Authors Talking Bookish

AI is changing the way authors write, but is every use of AI created equal? From researching to generating the words on the page, AI has entered nearly every stage of a writer’s life. But is using AI inherently unethical, or does the answer depend on what you’re asking it to do? In this episode of Authors Talking Bookish, we examine a spectrum of controversy surrounding the use of AI in order to help you determine where you stand.

SHOW NOTES:

The Spectrum of AI Adoptions: Research vs. Marketing vs. Writing vs. Brainstorming

Research (High Acceptance)

Marketing & Administration (High Acceptance)

A New Complication: AI as search engine

Drafting & Prose (Controversial)

Ethical Friction: Who owns the training material?

Author vs. AI Accusations: High-Profile Book Cancellations

Detecting AI Use

Final Ethical Questions: Where We Stand

SOURCES & LINKS

Why The Press Release Isn’t Dead, Reader Views, July 2026

AI Optimization for Authors, Author Media, May 2025

Anthropic Destroyed Millions of Print Books to Build its AI Models, ARS Technica, June 2025

Authors Guild and Plaintiffs File Motion for Summary Judgement v. Open AI and Microsoft, The Authors Guild, September 2026

$2M Crime Novel Deal Collapses Amid Questions over AI Use, Emma Loffhagen, The Guardian, July 2026

A New York Times Op Ed , Andrea Bartz, March 2026

The Authors Who Admit to Using AI: “I have absolutely no shame about it,” Annabel Nugent, The Independent, June 2026

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

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Aprons, sourdough, and perfectly curated kitchens may seem like harmless nostalgia, but behind the trad wife trend lies a cultural conversation about gender, identity, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about "the good life."

The trad wife movement has evolved from an obscure online term first documented in 2016 into a highly visible social media phenomenon fueled by pandemic-era content celebrating homemaking, domesticity, vintage fashion, and family life. While some view it as a return to simplicity amid rising childcare costs and burnout, others see connections to broader debates about gender roles, politics, and the idealized images amplified by influencers and popular culture—fromThe Stepford Wives to Don't Worry Darling and Ballerina Farms.

In this panel, authors Bella Ellwood-Clayton, and Elizabeth Richardson explore why the trad wife phenomenon has become such fertile ground for storytelling. Together, they'll discuss choice versus expectation, the complexities of modern relationships, social media's influence on identity, and why fiction is uniquely positioned to explore the gray areas behind one of today's most polarizing cultural trends.

SHOW NOTES:

The term and its origin

Cultural Connections

Why it's gained in popularity today

Author Panel: Bella Ellwood-Clayton and Elizabeth Richardson

Questions for the Panel

Links

Bella Ellwood-Clayton’s website Insta

Elizabeth Richardson’s Links

https://elizabethrichardsonbooks.substack.com/

elizabethrichardsonbooks.com

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

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What happens when someone else dictates what is or is not allowed to be read?

In this episode, we explore the history and purpose of Banned Books Week, why book challenges and censorship have become increasingly common, and why the freedom to read matters to readers, writers, educators, and communities alike. We share the books that have shaped us, discuss why so many enduring classics continue to be challenged, and highlight the authors, librarians, and organizations working to protect access to diverse stories. Whether you agree with every book or not, this conversation is a reminder that stories have the power to educate, challenge, and connect us, and why preserving that choice is worth defending.

SHOW NOTES:

History

This Year

Why are we Bringing Attention to it?

Books we support and would like to address

Manifesto Library

Authors Against Book Bans

History:

Banned Books Week takes place annually, at the end of September to the beginning of October depending upon the calendar. In 1982, it originated as a call to attention to the rise in the number of books being banned across the US by Judith Krug of the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers

This Year:

Dates: October 4–10, 2026

Theme: “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read”

Focus: Raising awareness about censorship and supporting public access to diverse ideas and stories.

SOURCES & LINKS

American Library Association https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned

Banned Books Week https://bannedbooksweek.org/

Pen America: Banned Books https://pen.org/banned-books-week/

Manifesto Library https://www.service95.com/manifesto-library-launch

Authors Against Book Bans https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/

DO NOW: Create your own awareness by educating yourself, determine what you can do to promote choice in reading and the prevention of book banning.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Award-winning author Karen E. Osborne joins Authors Talking Bookish for a conversation about writing suspense and social-issue fiction, creating complex female characters, and exploring family, power, and moral choice through story. Karen shares insights into her novels, including Getting It Right, Justice for Emerson, True Grace, Reckonings, and Tangled Lies, as well as her journey as a writer and her experience hosting the weekly author-interview podcast What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing? Join us for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, the writing life, and creating fiction that both entertains and makes us think.

SHOW NOTES:

Biography

Current Novels

On the Author’s Journey and Writing Life

Host to Host

Road to Publication

Rapid Fire Questions

Tangled Lies (2021) – A murder mystery thriller centered on complex family dynamics.

Reckonings (2022) – An award-winning indie drama focusing on moral choices and corporate power.

True Grace (2023) – A historical fiction family saga set during the Harlem Renaissance.

Justice for Emerson (2025) – A dual-timeline mystery that won Best Mystery of the Year.

Getting It Right October 15, 2026

SOURCES & LINKS

Pre-Order Getting It Right: A Psychological Thriller

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.kareneosborne.com/

Video Podcast: https://www.kareneosborne.com/blog-1

Facebook: (20+) Karen E Osborne, Author | Facebook

YouTube: Karen E. Osborne - YouTube

Instagram: Instagram

LinkedIn: Karen E. Osborne | LinkedIn

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-e-osborne

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

You've finished the book—now what? In Part 2 of our Emotional Arc of a Writer series, we dive into the often-overlooked emotional challenges that come after typing "The End." From sharing your work and facing rejection, to navigating publication, marketing, and the realities of building a long-term writing career, every milestone brings new opportunities and unexpected emotions. We'll discuss the surprises, setbacks, and successes that shape writers beyond the page and offer practical advice for approaching each stage with confidence and resilience.

Part II: Beyond Writing a Novel (continued from Episode 78)

Show Notes:

Stages 6-10:

Sharing Your Work

Querying or Publishing

Publication

Marketing Your Work and Yourself

The Long-term Writing Life

Personal Emotional Surprises

SOURCES & LINKS:

“Caring for your mental health as a writer,” The JED Foundation. PDF https://assets.ctfassets.net/

“Writers and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma,” Atmosphere Press.

Fearless Writing, William Kenower, Writer’s Digest Books

Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum, Catapult

DO NOW: Identify where you are in your post-writing journey & choose one or more of the actionable solutions that resonate most with you.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Writing a novel isn't just a craft journey, it's an emotional one. From the excitement of a new idea to the vulnerability of sharing your work and the uncertainty of publication, every milestone brings both triumphs and challenges. In this episode, the first of a two-part series, we'll explore the emotional benchmarks most writers encounter during the stages of writing a novel and offer practical strategies for navigating them with resilience and confidence.

Part I: Stages of Writing

Show Notes:

Personal Assumptions

Stages 1-5:

The Spark

The First Draft

The Mid-draft Slump

Finishing the Draft

Revision

Personal Application

SOURCES & LINKS

“Caring for your mental health as a writer,” The JED Foundation. PDF https://assets.ctfassets.net/

“Writers and Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma,” Atmosphere Press.

Fearless Writing, William Kenower, Writer’s Digest Books

Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum, Catapult

DO NOW: Identify where you are in your writing & choose one or more of the actionable solutions that resonate most with your own journey.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

What if one of the biggest obstacles to writing compelling fiction became your greatest creative strength? In this episode, we sit down with thriller author Maggie Giles to explore her unconventional path to becoming a suspense writer, why thrillers came more naturally than romance, and how years of experimenting across genres helped her discover her unique voice. Maggie also shares how she balances a full-time career with writing—and offers a fascinating look at creating immersive stories while living with aphantasia, a condition that prevents her from forming mental images. Whether you're searching for your writing voice, struggling to make time for your craft, or curious about the many ways creativity works, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical insights you won't want to miss.

SHOW NOTES:

Bio

Writing Process

Books

Writing Life

Rapid-Fire Questions

SOURCES & LINKS

Website: https://maggiegiles.com/

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

The most satisfying stories don't come from surprises that appear out of nowhere; they come from details that were there all along. In this episode, we'll explore how writers can strategically plant information, objects, emotions, and clues early in a story that later bloom into meaningful revelations, twists, and character growth. Readers love being surprised, but they love it even more when the surprise feels earned. Let us teach you how to make every detail count.

SHOW NOTES:

What does planting seeds mean?

Types of seeds a writer can plant

The rule of set-up and payoff

Where writers get it wrong

Revision tip: read backwards

DO NOW:

For examples of effective seed-planting and a writer’s exercise, download our FREE Planting Seeds companion to this episode from our website @ https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

What happens when a passion for travel, friendship, and embracing life's changes becomes the heart of unforgettable stories? In this episode, award-winning author Patricia Sands shares her journey from indie publishing to traditional success and the inspiration behind her novels set in the South of France. We discuss her latest release, The French Effect, the themes of friendship, reinvention, and aging that resonate throughout her work, and how she's built a career spanning more than a decade. Patricia also offers valuable insights into the writing life, publishing, and finding your authentic voice. Whether you're a writer or an avid reader, this conversation will leave you inspired to embrace change and write the stories only you can tell.

SHOW NOTES:

Bio & books

The French Effect

Inspiration

Writing and travel

Narrating an audiobook

Process & Research

Writing advice

SOURCES & LINKS

Patricia’s Website

The French Effect

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

What separates a decent first draft from a truly compelling novel? In this episode, we’ll provide you with 10 tips on the art of revision and explore the strategies that transform rough manuscripts into powerful stories readers can’t put down. Whether you’re tackling your first revision or your fifth, this episode will help you approach the process with clarity, confidence, and a sharper editorial eye.

SHOW NOTES:

1. Walk Away
2. Read Through
3. Identify your Core Story
4. Focus on Big Ideas First
5. Revise in Layers
6. Strengthen Character Motivation
7. Raise the Stakes
8. Cut and Move
9. Check Scene Purpose
10. Sharpen Openings and Endings

SOURCES & LINKS

“How to Revise a Novel,” Holly Lisle https://hollylisle.com/how-to-revise-a-novel/

“Novel Revision Checklist,” Nathan Bransford https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/06/revision-checklist

Books on story structure, character, motivation and stakes

Story Genius, Wired for Story by Lisa Kron

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

Related ATB Episodes:

Editing and Revision Methods, Episode 21 (backwards outline, color coding, notecards…)

Editing (interview with 2 editors), Episode 51

Tension and Conflict, Episode 61

DO NOW: Determine where you are in your editing process and try an editing technique that you haven’t tried yet

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you