downs in publishing
* how to come up with out-of-the-box ideas for book events to promote your work, and so much more
I hope you enjoy the show!
» Past podcast episodes live HERE
Special swag and autograph offer:
Brian has generously offered to send autographed bookplates and some swag to anyone in our podcast community who purchases his books. To get an autographed bookplate and swag, just send an email to [email protected] and mention the CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY podcast in the subject line!
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Cait Jacobs, who is My guest today is Cait Jacobs, who is THE Original Booktooker--yes, Cait literally created that massive TikTok phenomenon that has completely changed the publishing industry. Cait is also the author of a novel slated for next year, called Medievally Blonde.
In this episode, we talk about:
* what led Cait to post their first video on TikTok, and whether they had any idea it would go viral and blow up the way it did,
* what Cait has learned from BookTok about what readers love, and how they have applied to their writing,
* why they chose traditional publishing over self-publishing,
* advice for writers both for their writing and their online marketing efforts,
* navigating social anxiety and fame, and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the show!
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Want more of Cait?
You can find them online as caitsbooks on TikTok / Instagram / X / YouTube / Tumblr
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Maureen Lee Lenker, who is a Senior Writer at Entertainment Weekly and also the author of two novels, It Happened One Fight. She also has a podcast, Hollywood-ography.
Today we take look at creativity on both sides, writing about books while writing books, and how she taps into her creative energy without burning out on either end.
We also talk about:
* what it's like to work at a magazine and how she pitches stories she wants to cover
* how to juggle a day job and writing fiction
* how the book industry has changed, from her perspective as a journalist,
* book-to-film production companies,
* and so much more
I hope you enjoy the show!
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
📚 Want more of Maureen?
You can also find her on her website, as well as writing about books, TV, film, and theater at Entertainment Weekly. Her podcast is Hollywood-ography.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guests today are Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, both New York Times bestselling authors and co-authors of the YA fantasy duology, Night of the Witch and The Fate of Magic.
Today we talk about:
* the process of writing a book together, from ideation to revision
* diversifying your writing career, including publishing traditionally and through self-publishing at the same time
* tips for what works on social media, as well as what not to expect from it
* what to do if you hate the book cover your publisher gave you, and so much more.
It was such a pleasure to hang out with Sara and Beth because we've been friends for a long time and "grew up” together in this industry. So be forewarned that we laugh a lot in this episode.
I hope you enjoy the show!
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Want more of Sara and Beth?
You can find their tour schedules and social media here:
Sara Raasch: Website / Instagram / TikTok
Beth Revis: Substack / Website / Instagram / Patreon / Wordsmith Workshops
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is J. Courtney Sullivan, a New York Times bestselling author whose books have not only been Reese Witherspoon book picks twice, but have also been optioned by Reese's production company.
Today we talk about:
* how to know when an idea is "right"
* doing research, and writing stories in layers
* ignoring genre categories and instead, writing whatever you want
* the most important guiding principle to hold onto in a creative career
* the coolest, most unexpected things that have happened to Courtney in her writing career, and so much more
Courtney was so fun and easy to talk to. I hope you enjoy the show!
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Want more of Courtney?
Her latest novel, The Cliffs, is available everywhere. You can also find Courtney on Instagram and X.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Alison Espach, author of The Wedding People, which was a Read with Jenna /Today Show book club pick.
Alison is also a creative writing professor, and today we talk about:
* making the decision to turn writing from hobby to career?
* coming up with ideas and knowing when it's the right time to write it, or when to leave it be for a while
* where Alison was when she found out that her book had been chosen for Read with Jenna and what it was like actually being on The Today Show
* and how to continue believing in yourself in a career that requires years of patience and hard work, often in isolation.
This was a really meaty conversation full of wonderful anecdotes from Alison's writer side, and wisdom and guidance from her creative writing professor side.
I hope you enjoy the show!
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
>>Want more of Alison?
Instagram: @alison.espach
Facebook: author page
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Danielle Walker, New York Times bestselling cookbook author who shot to fame with her first book, Against All Grain. Danielle was a Forbes 30 under 30, and has appeared many times on The Today Show. She is also an advocate for those with autoimmune diseases like hers. She's written many cookbooks, and her latest is Make it Easy.
Today we talk about:
* building community as a writer
* the intersection of book titles and branding
* behind the scenes of The Today Show
* the creative process of recipe creation, and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the show!
$1,000 and $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers. Applications now open! More information here.
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Podcast inquiries: [email protected]
Want more of Danielle?
Make it Good newsletter & weekly recipes (Substack)
Instagram: daniellewalker
Website: daniellewalker.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is TJ Klune. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and its upcoming sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. He is also a Lambda Literary Award winner and a queer advocate, who believes fiercely in writing the stories for his community that he didn't have growing up.
Today we talk about:
* what makes a breakout hit novel?
* why he prefers writing standalone rather than series
* the importance of reader word-of-mouth in helping a book succeed,
* and TJ's important advice for finding and maintaining creative fulfillment.
Enjoy the show!
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award winner, Printz Award winner, and New York Times Bestselling author.
Today we talk about:
* writing the stories unique to you
* maintaining self-esteem and confidence as a writer
* how the National Book Award and Printz Award have changed her career, and so much more
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Want more of Sabaa?
Find her online:
Tiktok
Instagram
Facebook
Website
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Caroline Chambers, queen of a culinary media empire with her Substack What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking as the crown jewel with nearly 200k subscribers, as well as a popular podcast “So Into That” and an active social media presence (her Instagram rivals her Substack, with well over 200k followers, so I stopped counting, haha.)
Today we talk about:
* building an author platform,
* balancing motherhood and a creative career,
* infusing your personal voice into non-fiction,
* the process of writing (and photographing) a cookbook, and more!
I hope you enjoy the show!
And don't forget about our $1,000 and $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers. Applications now open! More information here.
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Podcast inquiries: [email protected]
Want more of Caroline?
What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking Substack: whattocook.substack.com
Instagram: carochambers
Website and book tour info: carolinechambers.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris. The Henna Artist was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and is currently in development at Netflix as a series.
Today we talk about:
* beginning a writing career later in life
* what it's like to work with Reese Witherspoon and her book club team
* Alka's ideal writing schedule,
* advice for getting started as a writer, and so much more.
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here). It’s meant exactly for writers who are already in a different career but want to study more about writing—through continuing education, community college courses, or elsewhere.
I hope you enjoy the show!1
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Podcast inquiries: [email protected]
Want more of Alka?
You can find her in so many places online:
Website: alkajoshi.com
Instagram: thealkajoshi
YouTube: AlkaJoshi
Facebook: alkajoshi2019
Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of the Jaipur Trilogy: The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris. Her debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times Bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Pick and was LongListed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. It has been translated into 29 languages and is currently in development at Netflix as a tv series. In 2023, Forbes selected Joshi as one of 50 over 50 women empowering other women. Joshi was born in India and came to the U.S. with her family at the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. She lives in California.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is the artist Sally Fama Cochrane, a classically trained painter whose gorgeous work was the inspiration for the paintings in my new novel, One Year Ago in Spain.
In this episode, we delve deeper into how creative careers are the same yet different in the worlds of writing and fine art.
We talk about:
🟨 our processes for making a book or painting from idea to finish,
🟨 balancing motherhood and art,
🟨 why artists have a hard time asking to be paid for their work,
🟨 the little Easter egg in One Year Ago in Spain that my long-time readers will find,
🟨 and so much more.
Afterwards, explore more of Sally’s incredible art on her website or Instagram.
I hope you enjoy the show!
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
🥳 My newest novel, One Year Ago in Spain, is out today!Thank you for buying copies for yourself or other readers in your life.
One Year Ago in Spain is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook anywhere books are sold.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Julie Soto, whose first novel, Forget Me Not, was a bona fide TikTok sensation last summer and became a USA Today Bestseller. Her latest novel, Not Another Love Song, just hit bookshelves everywhere.
Today we talk about
- Julie’s origins as a playwright,
- how to take fan fiction (or work on places like Wattpad) and re-publish it as a book
- the demands of social media on artists today.
✍🏼 And don’t forget about our $1,000 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers (more info here).
🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
Podcast inquiries: [email protected]
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is romantasy author Scarlett St. Clair, who has sold millions of copies of her books worldwide and is a #1 New York Times and international bestseller. We first met in France at le Festival du Livre de Paris (aka Paris Book Festival), where I got to witness firsthand the magnitude of her international fame.
Today we talk about:
* How she rose from a flop to become a global superstar in self-publishing, then later switched over to a traditional publisher
* Why “No” just means “Yes, but in a different way”
* Her unorthodox way of writing books
* Nurturing a genuine community of readers and fans, and much more!
Also, Applications are now OPEN for our $1,000 Scholarship for Aspiring Writers. Get more info at creativeinspiredhappy.com
Want more of Scarlett?
Find her on Instagram @authorscarlettstclair or her website scarlettstclair.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Jeannine Ouellette, author of the award-winning memoir The Part That Burns and founder of the incredibly popular Writing in the Dark, an online writing community that offers online creative writing intensives as well as literary salons.
Today we talk about:
* separating art from commerce
* how paying attention to everyday life helps make creativity more easily accessible
* building a career through different income streams and types of writing
* and more.
We also touch on transparency in making money as a writer. After you watch/listen to the episode, here are two posts with even more detail:
* Making money as a writer
* Book Deal 101: How do authors get paid (traditional publishing)
I hope you enjoy the show!
$1,000 and $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers
CREATIVE.INSPIRED.HAPPY is pleased to sponsor scholarships for writers to further their writing education. More information here!
GIVEAWAY: 1-year paid subscription to Writing in the Dark
Jeannine and I are partnering to give away a 1-year paid subscription to Writing in the Dark!
To enter, just be a subscriber to CREATIVE.INSPIRED.HAPPY:
I will choose a random winner from my subscriber list on Sunday, July 7, 2024 and will update this post once the winner has confirmed via email.
Want more of Jeannine?
You can find her at Writing in the Dark, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Want more writing advice and career insight? Join thousands for free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com to go behind the scenes with bestselling authors, and get access to our Book Club for Writers, creativity challenges, and more.
I can't wait to see you there!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Beth Spencer, a picture book author-illustrator, photographer, and founder of the staggeringly popular Introvert Drawing Club, an online community of 7,000 members she leads in ultra-relaxed drawing sessions.
Today we talk about how Beth succeeded in building a bestselling Substack platform even though she didn’t know what she was doing when she started, how to find fulfillment in your work, and tips for getting started in a creative pursuit, even if you’ve been told your whole life that creativity wasn’t for you.
Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
You can find Beth and her low-pressure, cameras-off club at introvertdrawingclub.com : ) It’s a lot of fun—especially if you like drawing animals.
The book she mentioned on the podcast: Attention Span by Gloria Mark
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Ali Hazelwood, whose latest novel, Not in Love, just hit bookshelves everywhere. She is a #1 New York Times bestseller multiple times over, and she’s also a former neuroscience professor.
Today we talk about how Ali was discovered by her agent, and why she doesn’t like the label “incredibly successful,” and her advice for anyone pursuing a creative career.
Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
You can learn more about Ali and all her other books on her website and Instagram.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe -
My guest today is Pierce Brown, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Rising series, the latest of which—Light Bringer—recently came out in paperback.
Today we talk about how Pierce overcomes self-doubt, how success has changed his career, and whether writing makes him happy. (And we poke some good-natured fun at what authors are like.) We also debate creativity vs inspiration.
Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.
You can find out more about Pierce on his website, Instagram, or X.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe - Show more
