When should you interact with your readers, and when should you keep out of reader spaces? Today, Amy and D.C. discuss this touchy topic.

How can you make sure your subplots weave in with your main plot, how do they tie in to characters, and why is that important? Amy and D.C. discuss.

Amy and D.C. discuss the ugliness of publishing insecurities and professional jealousy, as well as sharing our best tips for keeping them at bay. We also talk about the importance of community and supporting other authors. (Yes, this might be spurred on by the recent review-bombing mess in December 2023).

Amy's book, The Longest Autumn, comes out tomorrow (if you're listening to this episode on the day it drops)!

Amy and D.C. take a look back to discuss how a book gets to print, her journey to publication and what a long, strange trip it's been.

To learn more about The Longest Autumn (or to order it), click here.

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Drink Recipes:

Cocktail:

• 2oz apple cider (the good cloudy stuff that's only squished apples)

1. Stir with ice for about 30 seconds or until well chilled

Mocktail:

• 2oz apple cider (the good cloudy stuff that's only squished apples)

1. Stir apple cider and pumpkin spice syrup with ice for about 30 seconds or until well combined and chilled.

Avery (now Amy) and D.C. discuss writing multiple timelines or flashbacks in a story. We chat about some possible best practices, finding the right reader for a multi-timeline story, and some of our favorite (and least favorite) examples.

(Side note: This episode was originally recorded in October of 2023 but Amy just now got around to editing it, so the "what we're reading and working on" sections are a glimpse into Past Us)

Some updates about what the podcast will look like in 2024, news about Amy's book release (January 16th, aaaa!), and a replay of one of our most popular episodes: "Invisible, Lyrical, and Purple Prose".

Tour dates mentioned:

• Tuesday January 16th at 6pm - Wichita, KS, Watermark Books & Cafe with KT Hanna, author of numerous fantasy, dystopian, and LitRPG books

Find out more about THE LONGEST AUTUMN or pre-order at this link!

Hi! We'll be taking a break for the month of December while we do some recalibrating, but we'll be back to our regularly scheduled weekly programming in January!

Amy and D.C. discuss some techniques and tricks for making memorable and three-dimensional side characters.

Your story's theme is its heart, but how do you find yours or decide on one? In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss the ways in which your throughline and theme play together to underscore your book's core message.----more----

Books mentioned:

• The Longest Autumn, by Amy Avery

So you've finished the initial rush of those first chapters and you're reaching the middle of your story when you hit that wall: the Murky Middle. Today, D.C. and Avery discuss some tips and tricks to get over the mental hurdles and craft-based befuddlement of your book's second act.