Activated Authors

By Activated AuthorsArts

Activated Authors episodes

February 07, 2020#021: Steff Green – Doubling down on what works, engaging your readers, and setting boundaries to focus on what works for you.
Steff Green is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author, blogger, metalhead and heavy metal maiden living in an off-grid home on 4 acres of rural paradise in New Zealand with her cantankerous drummer husband, four cats, a menagerie of farmyard animals, and their medieval sword collection.

She publishes dark fantasy and science fiction under the name S C Green, and paranormal romance as Steffanie Holmes. Her most popular books are set in the fictional English town of Crookshollow and are described by one reviewer as “dark and steamy … a gothic delight.”

All of this success has been found despite Steff being completely colour blind, photophobic, and legally blind. In 2017, she was awarded the Attitude Award for Artistic Achievement, which recognises achievement in the disability sector, and in 2018 she was a finalist for a Women of Influence award in the arts category.

In this episode we go deep into:
Why black jellybeans suck
Where Steff’s writing journey begun
Finding what works and doubling down
The mental shift in writing what you think you should be writing versus writing the things which gain traction
Learning to focus on the things which demand the most attention and yield the greatest results
Effective sign-up newsletter sequences
Moving past obstacles and focus on the dream
Importance of habits, and delivering to your own promises
Finding the time to get the words in
Setting boundaries with the day job and remembering what’s important
The choice between making someone else rich, or making yourself rich
Managing two brand names and creating strong brands for each
The reality of co-writing and the importance of setting expectations

Steff answers questions from Patrons:
What is your top productivity tip or the "go-to" habit that keeps you on track?
Favorite place to write (a coffee shop, a corner in the library, a cave, etc.)?

Find out more about Steff:
steffmetal.com
rageagainstthemanuscript.com
How to Rock Self-publishing

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr
January 31, 2020#020: Katie Forrest – Time Management for Writers, the only constant is change, and the benefits of saying ‘yes'.
Katie Forrest is a busy wife and special needs parent, doing her best to juggle this with her work. She runs a boutique law firm, writes cosy mystery under a pen name and is obsessed with cacti. She loves solo-travelling, is a complete time management geek, and is the author of the new non-fiction book, Time Management for Writers

In this episode we go deep into:
Katie’s new book, Time Management for Writers
Importance of building habits
Why sleep sucks
How to overcome the burden of ‘doing everything’ and narrow your life down to the key things
Setting boundaries with your loved ones to prioritise your writing
Navigating difficult conversations with your partner
Managing fiction and non-fiction projects around work
Katie’s novel planning process
Benefits of saying ‘yes’ to things
How Katie prepares (or doesn’t) for speaking engagements
Embracing entrepreneurship
How Katie hones her craft before writing her books
Managing a busy life and maximizing outputs.

Katie answers questions from Patrons:
Harley Christensen: On time management... For those of us working from home and trying to make the most of our creative time, can you share some tips for setting and especially, reinforcing boundaries with our significant others who work outside the home in non-creative professions?
Harley Christensen: Tell us more about this cacti obsession. As a transplant from the Pacific Northwest (U.S.) who currently lives in Arizona among the Saguaro, Pricky Pear, and has cactus flowers growing in her backyard, I am certainly curious/interested.

Find out more about Katie:
katieforrest.com
Time Management for Writers by Katie Forrest (FB Group)

Links from the show:
Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
January 24, 2020#019: Bruce Olav Solheim – Documenting the paranormal, serving veterans with education, and trusting the muse.
Bruce Olav Solheim is a distinguished professor of history at Citrus College in Glendora, California. He served for six years in the US Army as a jail guard and later as a helicopter pilot. He is the founder of the Veterans Program at Citrus College and co-founded, with Manuel Martinez and Ginger De Villa-Rose, the Boots to Books transition course—the first college course in the United States designed specifically for recently returned veterans.

Bruce has published eight books, one comic book, and has written ten plays—two of which have been produced—and spends time exploring and documenting his experiences with the paranormal.

In this episode we go deep into:
Why the paranormal is actually normal
Bruce’s experiences with the paranormal.
Why Bruce chronicled his paranormal experiences in his books
Why it’s key to take risks and go to the other side of fear
Shrugging off critics in favor of unlocking doors for others
Thriving in a supportive environment
How Bruce documents and collects his stories through life
Using poetry to channel and communicate experiences beyond prose
Bruce’s approach to selecting stories for his collections
Finding the narrative which threads in between
Creating the Boots to Books transition course to enable veterans to segue back into education
How the military shaped Bruce’s drive and discipline
Bruce’s daily writing process
Meditative walks and their benefits
Whether Bruce believes that everyone can access the paranormal
Why Bruce writes in so many genres and across so many mediums
How Bruce learned to write plays and create an award-winning show

This week’s question: What, if any, have been your experiences with paranormal, and how do you approach the paranormal in your writing? @willcocksauthor or use the #greatwritersshare

Find out more about Bruce:
bruceolavsolheim.com
Timeless Book

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 4 min
January 24, 2020#019: Bruce Olav Solheim – Documenting the paranormal, serving veterans with education, and trusting the muse.
Bruce Olav Solheim is a distinguished professor of history at Citrus College in Glendora, California. He served for six years in the US Army as a jail guard and later as a helicopter pilot. He is the founder of the Veterans Program at Citrus College and co-founded, with Manuel Martinez and Ginger De Villa-Rose, the Boots to Books transition course—the first college course in the United States designed specifically for recently returned veterans.
Bruce has published eight books, one comic book, and has written ten plays—two of which have been produced—and spends time exploring and documenting his experiences with the paranormal.
In this episode we go deep into:
Why the paranormal is actually normal
Bruce’s experiences with the paranormal.
Why Bruce chronicled his paranormal experiences in his books
Why it’s key to take risks and go to the other side of fear
Shrugging off critics in favor of unlocking doors for others
Thriving in a supportive environment
How Bruce documents and collects his stories through life
Using poetry to channel and communicate experiences beyond prose
Bruce’s approach to selecting stories for his collections
Finding the narrative which threads in between
Creating the Boots to Books transition course to enable veterans to segue back into education
How the military shaped Bruce’s drive and discipline
Bruce’s daily writing process
Meditative walks and their benefits
Whether Bruce believes that everyone can access the paranormal
Why Bruce writes in so many genres and across so many mediums
How Bruce learned to write plays and create an award-winning show
This week’s question: What, if any, have been your experiences with paranormal, and how do you approach the paranormal in your writing? @willcocksauthor or use the #greatwritersshare
Find out more about Bruce:
bruceolavsolheim.com
Timeless Book
Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes
Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 4 min
January 17, 2020 #018: Welcome to 2020! – Goalsetting, productivity, and expectation management ft. Luke Kondor
I'm BACK, baby!
Welcome to the first episode of the Great Writers Share in 2020. After a 2 month hiatus, Luke Kondor joins Daniel Willcocks to discuss goal-setting for 2020, achieving your dreams, and putting yourself into action to achieve your goals. In an episode which veers off the usual format, the gents motivate and share their top tips for ensuring that 2020 kicks all the ass it can.

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
January 17, 2020 #018: Welcome to 2020! – Goalsetting, productivity, and expectation management ft. Luke Kondor
I'm BACK, baby!
Welcome to the first episode of the Great Writers Share in 2020. After a 2 month hiatus, Luke Kondor joins Daniel Willcocks to discuss goal-setting for 2020, achieving your dreams, and putting yourself into action to achieve your goals. In an episode which veers off the usual format, the gents motivate and share their top tips for ensuring that 2020 kicks all the ass it can.
Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes
Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
November 22, 2019 Intermission: Going on Hiatus
This week, I sit down alone with my microphone for a public service announcement that the Great Writers Share podcast will be going on a short hiatus.

This has been a decision which I have been very hesitant to make. In the full transparency of the show which I value greatly, I am currently dealing with a few monumental shifts in my own personal life which mean that my attention needs to be focused on sorting a few things out. I am currently in the process of moving out of the home I shared with my ex-partner, and there is a 5-year-old in the middle, so my attention needs to be on making sure the situation can run as smoothly as possible while this all occurs over the Christmas period. Since writing is my main income, that’s going to be my work focus, and while I love running the podcast, and will undoubtedly come back to it at the beginning of next year, I need to focus on that.

I hope you can all understand. The Patreon and all of its rewards will still be open and anyone currently involved is more than welcome to stay involved.

I’ll also be sorting this month’s monthly giveaway and the Q&A as promised.

As I say, for me, this is only temporary, but I need to ensure I’m focusing my energies on the right things at the minute, and family definitely ticks that box.

Thanks for all of your support so far, this has been amazing.

Keep in contact with Dan @willcocksauthor

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
7 min
November 22, 2019 Intermission: Going on Hiatus
This week, I sit down alone with my microphone for a public service announcement that the Great Writers Share podcast will be going on a short hiatus.
This has been a decision which I have been very hesitant to make. In the full transparency of the show which I value greatly, I am currently dealing with a few monumental shifts in my own personal life which mean that my attention needs to be focused on sorting a few things out. I am currently in the process of moving out of the home I shared with my ex-partner, and there is a 5-year-old in the middle, so my attention needs to be on making sure the situation can run as smoothly as possible while this all occurs over the Christmas period. Since writing is my main income, that’s going to be my work focus, and while I love running the podcast, and will undoubtedly come back to it at the beginning of next year, I need to focus on that.
I hope you can all understand. The Patreon and all of its rewards will still be open and anyone currently involved is more than welcome to stay involved.
I’ll also be sorting this month’s monthly giveaway and the Q&A as promised.
As I say, for me, this is only temporary, but I need to ensure I’m focusing my energies on the right things at the minute, and family definitely ticks that box.
Thanks for all of your support so far, this has been amazing.
Keep in contact with Dan @willcocksauthor
Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
7 min
November 15, 2019#017: Humphrey Hawksley – Going deep with research, translating journalism to novels, and the changing nature of traditional publishing.
Humphrey Hawksley is an author, commentator and broadcaster, who has reported on key trends, events and conflicts from all over the world.
His work as a BBC foreign correspondent has taken him to crises on every continent. He was expelled from Sri Lanka, opened the BBC’s television bureau in China, was arrested in Serbia and initiated a global campaign against enslaved children in the chocolate industry. A campaign which continues today.
Humphrey is the author of the acclaimed ‘Future History’ series that explores world conflict. He has published four international thrillers, together with the non-fiction Democracy Kills: What’s so good about the Vote – a tie-in to his TV documentary on the pitfalls of the modern-day path to democracy from dictatorship.
His work has appeared in the The Guardian, The Times, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Yale Global and other publications and now he appears as a guest on the Great Writers Share podcast.

In this episode we go deep into:
Memories from 30 years as a foreign correspondent
Humphrey’s journey from journalism to author life
The first encounter with an agent, and Humphrey’s first book deal
Making the decision to do whatever it took to get a book out
Establishing the story you want to tell
Humphrey’s ever-evolving method of researching for books
Knowing every element of your story before you tell it
Reader expectations and what you’re aiming to deliver
Where the ideas for Humphrey’s ‘Man on Ice’ came from
Humphrey’s experience of traditional publishing and its changes over the past several decades
How focus groups choose the primary books for trad pub, and how the marketing share is dealt
Content marketing for your books

Humphrey Hawkslet answers questions from Patrons:
Mark M: How much research did you have to do for the Future History series? And do you have any tips on how you would do it differently (with benefit of hindsight)?
Jon Cronshaw: What challenges did you find in writing fiction compared to reportage? What makes a good dragon?

Find out more about Humphrey:
https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/
https://www.manonice.co.uk

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
58 min
November 15, 2019#017: Humphrey Hawksley – Going deep with research, translating journalism to novels, and the changing nature of traditional publishing.
Humphrey Hawksley is an author, commentator and broadcaster, who has reported on key trends, events and conflicts from all over the world.
His work as a BBC foreign correspondent has taken him to crises on every continent. He was expelled from Sri Lanka, opened the BBC’s television bureau in China, was arrested in Serbia and initiated a global campaign against enslaved children in the chocolate industry. A campaign which continues today.
Humphrey is the author of the acclaimed ‘Future History’ series that explores world conflict. He has published four international thrillers, together with the non-fiction Democracy Kills: What’s so good about the Vote – a tie-in to his TV documentary on the pitfalls of the modern-day path to democracy from dictatorship.
His work has appeared in the The Guardian, The Times, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Yale Global and other publications and now he appears as a guest on the Great Writers Share podcast.
In this episode we go deep into:
Memories from 30 years as a foreign correspondent
Humphrey’s journey from journalism to author life
The first encounter with an agent, and Humphrey’s first book deal
Making the decision to do whatever it took to get a book out
Establishing the story you want to tell
Humphrey’s ever-evolving method of researching for books
Knowing every element of your story before you tell it
Reader expectations and what you’re aiming to deliver
Where the ideas for Humphrey’s ‘Man on Ice’ came from
Humphrey’s experience of traditional publishing and its changes over the past several decades
How focus groups choose the primary books for trad pub, and how the marketing share is dealt
Content marketing for your books
Humphrey Hawkslet answers questions from Patrons:
Mark M: How much research did you have to do for the Future History series? And do you have any tips on how you would do it differently (with benefit of hindsight)?
Jon Cronshaw: What challenges did you find in writing fiction compared to reportage? What makes a good dragon?
Find out more about Humphrey:
https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/
https://www.manonice.co.uk
Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes
Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
58 min

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Activated Authors is an online author community centered around principles of healthy productivity, community, and shared knowledge. Founded by international bestselling author, award-winning…

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