Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Book Lover's Companion - The English Version
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Book Lover's Companion - The English Version episodes
- Inside A Dangerous Screw Loose: Francine Ehrenberg Discusses Politics and Writing
Host Edith welcomes returning guest Francine Ehrenberg to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss Ehrenberg’s second novel, A Dangerous Screw Loose, published in August and written as a direct continuation of America’s Candidate, picking up minutes after book one ends. Ehrenberg explains reader demand to resolve cliffhangers and how book two expands the political thriller into a courtroom murder trial, drawing on her decades as a prosecutor while using limited artistic license to keep the story moving. She highlights shifting perspectives by elevating Calypso (and expanding Roberta), exploring Amir’s moral ambiguity, and examining media influence, voyeurism, ratings-driven conflict, and distrust in politics and investigations. Ehrenberg also discusses avoiding partisan messaging, cover redesign choices, sequel-writing challenges and continuity notes, plans for an audiobook, possible screen adaptation interest, and ideas for future non-political suspense or horror informed by her Army background.
Find out more about Francine:
https://ehrenberg1.allauthor.com
⏰ Timestamp
00:00 Welcome Back Francine
00:44 Why Another Panel
01:54 Introducing Book Two
04:31 Picking Up After Book One
07:07 Amir and Moral Gray
10:14 Politics as Spectacle
18:31 Media Circus and Trust
20:20 Keeping Politics Neutral
25:16 Courtroom Focus in Book Two
28:57 Calypso Takes Center
32:38 Adapting to Screen
34:59 Future Books and Genres
35:35 Next Genre Ideas
36:55 Military Life Not Politics
38:49 Sequel Writing Challenges
39:55 Tracking Details Notebook
42:19 Cover Art Revisions
46:19 Flawed Characters Matter
52:09 Staying Human In War
57:49 Greed Values And Art
01:03:51 Future Projects Farewell
☕️ Support us:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
🔗 Links and Social media:
💻 https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 7 min - Marketing Mastery for Authors: From Book Idea to Shelf
Host Edith welcomes author and coach Lee Baucom to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss what it means to treat writing—especially fiction—as a business. They distinguish hobby writing from pursuing income, emphasizing that authors must wear multiple hats, particularly marketing as simply making readers aware and connecting the right audience to the right book. They cover cutting through today’s “noise,” pitching podcasts with a clear hook and audience fit, planning publicity months in advance, and choosing platforms based on where readers are and what the author can sustain. Lee outlines strategies like consistency, building an email list (e.g., Substack/Beehive), engaging communities, and using constraints to stay productive, while noting time vs. money tradeoffs, the value of human editing, and AI’s limited role for fiction but usefulness for marketing tasks.
Find out more about Lee:
https://leebaucom.com
⏰ Timestamp
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:44 Writing as a Business
03:49 Marketing Hat Mindset
06:03 Publishing Noise and Consistency
06:57 Pitching Podcasts Right
11:17 Conversation Style Interviews
13:06 Choosing Promotion Channels
17:11 Audience First Platform Choice
18:48 Time vs Money Marketing
22:08 Constraints and Daily Writing
24:34 Start Marketing Early
27:45 Building Suspense and Community
31:02 Behind the Art Stories Sell
32:54 Introverts Going Pro
33:57 Marketing Is On You
35:54 Success Takes Many Books
37:36 Strategy And Growth
39:44 Swag Versus Substance
41:38 Stop Doing Readings
45:33 Step By Step Marketing
51:54 Invest In Editing
55:46 AI For Marketing
57:57 Reviews And Not Finishing
01:01:18 Final Takeaways
☕️ Support us:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
🔗 Links and Social media:
💻 https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 1 min - Rick London's 'The Dancing Wolfman': A New Take on Werewolves and Music
Host Edith welcomes San Francisco author Rick London to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss his December 2025 novel The Dancing Wolfe Man (Volume One). London explains his pen name and how a vivid nighttime drive after a 1998 Super Bowl gathering inspired a werewolf story he later developed in 2024. Wanting to avoid a typical savage-werewolf arc, he made music the central force that anchors protagonist Titus Wolfe—a high school music teacher and weekend DJ—so sound and rhythm help him control his primal instincts and become a protector rather than a killer. They discuss the werewolf as a metaphor for humanity’s dark side, what defines a hero, London’s choice not to write a female werewolf protagonist, and his plans for sequels, prequels, and an origins book exploring werewolf lore. London shares his writing process, marketing lessons, audiobook considerations, advice to aspiring writers, and where to buy the book.
Find out more about Rick:
https://dancingwolfeman.com
⏰ Timestamp
00:00 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro
00:34 Why the Name Rick London
01:28 Dancing Wolfman Premise
01:48 Super Bowl Night Inspiration
05:28 Music Tames the Beast
09:12 Wolf as Inner Darkness
15:12 What Makes a Hero
18:06 Why Not a She Wolf
20:35 Series Plans and Staying Hidden
23:26 Werewolf Lore and Myth Origins
27:13 Standing Out and Marketing Reality
30:21 Writing Process and Drafting Method
34:16 Fixing Story Flow
34:56 Why We Quit Books
36:15 Dialogue Versus Description
37:12 Writing Like A Movie
40:57 Screenplay Adaptation Dreams
41:53 Finding Writing Communities
43:23 Going Cross Genre
46:19 Audiobook Plans And Costs
49:23 Bookstores Kindle And Habits
55:07 Advice For Aspiring Authors
58:40 Where To Buy The Book
01:00:08 Closing Thanks And Sign Off
☕️ Support us: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
🔗 Links and Social media:
💻 https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video
Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 1 min - Author Twila Mason on Writing Romance, Addiction & Recovery in Step by Step | Book Lover's Companion
Host Edith welcomes returning guest and author Twila Mason to discuss Step by Step, book two in the interconnected-yet-standalone Desperate Hearts series. Twila explains that the novel follows Chrissy’s path to a “happily ever after” after the events of book one, beginning with her being chosen to paint a City of Chicago mural and meeting her charming boss, Adam Rochester, sparking a workplace romance where both their jobs are at risk. She shares how both characters confront past shame, insecurity, addiction recovery, and mental health struggles, and describes the research and personal observation that informed her portrayal. Twila also talks about the challenges of indie marketing, tracking continuity across multiple books, plans for books three and four (and possible novellas), her stance on avoiding AI tools, and where to follow her work online.
⏰ Timestamp
00:00 Welcome Back Twila
00:39 Step by Step Overview
03:25 Standalone Series Setup
04:20 Healing Past Trauma
05:23 Researching Addiction Recovery
08:58 Indie Marketing Reality
12:17 Series Plans and Lily
15:57 Continuity Tracking Tips
19:14 Book Four and Novellas
21:12 Writing Challenges and Joy
23:53 Characters Take the Lead
25:48 Supporting Cast Matters
31:02 Writing Heavy Topics
35:54 AI Temptations for Indies
37:29 Avoiding AI Artwork
38:52 Designing Standout Covers
42:20 Embracing Romance Writing
46:01 Romance vs Womens Fiction
50:03 Setting Reader Expectations
52:31 Heavy Themes and Growth
54:16 Planning Future Books
59:11 Liking Characters in Series
01:02:26 Wrap Up and Where to Follow
01:04:07 Final Goodbye
☕️ Support us:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
🔗 Links and Social media:
💻 https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 5 min - Behind Enemy Lines: The Story of Jonathan Preston with Steve Doherty
Host Edith interviews retired US Air Force officer and historical fiction/children’s author Steve Doherty about his novels inspired by a WWII covert operative he interviewed in 1995 (renamed Jonathan Preston), whose missions behind Japanese lines in the China-Burma-India theater were classified for 50 years. Doherty explains how Preston and teammate George Linka worked with British intelligence and the OSS on dozens of missions across Southeast Asia, using disguises, languages, and local operatives. They discuss Doherty’s fifth novel, Crossroads, a postwar story set during Japan’s reconstruction involving war-crimes pursuits, a vengeful Japanese general turned criminal leader, and a real sacred katana used to lure him out via a kabuki play. Doherty also shares lessons on self-publishing pitfalls, active research, character development, dialogue, editing, and his children’s books promoting values, which he gives away.
Find out more about Steve:
https://steve-doherty-books.com
Chapters
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:41 Meet Jonathan Preston
01:51 Secret Missions Revealed
06:09 Elite Spy Training
14:57 Disguises And Languages
18:01 Publishing Lessons Learned
22:38 Crossroads Prologue Research
26:27 Postwar Japan Revenge Plot
44:52 Writing Process And Origins
46:31 From Articles To Novels
50:43 Why Historical Fiction
52:55 Writing By Instinct
55:33 Making Characters Human
59:25 Dialogue And Character Bios
01:03:32 Building Foreign Characters
01:05:42 Active Research Process
01:08:01 Ten Novel Milestone
01:08:52 Children Books Mission
01:11:42 Advice For Writers
01:16:58 Editing And Working With Editors
01:19:42 Family Coauthors And Confidence
01:22:33 Where To Find The Books
01:23:43 Final Thanks And Sign Off
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here: https://book-lovers-companion.com https://twitter.com/book_companion https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7 https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome: [email protected]
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 25 min - Victorian Secrets: Emma Woodhouse and the Art of Historical Storytelling
Host Edith welcomes returning guest Emma Woodhouse, a fiction and nonfiction author, to discuss two upcoming autumn releases: the historical novel "Anne Morgan: Hellish Beauty" (September) and the nonfiction "Criminal Women of Victorian London" (November). Woodhouse explains her fascination with overlooked working-class Victorian women and shares the story of Anne Morgan, a “witch” murdered in 1857 by her younger lover William Davis, including superstition after her death, burned papers, and research drawn largely from newspaper trial reports, plus a revenge legend she acknowledges as fictionalized. She outlines the novel’s interwoven timelines and her ethical approach to blending fact with invention. Woodhouse also previews her nonfiction survey of 30–40 female offenders across crime types, her research methods, and how it challenges prim-and-proper Victorian stereotypes.
Find out more about Emma:
https://emmawoodhousebooks.wixsite.com/ewhb
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back Emma
00:49 Life With Dogs And Ducks
02:34 Two New Books This Fall
03:08 Meet Anne Morgan
05:24 Witch Murder And Aftermath
09:46 Finding Sources And Legends
15:31 Three Timelines Explained
16:59 Ethical Historical Fiction
19:31 Anne And William Relationship
25:32 Criminal Women Of London
26:52 Researching Victorian Crimes
27:51 Mog The Fireman And More
29:07 Victorian Women Unmasked
30:15 Hidden Female Serial Killer
31:34 Street Survival Crimes
35:10 Madams and Crime Bosses
39:24 Brothel Guides and Coercion
41:02 Women Versus Men in Crime
44:45 Research Balance and Notes
48:08 Nonfiction Role Models
51:30 Victims Not Killers
54:34 Best Victorian TV Portrayals
56:50 Podcasts Talks and Academia
59:36 Farewell and Wrap Up
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here: https://book-lovers-companion.com https://twitter.com/book_companion https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7 https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome: [email protected]
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 1 min - Historical Heroines: Behind the Scenes of Feisty Deeds Anthologies
Host Edith welcomes returning guest Kimberly Sullivan and fellow editors/writers Elaine, Carolyn, Christy, Kay to discuss the anthology Feisty Deeds 2: Historical Tales of Badges and Bruises. They explain eligibility and guidelines within the Women’s Fiction Writers Association historical fiction affinity group, including a 3,000-word limit, historical settings (50+ years past), fictional female protagonists, and a “Batches and Brews” theme tied to food, drink, and related dangers. The group describes selection criteria balancing story quality, variety, global and temporal range, and how they organized stories by geography. They outline a multi-round editing workflow (developmental, line, final pass, plus external proofreading), formatting challenges, research and historical authenticity debates, and the timeline from theme to publication. They note proceeds support the WFWA Scholarship Fund and the books are available in print and on major ebook platforms.
Find out more about my guests here:
https://kimberlysullivanauthor.com
https://carolynkorsmeyer.com
https://www.kaysmith-blum.com
https://christymatheson.com
https://elaineschroller.com
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and No Football
00:38 What Is Feisty Deeds 2
01:57 Submission Rules and Theme
03:39 Global Settings and Story Selection
08:16 Editing Assignments and Author Feedback
10:55 Three Round Editing Workflow
17:25 Timeline From Theme to Publication
24:00 How the Anthology Began
27:15 Formatting and Production Challenges
29:46 Historical Language and Research Checks
36:07 Scholarship Fund and Budgeting
37:44 Authenticity and Modern Sensibilities
40:57 Modern Values vs Past
42:08 Diversity in Historical Stories
45:09 Writing Heavy History Well
47:47 Why Short Stories Work
49:19 Women Writers and Initials
53:10 Historical Fiction Boom
56:35 Getting People to Read
59:53 Novels vs Short Stories
01:03:26 Indie Anthology Challenges
01:05:26 Collaboration and Rejections
01:11:49 Kimberly Returns and Process
01:14:07 Where to Buy and Goodbye
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here: https://book-lovers-companion.com https://twitter.com/book_companion https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7 https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome: [email protected]
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 16 min - Inside the Editor's Mind: Literary Thrills with Jennica Dotson
Host Edith welcomes editor Jennica Dotson to discuss how she became an editor through internships and on-the-job learning, and to explain the differences between developmental editing (big-picture plot, structure, character, and worldbuilding), line editing (stylistic, line-by-line refinement, often including some copy work), and copy editing (grammar, punctuation, and typos). Jennica recommends discovery calls, approaching editors with a completed draft, letting manuscripts rest, revising before line edits, and staying open to edits while keeping authorial voice. They discuss time pressures in traditional publishing, expectations for more polished submissions, and the importance of language consistency (American vs British English). Jennica shares why she specializes in fantasy, notes trends like romantasy and misclassification issues, highlights indie publishing’s willingness to take risks, and describes how freelancers find clients through organizations and networking. She recommends “The Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:41 Becoming an Editor
02:57 Editing Types Explained
05:13 Offering Multiple Services
06:57 Preparing for an Edit
10:51 Handling Feedback and Revisions
13:24 Why Editing Takes Time
14:47 Traditional Publishing Pressures
17:12 American vs British English
21:59 Fantasy Niche and Specialization
26:01 Editor Challenges and Switching Off
29:47 Strange Manuscripts and Genre Talk
31:56 Holmes From Hudson
34:07 Retellings New Perspectives
34:55 Fantasy Trends Romantasy
38:02 Gender Marketing Bias
40:22 YA Themes And Limits
42:43 Indie Publishing Daring
46:17 Getting Seen Marketing
50:08 Recent Read Recommendation
53:31 Community And Editors
56:49 Wrap Up And Farewell
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here: https://book-lovers-companion.com https://twitter.com/book_companion https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7 https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome: [email protected]
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
58 min - Crafting Happiness: The Joyful Mission of Kate Hull's Books
Host Edith welcomes children’s book author Kate Hull (joining from Florida) to discuss her Share Joy brand and her self-published Amazon children’s books: Where Does Joy Live?, Where Does Peace Live, and Where Does Love Live. Hull explains how Share Joy began with fresh flower bars at corporate and charity events and grew into a mission focused on helping people find joy, peace, and love. She describes the whimsical main characters—a young version of herself and her Yorkie, Kobe—and the books’ colorful, quick, poetic format, plus a related coloring book and her website (sharemorejoy.com). Hull shares her literacy advocacy, including her own childhood reading struggles and belief that children learn differently, and discusses how the books can support busy parents and even help adults rediscover joy. They also touch on Gen X childhood nostalgia, book-to-screen adaptations, libraries, writing communities, future projects (including a space-themed book and journals), and Hull’s preference for authentic creativity over AI.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:53 Tech Connects Readers
02:50 From Politics to Books
03:17 Share Joy Origins
06:00 Where Does Joy Live
08:14 Meet Kate and Kobe
09:58 Publishing Timeline and Series
12:21 Joy Peace Love Mindset
14:30 Literacy Advocacy Story
17:56 Quick Reads and Coloring
19:41 Gen X Childhood Nostalgia
24:52 Books and Literacy Heroes
25:46 Books vs Screen Time
26:31 When Adaptations Work
28:30 Libraries and Bookmobiles
31:32 Writing Community Connections
32:26 Next Books and New Ideas
37:15 Authenticity Over AI
43:28 Creative Flow and Inspiration
46:22 Will Characters Grow Up
48:07 Find Your Joy Farewell
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here:
https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome:
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
51 min - Editing, Craft, Book Reviewing & AI: Ekta Garg on Writing and Publishing
Host Edith welcomes returning guest Ekta Garg—author, editor, and book reviewer—to discuss the writing and publishing journey. Ekta explains editing stages (developmental editing, line/copy editing, proofreading) and shares that she now offers manuscript assessments focused on character, dialogue, plot, tension, and conflict. She advises writers to finish a draft, step away for at least a month, revise multiple times, and clarify themes and a short pitch before paying for professional editing. Ekta recommends reading widely, informally reviewing books to train craft awareness, and writing consistently while letting author voice develop over time; she also encourages experimenting with flash fiction, short forms, and poetry to build precision. The conversation addresses concerns about AI in creative work, its environmental impact, and the value of human community. Ekta also describes how she selects and schedules reviews using NetGalley ARCs and emphasizes persistence and community as keys to publishing.
00:00 Welcome Back Ekta
01:15 Editing Services Overview
03:57 Types of Editors Explained
05:09 When to Hire an Editor
09:43 Tools and Organization Tips
10:46 Toughest Editing Challenges
13:26 How to Build Writing Craft
17:31 Finding Your Author Voice
20:38 Short Forms to Improve
24:24 AI and Creative Integrity
29:25 AI in Schools and Society
32:27 Staying Informed About AI
33:55 AI Temptation Trap
35:57 Writers Need Humans
37:12 AI Echoes Blind Spots
39:10 Reading Builds Empathy
40:40 Books Scarier Than Film
44:41 Choosing Books To Review
48:13 Reading Formats And Habits
50:43 Getting Into Audiobooks
54:27 Publishing Takes Persistence
58:49 Final Thanks And Signoff
If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom
https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion
Follow us here:
https://book-lovers-companion.com
https://twitter.com/book_companion
https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7
https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA
Feedback is always welcome:
Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E
1 hr 1 min
About Book Lover's Companion - The English Version
From the publisher's feed
A podcast about books, authors, genres, readers and more.