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Story Nerd
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Story Nerd

Melanie Hill, Valerie Francis

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For novelists, memoirists and screenwriters who want to write better stories in less time. Each week literary editors Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill explain the craft of storytelling using films as examples. If you want to spend more time writing your book/screenplay and less time studying story theory to figure out how it all works, this podcast is for you.
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Perspectives and reflections on the writing and publishing life. Mark Leslie Lefebvre, a writer, bookseller, digital publishing advocate, professional speaker, and publishing consultant explores inclusive and collaborative opportunities for writers and book publishing professionals via interviews, discussions, and reflections about the industry. (Mark's personal website is www.markleslie.ca)
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Join journalist Kirk McElhearn as he interviews writers of all kinds about their processes, routines, and how they use Scrivener, the app dedicated to long-form writing. In the first half of the show, writers share their experiences and their different approaches to getting words down on the page; in the second half, they get into the specifics of how they use Scrivener to help them. Whether you’re a Scrivener user or just interested in writing, this podcast has something for you.
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The longest-running book marketing podcast in the world. This is the show for writers who want to build their platform, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. Whether you self publish or are with a traditional house, this podcast will make book promotion fun and easy. Thomas Umstattd Jr. interviews publishers, indie authors, and bestselling traditional authors about how to get published and sell more books.
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Interviews, for writers like you, with industry professionals on forging a career as a HYBRID Author: writing across genres, mixing writing styles, publishing all ways and getting comfortable promoting you and your books. Join host Joanne Morrell, author of children’s and young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non fiction for authors for weekly Friday episodes to help you motivate and manage sustaining a HYBRID Authorship career. Because being Hybrid is having it all.
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Mark Dawson is a best selling self-published author on multiple platforms including Amazon and Kobo. He is the author of the John Milton thriller series and its spin-off Beatrix Rose. In addition, he’s written several ‘Soho Noir' novels. Mark’s breakthrough came when he developed a marketing strategy for promoting and selling his books. His swift success enabled him to quit his 9 to 5 job and he has generated gross revenues of more than a million dollars in less than five years. Mark has bec ...
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Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sal ...
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Emma talks (and often walks) with her guests in different locations, hearing their experiences of London, the world, and life, and discovering what choices they are making to redefine themselves along the way. The conversations are geared to inspire, entertain, and bring a little more breadth to the way you yourself may be thinking - wherever you are in the world.
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Do you have a book inside you? This is a podcast about how to write and self-publish your inspirational, life-changing, non-fiction book - especially if you are a Coach, Healer, Hypnotherapist, or expert in EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques), Matrix Reimprinting. Or simply a heart-centered Entrepreneur. Your book will help you stand out like a “Sparkling Unicorn in a sea of sameness.” Host Caryl Westmore, the world’s first Emotional Freedom “Tapping Book Coach” is a multi-published s ...
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The unseen creature whose ravenous fangs dog your every step as your footfalls echo down the midnight alleyway. — A long, icy shadow looming over you, making the hairs on your neck rise and your breath turn to ragged puffs of mist. — Unearthly howls that pierce the night, pulling you from the comfort of sleep with feverish, heart-pounding dread. — Welcome to Tales to Terrify, a weekly horror fiction podcast that gets under your skin, lays eggs and hatches writhing baby horrors nursed on your ...
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Today’s show is a special bonus episode of me being interviewed on the Creative Penn Podcast with the most excellent host, Joanna Penn! Joanna and I talk about writing realistic police stories, starting a second career as an author, networking, and the dangers of writing about real-life trauma. Please enjoy my chat with Joanna Penn. In today’s epis…
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Do you want to publish an image-heavy book like a cookbook? How can you navigate the challenges of photography, book design, and publishing choices to make the best product possible? Jane Dixon-Smith shares her lessons learned from her first cookbook. In the intro, Brandon Sanderson's predictions about publishing [Daniel Greene]; Craig Mod talks ab…
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Today on the show we have Author, Creative, Musician, and former Police Officer Jeff Bonilla. Jeff was a police officer in two California departments, Burlingame PD and Daly City PD in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s co-author of the groundbreaking book "So You Want To Be A Cop," this work has been recommended reading in multiple police academies,…
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Welcome to episode 618. We have two tales for you this week. First, a boy and his uncle learn new things about each other during a family barbecue. Then, an elderly woman whose family was ravaged by war learns it’s never too late to get revenge. COMING UP Good Evening: 00:01:06 Sasha Brown’s I’m Gonna Show You Something Awful as read by Jesse Holt:…
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Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number fifteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode fifteen. Don't forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2…
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It's the 1st of December! And to celebrate the 103rd episode of The HYBRID Author podcast, we have an almost merry Xmas mashup of some of the past podcast guests since June. This includes: Episode 79 Marketing Advertising for Authors with Prolific Crime Thriller Writer Phillip Strang Episode 80 Brock Swinson on ‘Ink by The Barrel, Secrets From Prol…
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So it's December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month. You're happy for them, of course. But you didn't quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself. So what do you do? Do you hang your head in shame and d…
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Creating multiple storylines is a popular approach for novelists and for writers who know what they're doing, the end result is nothing short of masterful. However, multiple storylines is an advanced writing technique and it can quickly and easily go off the rails. Unfortunately, that's what happened with The Woman King. Now, there's lots to admire…
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For the last 11 years, audiobooks have seen double-digit sales growth year over year. The audiobook market is now $1.8 billion. That means audiobooks are no longer an optional, nice-to-have feature when you launch your book. But how do you make an audiobook? Should you read it yourself or hire a narrator? In this week’s episode, Scott Sigler walks …
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Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: Writing a children’s book from concept to completion Working with illustrators and translators Creating a high quality product The business side of back matter Creating clarity in your work Find out more about Holger: Author Website The Wrong Planet Rebel of the Week is: Anonymous If you’d like to be a R…
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How might subscriptions help expand your author business ecosystem? What are some tips on encouraging readers to buy direct? Why is the future looking positive for authors in the creator economy? Michael Evans gives his thoughts. In the intro, marketing for multi-genre authors [Self Publishing Advice]; Same as Ever: Timeless lessons on risk, opport…
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Today on the show we are chatting with the director of Author Nation, Joe Solari! Joe and Author Nation are taking the helm from Craig Martelle and the 20 Books to 50K Vegas Conference. 20 Books Vegas was the largest indie author conference and now Joe Solari and Author Nation have the epic task of keeping this amazing conference going and growing.…
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Episode Length: [31 mins] Introduction: AI, particularly ChatGPT, is revolutionizing the creative landscape, offering support to writers and authors worldwide. It is part of the season of focusing on chapters from the bestselling book by podcast host Caryl Westmore, "Bust Writer's Block Forever." Today's episode delves into the book's bonus chapter…
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Welcome to episode 617. We have two tales for you this week. First, a clown afraid of his inner darkness seeks the help of a therapist. Then, a woman hopes to conquer her fear of death by communing with the other side. COMING UP Good Evening: Happy American Thanksgiving: 00:01:06 Kathleen Palm’s Freckles as read by Spencer DiSparti: 00:04:41 Derek …
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Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Mar…
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Julie Anne Grasso is an indie author of the Frankie Dupont Mystery Series for middle grade. She works part time in public libraries as a storyteller and in July 2024 her debut picture book “Hooray, Hooray, It’s Library Day,” will be released by Scholastic making her an official hybrid author! In the 102nd episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host J…
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It's time for a brand new season and this time around, Valerie is studying cast design (a concept which revolutionized her writing) and Melanie is studying conflict. August: Osage County is a brilliant example of both - in fact, it's a brilliant example of a whole lot of storytelling principles, so this is one movie you'll want to add to your reper…
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When I was in college, I experimented with cooking Asian food, but my stovetop-cooked rice never tasted very good. Then, one of my Asian friends introduced me to the right tool for the job: a rice cooker. Its only function was to perfectly cook rice, and it worked every time. While I never got good at cooking Asian food, I always had great rice bec…
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Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: Personal development books Choosing what to read next Starting a new reading habit Reading effectively and taking notes 11-step method for success Find out more about Nick: Rise of the Reader Nick's Website BookThinkers DM Nick at instagram.com/bookthinkers for personalized book recommendation Rebel of t…
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How can you transition into being an author after a long-term career elsewhere? How can you adopt an attitude of service in order to build your network in an authentic manner? Patrick O'Donnell shares his tips. In the intro, Spotify subscribers in the US now have 15 hours of free audiobook listening [The Verge] — you can find most of my books there…
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Today on the show we have returning champ, my friend and Superstar Author and director of the world’s largest indie author conference, 20 Books Vegas, Craig Martelle. It was my pleasure to attend the last 20 Books Vegas run by Craig. I have gone to all the Vegas 20 Books conferences and have seen the positive impact these conferences have had on au…
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Welcome to episode 616. We have two animal tales for you this week. A recently retired prison warden finds herself relaxing on her grandmother's front porch with an old friend. Then, a peculiar young man with a checkered past and a dark fascination for baby animals is finally forced to face his darkest fears. COMING UP Good Evening: 00:01:06 Ryan C…
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Lauren Hackney is the co-author of the children's book series 'The Lolly Shop'. A bedtime tale collaborated with her 2 sons, emerging through the darkness of despair. Together, in the difficultest of times, they found escapism and joy through the power of writing. In the 101th episode of The HYBRID Author podcast host Joanne Morrell, author of chil…
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Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called "10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital." This episode is sponsored by Mark's affiliate link to Draft2Digital. Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account. The visuals and slides for this presentat…
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We've reached the end of another season and that means it's time for us to round up our a-ha moments and best lessons learned about how to develop characters and build fictional worlds. You'll want to bookmark this episode! For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inne…
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So you're thinking about self-publishing a book. You've heard self-published authors can make more money, control the content and design, and have better access to marketing data. But self-publishing a book can be daunting. There are so many factors involved: writing, editing, formatting, finding a cover designer, uploading to Amazon, setting up a …
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Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: Writing about gender equality and women’s issues Choosing which messages to refine in your book Managing the emotional toll of writing sensitive topics Character development in feminist storytelling Using accessible language This week’s question is: what are you asking Santa for christmas? Recommendation…
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How can you shift your mindset from catalog sales to selling direct? How can you reframe the direct author business model to take advantage of creative possibilities for different kinds of products and long-term marketing? Russell Nohelty gives his tips in this interview. In the intro, Top 10 tips for indie authors [Clare Lydon]; 10 years lessons l…
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A little while ago it was my honor to be a guest on Sara DiVello’s Mystery and Thriller Mavens show. Today’s podcast is a special rebroadcast of the interview. Please enjoy me being on the other side of the mic with Sara DiVello interviewing me. In today’s episode we discuss: · The fourth book in my Brew City Blues series, Honor and Valor. · My mos…
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The HYBRID Author Podcast has hit 100 episodes! To celebrate host Joanne Morrell, author of children's and young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non fiction for authors, celebrates by sharing lessons learned from hitting 100; Joanne chats the origins of the show podcast processes analytics author tips, fears and favs from past guests and w…
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Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast. Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website Mark's YouTube Channel B…
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Welcome to episode 615. We have two tales for you this week. First, a cautionary tale about why you should never leave your curtains open at night. Then, we witness the enduring bond between mother and son as they await their final dawn. COMING UP Good Evening: Submissions Closing: 00:01:06 Luc Diamant’s A Bedtime Story as read by James Barnett: 00…
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Black Friday marketing phenomenon is an opportunity, but it's also a threat. In this week's episode, I share some powerful tips to supercharge your book sales! You'll learn What motivates people to buy books on Black Friday Which book promotion tactics work best on the big day Three mistakes to avoid when running your holiday promotion What to do i…
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This movie is all about the inner turmoil of Louis Wain. You may not recognize his name, but you'll recognize his art (it's worth Googling). If you have a pet cat, it's because of Louis Wain. Communicating a character's inner thoughts or mental state is a tricky thing for film to do. It can be tricky for novelists too because it often leads to long…
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Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: Planning as an indie author Maker, manager and marketeer How to plan for 2024 What being a good publisher means Knowing what to measure This week’s question is: who or what is inspiring or motivating you at the moment? Recommendation of the week is: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch Apple Kobo Amaz…
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How can using Pinterest more like a search engine help you sell more books? What are some of the ways to use Pinterest most effectively for book marketing? Trona Freeman gives her tips. In the intro, KDP announce an Invite-Only KDP Beta for Audiobooks; How to Double Down on Being Human: 5 Ways to Stand Out in an Age of AI; Creative Planning with Or…
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Today we are going to do one of my favorites, the random show. I get some cops with a variety of law enforcement experience and some crime writers together and we chat about writing and try to answer some questions from my Cops and Writers Facebook group. These are usually a bunch of fun and I’m sure this won't disappoint. On today’s show, we have …
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Welcome to episode 614. We have one tale for you tonight, about a girl plagued by mysterious dreams, a dark shape in the sky, and two friends who skip school to get to the bottom of a mystery. COMING UP Good Evening: Encyclopocalypse: 00:01:06 Carson Winter’s We Can Only Grow in the Dark as read by Jasmine Arch: 00:04:24 PERTINENT LINKS Support us …
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Sarah Epstein is an award-winning Australian HYBRID author of suspenseful psychological thrillers and contemporary young adult fiction. In the 99th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Morrell, author of children's and young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non fiction for authors, chats to Sarah about: lessons learned: one year…
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Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023. Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading …
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This movie is so light and joyful that it's easy to dismiss it as fluff, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pretty Woman is a masterclass in the fundamentals of storytelling. The plot isn't fancy (it isn't even original), but it's rock solid and the presentation of the characters is spot on. Yes, we're discussing character development and…
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There is a new scam targeting authors. An enterprising scammer can use AI to write a book similar to your writing style. They can use an AI-generated cover similar to yours, and publish the book with a pen name that also happens to be yours. Sometimes, Amazon even puts this fraudulent book in your Author Central account so customers see the AI book…
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John Wyver writes about the history of television in the United Kingdom, produces films about the arts and performance, and is a Professor of the Arts on Screen. Show notes: John Wyver Illuminations Screening the Royal Shakespeare Company: A Critical History Ed Conway, Material World Learn more about Scrivener, and check out the ebook Take Control …
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Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: What does “editing for clarity” mean How to write with more clarity Developing self-editing skills When to use sensory details How PWA can help with clarity and sensory detail This week’s question is: What's the most valuable lesson you've learned from a creative failure or mistake? Recommendation of the…
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