Activated Authors

Activated Authors

By Activated AuthorsArts
Download on the App Store

Activated Authors episodes

  • Renee Gallant ON: RETURNING to Writing and Putting Yourself First
    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

     

    Renee Gallant spent the biggest part of her childhood growing up in north Texas, hiding behind bushes or sitting in trees immersed in stories of mystery and adventure and scratching out her own Trixie Belden fan fiction. But it was only after reaching middle age, having an empty nest, and being bitten by a creepy little eight-legged foe that she thought to pick up pen and paper once more and lose herself in a fictional world where anything was possible. Unfortunately, no, she did not turn into Spiderman. Nor even The Tick, but instead became an advocate for auto-immune sufferers, a grandmother, and finally a published author. After a twenty-year hiatus where she was all things to all people, Renee Gallant switched her focus back to herself and her first love, words.

    In this episode we go deep into:
     
    Renee’s writing journey [03:39]
    Lessons learnt from early writing [09:20]
    Motherhood and creativity [10:50]
    The importance of finishing things [14:57]
    Owning her own business [17:14]
    Digging out of the pit [23:10]
    The benefits of being in a writers community [26:22]
    The work of an indie [29:42]
    Lessons from the first three books [35:16]
    Coming out of burnout [38:09]
    Breaking free of guilt [40:17]
    Living with Lyme disease [42:53]
    Why Renee writes [52:31]
     
    Find out more about Renee Gallant:
    http://reneegallant.com/
    Social Media: @thewriterenee

     

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

     

    Watch the Show:

    https://youtu.be/BFr58jVyI0I

     

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

     

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes
    Show editing: Sam Frost
    55 min
  • Mark Leslie Lefebvre ON: HEART, Passion and Collaboration

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Mark has published more than twenty-five books under the name Mark Leslie that include thrillers and fiction, paranormal non-fiction and anthologies. Under his full name he writes books to help authors navigate publishing which include The 7 P’s of Publishing Success, An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores, and Wide for the Win

    His industry experience includes President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Board Member of BookNet Canada, Director of Author Relations and Self-Publishing for Rakuten Kobo, Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital and Professional Advisor for Sheridan College’s Creative Writing and Publishing Honours Program.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Mark’s journey so far [02:11]
  • Rejection and Determination [04:59]
  • How working in the industry helps Marks writing [07:46]
  • The barrier to self-publishing in traditional education [11:03]
  • Marks first writing routine [16:13]
  • Deadlines [19:59]
  • Procrastination [22:29]
  • Collaboration [22:29]
  • How Mark gets so much done [32:50]
  • Taking in the world and staying inspired [38:08]
  • Taking his own advice [40:52]
  • Chasing passions not trends [45:22]
  • Direct sales as a new author [47:41]
  • Why Mark writes horror [50:12]
  • Why Mark writes [52:39]

    • Find out more about Mark Leslie Lefebvre:

    http://markleslie.ca/

    Watch the show:

    https://youtu.be/nSGlto4wXnw 

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    55 min
  • Thomas Fenton ON: QUALITY Work and the Practice of Creativity

    Thomas Fenton is an American screenwriter whose writing credits include SAW IV, I Spit On Your Grave 2, Slay Per View on CryptTv. Chain Letter (drft) and the Max Payne (drft). He is also the author of The Scream Writers Handbook: How to Write a Terrifying Screenplay in 10 Bloody Steps.

    Thomas has worked with Paramount Pictures, DC, and Lionsgate (to name a few), and on top of an active writing and directing career, also takes the time to teach future screenwriters at workingscreenwriter.com

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Thomas’ first big break [09:08]
  • Quality over quantity [12:00]
  • Thomas ‘Thick Skin’ [13:58]
  • How he gets to the words and the work of a screenplay [19:20]
  • Communicating the core idea of a story [22:33]
  • The practice of creativity [27:01]
  • Common screenwriter mistakes [31:35]
  • Saw 4,. the Journey [35:51]
  • Robert Evans [52:27]
  • legacy [57:00]
  • Directing your own screenplay [59:09]

    • Find out more about Thomas Fenton:

    workingscreenwriter.com

    IG: @thomasfenton_insta

    Links from the show:

    ‘The Scream Writers Handbook’

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scream-Writers-Handbook-Terrifying-Screenplay/dp/1729035329/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XOK242TF04LE&keywords=thomas+fenton+screenwriting&qid=1649763532&sprefix=thomas+fenton+screenwriting%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1

    ‘Riding the Alligator’

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Riding-Alligator-Strategies-Screenplay-Writing/dp/193290784X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R2VKYNDVV2LP&keywords=riding+the+alligator&qid=1649764652&sprefix=riding+the+aligator%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-2

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Watch the show:

    https://youtu.be/cy0Uqq-2PpI 

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    1 hr 9 min
  • Julie Hiner ON: AUTHENTICITY And Following Your Passion

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Julie Hiner is an author, storyteller, and blogger. She has independently published an inspirational work of non-fiction and two dark crime novels. Several of Julie’s short horror stories have been published, and she has collaboratively released a horror anthology. Julie’s home-base is KillersAndDemons.com where she serves up toxic cocktails of 80s metal, ritualistic murder, and raw horror.

    Julie lives in her home-town in Canada, nestled near the rocky mountains. A hardcore 80s rocker at heart, Julie’s writing is infused with music of all eras. Her dark crime novels are a fusion of 80s metal, 70s acid rock and dark story telling. Obsessed with the dark mind of the serial killer, Julie’s characters are based on bits and pieces of some of the most terrifying monsters to roam the earth.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • What monsters Julie writes and her Journey [01:33]
  • What her author journey has felt like and how community changed the game [05:25]
  • Finding your community [08:28]
  • Networking and building relationships [13:48]
  • Launches in an ever changing landscape [19:14]
  • Creating her brand through passion [24:43]
  • Detective Mahoney and going back to go forward [30:25]
  • The evolution of being a writer [32:41]
  • A typical week [34:54]
  • Taking it one step at a time [37:28]
  • Avoiding burnout [40:07]
  • Why Julie writes [43:46]

    • Find out more about Julie Hiner

    https://killersanddemons.com

    IG: @killersanddemons

    TikTok: @killersanddemons

    Twitter: @killersanddemons

    FB: @killersanddemons

    Watch the podcast:

    https://youtu.be/CvvEb_28aDY

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    47 min
  • Bekka Willcocks ON: Food FREEDOM and Listening To Your Body

    Bekka Willcocks ON: Food FREEDOM and Listening To Your Body

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Bekka Willcocks is a level 4 qualified nutrition coach dedicated to helping others to gain a better understanding and relationship of food to further achieve their goals. Bekka wants to help others find their own food freedom and gain a sustainable balance when it comes to their nutrition and health

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Bekka’s journey to ‘Food Freedom’ [02:32]
  • Food Myths [05:27]
  • Why eating more helps you loose weight [08:18]
  • Listening to what your body wants [09:35]
  • What the body looks like in a day [11:38]
  • Common mistakes [14:31]
  • Tracking food [20:32]
  • Key facts about caffeine [24:25]
  • Snacks and Movement during the writing day [28:43]
  • Best snack foods [33:53]
  • The Patients diet [35:11]
  • How to properly fuel the body [37:38]
  • Body dysmorphia [39:56]
  • Top habits to build [45:21]
  • Emotion and food [47:31]
  • Weight and anti-depressants [49:37]
  • The best place to start [52:26]

    • Find out more about Bekka Willcocks:

    https://www.freedomwithbekka.com/

    IG: @@foodfreedomwithbekka

    Watch the show:

    https://youtu.be/KjAQPYLVzfU

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    55 min
  • ”Writing Short Horror Stories” Graduates ON: The POWER Of Short Stories & Investing In Your Craft ⁠

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author and award-winning podcaster of dark fiction. He is an author coach; one fifth of digital story studio, Hawk & Cleaver; co-founder of iTunes-busting fiction podcast, ‘The Other Stories‘;’ CEO of horror imprint, Devil’s Rock Publishing; and the co-host of the ‘Next Level Authors’ podcast.

    Dan is furiously passionate about all things story. He has written 60+ books in five years for himself and on behalf of ghostwriting clients. Dan now also provides author coaching services designed to help authors to help authors keep their creative flames burning in an activated, and healthy way.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Introductions [01:17]
  • Why short stories? [07:25]
  • The difference between NaNo and the short story course [10:28]
  • How it felt and hesitations [13:50]
  • Sharing early work with the group [16:50]
  • Coming back to writing [19:20]
  • Why Horror? [22:04]
  • Surprises of the course [26:09]
  • The Challenge [27:40]
  • Getting past wheel spinning [30:00]
  • Next steps [32:46]

    • Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Watch the show: https://youtu.be/t_y8xscypnk 

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    53 min
  • Samantha Frost ON: MENTAL HEALTH, Neurodivergence and the Dance of Recovery

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Samantha Frost A.K.A. “Mastress of None,” Sam is a video-editor, poet, writer, painter, actor and creator. Based in the south of England (but not born there, that’s an important distinction) Sam is passionate about helping creatives while battling the will of a medium sized human and the “affectionate” sneezes of a smaller sized pug.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Sam’s writing journey [03:11]
  • The gift of time [05:47]
  • The evolution of a novel [08:34]
  • Community [14:02]
  • Creativity and Mental Health [20:44]
  • Mastress of None [23:20]
  • The dance of recovery [25:48]
  • Resources and Inspiration for Mental Health and Neuro Divergance [31:07]
  • Sam’s coaching journey [39:09]
  • Why Sam creates [48:12]

    • Find out more about Samantha Frost:

    https://mastressofnone.com/

    Links from the show:

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Watch the Show: https://youtu.be/cX3ms1XL1T0 

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    51 min
  • Kristina Adams ON: CREATING The Path That Works For You

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Kristina Adams is the author of seventeen books and too many blog posts to count. She helps writers overcome their creative obstacles on her blog, podcast, and courses, over at The Writer’s Cookbook. When she’s not writing, she’s inflicting cooking experiments on her boyfriend or playing with her dog, Millie.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Cooking experiments [01:13]
  • Kristina’s writing journey [03:57]
  • Self belief,. conviction and Tenacity [9:17]
  • Unsolicited advice [10:16]
  • Arming yourself with the right knowledge [12:07]
  • What Kristina got from traditional education in creative writing [13:02]
  • How Nano nearly stopped Kristina’s writing career [14:44]
  • Plotting and side quests [16:38]
  • Coming back to the page [17:51]
  • Not relying on books for income [19:18]
  • The Writers Cookbook and The Writers Mindset [21:26]
  • The Fulfillment of podcasting [23:04]
  • Developing a thick skin and having the right mindset [29:16]
  • Chronic pain and exercise [30:20]
  • Productivity and being kind to yourself [35:30]
  • How Kristina organises her week [39:11]
  • Accounting for pain [44:52]
  • How Kristina approaches fiction [52:46]
  • Why Kristina writes [01:00:00]

    • Find out more about Kristina Adams:

    https://www.writerscookbook.com/author/kristina-adams/

    Links from the show:

    https://www.curablehealth.com/about

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Watch the show: https://youtu.be/3NxazDKd8Gg

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    1 hr 6 min
  • (BONUS Ep 001) Daniel Willcocks: Ask Me Anything

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author and award-winning podcaster of dark fiction. He is an author coach; one fifth of digital story studio, Hawk & Cleaver; co-founder of iTunes-busting fiction podcast, ‘The Other Stories‘;’ CEO of horror imprint, Devil’s Rock Publishing; and the co-host of the ‘Next Level Authors’ podcast.

    Dan is furiously passionate about all things story. He has written 60+ books in five years for himself and on behalf of ghostwriting clients. Dan now also provides author coaching services designed to help authors to help authors keep their creative flames burning in an activated, and healthy way..

    In this episode Dan answers your questions:

    • When is the productivity book out?
  • How do you do all the things NOW?
  • Do you need a mailing list?
  • Who has been the biggest influence on your craft?
  • Can you draw influence from sources other than books?
  • What are your top tips for marketing?
  • When is it best to publish under a LLC?

    • Watch the show:

    https://youtu.be/BfBJuzka3gs

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    55 min
  • Crys Cain ON: Your RELATIONSHIP with Work and Finding Your Value

    To find out more and how you can help 'Writers for Ukraine' head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/ukraine/ now.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/

    Crys Cain Through her super-secret alias, Crys has gone from homeless to six-figures, selling over 300,000 copies of her books. When she isn’t writing, she edits with an eye toward emotional power and teaches craft and business to the author community at The Author Success Mastermind with J Thorn and talks about the writer life on the Write Away Podcast with JP Rindfleisch.

    In this episode we go deep into:

    • Crys’ journey [4:45]
  • Going full force [10:05]
  • writing fast/rapid release [14:03]
  • Burnout [19:43]
  • Toxic Capitalism [24:40]
  • You have value [28:02]
  • Negotiating the relationship with work [30:45]
  • No perfect plan & creating joy [33:13]
  • The struggles of being a worcoholic [34:30]
  • Cumulative normalcy [36:13]
  • Three month hiatus [37:28]
  • Author Success Mastermind [40:48]
  • Working with J Thorn [43:17]
  • Character lies and soul wounds [46:13]
  • Finding the fire [49:35]
  • Crys’ ‘Why’

    • Find out more about Crys Cain:

    https://www.cryscain.com/

    https://www.tiktok.com/@itscryscain

     

    Get more from Activated Authors!

    Watch the show: https://youtu.be/t6hWI1wg3bo 

    https://activatedauthors.com/

    Find out more about Daniel Willcocks

    https://www.danielwillcocks.com/

    Special thanks to:

    Show theme: Karl Hughes

    Show editing: Sam Frost

    59 min

About Activated Authors

From the publisher's feed

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