Discovered Wordsmiths

Overview

Joel didn't start as a writer, but he used his career knowledge to empower his writing. That doesn't mean he hasn't learned other lessons about writing and publishing that he shares.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/odAfQC8GQP8

Transcript

[00:00:00] Joel: Are you working on your author career, but struggling to get that first book published, does the goal of being an author seem too lofty or thoughts of having multiple books and making a full-time living are as fantastical as living in Cinderella's castle. Welcome to discovered wordsmiths a podcast where aspiring authors can be heard.

Join Stephen Schneider is he finds and talks to authors. You may not know, but authors that have gotten their book on the author career path here, what they've done to get there and where they want to go. Now, settle back. It's time for a bit of inspiration and advice. Come listen to today's discovered

[00:00:44] Stephen: wordsmith.

All right, Joel, before we begin talking about some of the other author topics use, you've been writing. Uh, a large part of your life, but more seriously in the last couple of years, we're going to be talking about that. So what are some things you have learned from the first [00:01:00] stuff you wrote published?

What the newest books are, that would be things that new authors, Hey, avoid this, or here's some good advice. That type of thing.

[00:01:09] Joel: One thing that I believe you have to do is learn how to write, and it seems like a. Kind of an obvious statement. We all learn how to write. When we were children went to school, we learned how to write in school and we may have even taken some creative writing courses in college and beyond college.

But you need to learn how to write as an author would write. And that's very different than what you might do as a lawyer doctor or a. Podcast producer, the way we write as fiction writers is different and you need to learn stuff about that. And some of it, frankly, for me, I'm not going to talk about others, but some of it for me just went right over my head.

I would read a book and I wouldn't pay attention to point of view. I wouldn't necessarily [00:02:00] take a attention to setting other than the fact that this is a cool setting. Wow. That mansion that's really, I wouldn't pay attention to how the author built that up. I wouldn't pay attention necessarily. To the dialogue, unless the dialogue was really stilted.

I would say people don't talk like that. Shakespeare Metta talk like that. The normal people don't talk that way. And so you need to learn a few things. And certainly the first investing you can do is just write Stephen King and his book on writing says that your first draft is going to be really bad, but you've got to put it down anyway, any.

Who is another well-known writer. Who's also written a book on writing called bird by bird. She's a little more blunt. She says your first draft will be a piece of crap that she actually uses even a stronger word. And she says, your first draft is going to be lousy and you're going to throw it out, but don't worry.

Cause nobody else is going to look at it. But the important thing is you've got to get it down on paper. So you start, right? And then you've got to start figuring out what is it I'm doing, right. What is going be doing wrong? [00:03:00] There's so much stuff out there to. I've taken in-person courses over the years, I took a full day long program at Rosemont college.

Overview

Joel has been a lawyer in Pennsylvania for most of his life. He has practiced environmental law and uses that information to write his thriller novels.

Joel has used the books he loves to influence his writing and strives to create page turners like Grisham and Clancy.

His Book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KVKJBJV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08KVKJBJV&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=12ad30a143ae5628389346c881a4006a

Favorites

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375701427/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375701427&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=c0faabc5133010369f522249a0ef4505

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FMW0C3U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01FMW0C3U&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=afafb554be783fd2006ec4f9dcb35a81

Midtown Scholar - https://midtownscholar.com

YouTube

https://youtu.be/7KTk75M1T6k

Transcript

[00:00:00] Joel: Are you looking for new books to read? Do you like finding a new, special author? Are you tired of the same old books from the same old authors? Well, then welcome to discovered wordsmiths a podcast where you can hear from fantastic new authors. Join Stephen Schneider is he finds and talks to authors.

You may not know, but authors that have worked hard to write great new books here about their book and why you should check it out. So sit back and listen to today's discovered wordsmith.

[00:00:47] Stephen: Hello, welcome to episode 92 of discovered wordsmiths. Today. I've got Joel Bearcat. He is a retired lawyer, actually an environmental lawyer, and he spent his career [00:01:00] helping fight against environmental problems, uh, in the courts. And he's now using that information to write thriller novels. So he talks to us about his novels, what he's been writing, what he's been doing.

And has some good tips, uh, for other writers that are looking to change careers. So sit back, have a listen to Joel and stick around for the second half. Uh, the author talk where we talk about changing from one career to another. So here's Joel, but today undiscovered wordsmith. I have Joel Bearcat, Joel, welcome to the podcast.

[00:01:36] Joel: Steven. I'm happy to be here. Thank you very much. And

[00:01:39] Stephen: we got through our technical issues.

[00:01:42] Joel: We're here. Everybody's been,

[00:01:45] Stephen: we're all getting used to it though. In today's world.

[00:01:48] Joel: Yes. It's a brave new world. I never used zoom. I think I used Skype a few times before the pan, but obviously like everyone else I've been using zoom and a few other media [00:02:00] and social media kind of platforms, but like everyone, right.

We're starting to get used to it.

[00:02:07] Stephen: Yeah. So Joel, tell everybody a little bit about yourself, where you live your background and what you like to do outside

[00:02:12] Joel: of writing. Yeah. I'm originally from Philadelphia and I live now in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and I've lived here for over 40 years. I came here as a brand new lawyer and went to work for Pennsylv...

Overview

JP is back to talk about author communities. He credits finding the right community as being the reason he decided to work on his author career.

We met in J Thorn's "The Author Success Mastermind" group. JP thinks author community has helped him grow and be successful as an author.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/fcJge_6WHr4

Transcript

[00:00:46] Stephen: time for some author talk, which we've already done a little bit of.

Oh, let's back up. Yeah, I wasn't paying enough attention. What are some of your favorite books and authors? [00:01:00]

[00:01:01] JP: Okay. So some of my favorite books and authors, I love Neil Gaiman so much. I'm pretty much anything he writes. I'm willing to just immediately buy and read and listen to, especially if it's an audio book.

And especially if he read them like ocean at the end of the lane, that kind of weird winsy is my jam. I really try to emulate that. I have a short story. That is currently with Jeff, or you might hear it on the dialect doctor by the time this comes out. It's a fun exploration until weird and whimsy of death, because there's strange thing you might have here with death, darkness and government agencies.

But yes. So

maybe I'll put that there. I grew up also on a Tamar up here. So the circle of magic series a that's another one that like that changed a lot for the, my perspective on like how I want to write and what I want to write in the future. And then Garth nix as well for young adult, his keys to the kingdom series is a really good one.

I'm going to, I'm going to leave it there. [00:02:00] Otherwise I will keep rambling

[00:02:02] Stephen: bookstore.

[00:02:05] JP: So I have a bookstore that is like within walking distance of my house called toda hall, but they mostly do used books, but it is a three-story madness. It's just, if you imagine, like, Harry Potter, but in the real world, I'm pretty sure that it would be this building because the walls are from Florida ceiling, their books of every which way and wonder, and they have different rooms in the basement that some are more sketchy than others, where they just have various different books.

So that is a really fun place to go to and explore. I found some really cool old. Epic fantasy ones in there. And there's also a local shop. They're not primarily focused on books, but they do host like local authors called culture shock that I also want to recommend because they're really good. Both of these are Rockford based.

[00:02:57] Stephen: Toad hall definitely sounds like. [00:03:00] Exploring, and you're not that far away. So maybe sometime wife and I would take a jaunt over there and meet you up at it. That'd be cool. That'd be fun. Okay. So now let's go on to author stuff. We covered that, then I forgot. So you've been writing for a couple years. But you're still just starting leads to six books every month or anything like that.

So you still got your first one, but you do have some things done. And you said before that you went to APOC and learned. I like people. I like it helps me. It's my thing. And because of that, you're, you've got a coauthor and everything you were just talking about was coauthor at sea. So obviously you learn something about yourself.

Tell us a little bit about what that was like, everybody wants to write, but then you're like,

Overview

JP is a great guy and has one of the most fantastic names you could hope for, well, I guess unless you're an author and wanting people to find you. But he uses that as an advantage and it fits his style.

In this week's episode, JP talks about his writing journey - where he started, where he's at, and where he's headed. Most of this involves other writers and community - something we discuss in more detail in part B.

JP not only is writing serial fiction in Kindle Vella, but has started a podcast about that - The Serial Fiction Show.

Website

http://www.jprindfleischix.com/

Books

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09H65GWR2

Favorites

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NFHF0Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009NFHF0Q&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=86082084a7df36ed3c7e7c1091e9f94a

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IZOH1K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005IZOH1K&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=c6d2720dbac1abdf08faa1ff28583985

Toad Hall Bookstore - https://toadhallonline.com/

https://cultureshockshop.com/visit-us/

YouTube

https://youtu.be/GraG54nTF4E

Transcript

[00:01:48] Stephen: all right. Welcome to episode 90. One of discovered wordsmiths, and one of those voices you just heard talking about the serial fiction show is JP, who is our guest on today's podcast. [00:02:00] I met JP through J thorns, uh, author success mastermind group. And I've known JP going on two years now. I believe we've had some good times.

He's a great guy, funny, and I really wanted to get him on the show because he's unique. He uses taro to help do his writing. He's. Uh, has written some dark fantasy. He's written a lot with other people. So he's got some unique insights into writing and thoughts and how to do things. And besides he's got one of the best names I think I've ever heard.

So sit back and enjoy this episode with JP. Alright, JP. Yeah. Party time. Hi. Thanks for being on the podcast. How you doing today? Uh, not too bad, you know, considering it's beginning of November. So. Yeah, I like this season.

[00:02:56] JP: I generally do too up until about January [00:03:00] or February, then it's too cold.

[00:03:01] Stephen: Oh. I used to not care.

And then I got old and it makes a big difference

[00:03:08] JP: ever since the minus. Outside. Yeah. Broke me. I'm just like not done with you winter.

[00:03:14] Stephen: Oh yeah. Just wait to you get up another five, 10 years. And suddenly everything changes JV. We're just chatting. We've talked for about a year and a half now on Jay's mastermind, but everybody else listening probably doesn't know anything about you.

Tell us a little bit about yourself besides. Besides

[00:03:31] JP: writing this side. Yeah. I'm JP. I have a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and I took the science route in life and I ...

Overview

The missing interview has been found! A couple weeks back, I had Donna Conrad on, and we were missing the last half of her interview. I found it!

Donna finishes talking about her historical Mary Magdalene book and then we talk about inspiration for writers. She has been involved with many musicians, and that has been a big influence for her and her creativity. Music is something that many authors share a love for.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/asNy3WOtEIY

Transcript

We were talking music. You mentioned Joni. Mitchell's a nice person. I think that's great. I love Joni Mitchell.

I know Jocko Pistorious played with her occasionally which is wonderful. Good to hear some good Jocko baselines.

[00:02:48] Donna: Oh, hang on just one second. Yep.

Okay. I'm just not hearing. And if you can take that out because you can hear. That's been over here.

[00:02:59] Stephen: We'll make that the [00:03:00] blooper at the end and I'll amplify it.

[00:03:04] Donna: It's a microphone. You need your microphone.

[00:03:06] Stephen: Okay. You've got two completely different books. We're talking about your memoir and your historical fiction.

So for each of them, Would you rather see it as a movie or as a TV show?

[00:03:17] Donna: The, let me see so how's the one surviving the sixties. I think it would work as a movie because it is just a four year period. And it's just isolated incidents that are joined together by a common thread. And so I think movie, the last Magdalene is going to be the Magdalen Chronicles is going to be a four book series.

So I would love to see something with a series, like a Netflix series,

[00:03:46] Stephen: or

[00:03:47] Donna: that type of thing going season after season, because it, she lived for, we think, okay, At least 88, 90 years. Wow. And experienced it a lot. So she was born close [00:04:00] to the beginning of the first century, current era.

She lived through the destruction of the temple. She lived through. Not quite to the diaspora, but she lived through Paul B getting his teachings and the establishment of the early church. And that, so it was a dynamic time, her whole life. And then we also need to see into Egypt, which is the second book called lost in the holy, which is when she leaves after the crucifixion, she escapes to Egypt, to Alexandria, which was the traditional place for Hebrews to.

[00:04:34] Stephen: And the books what type of feedback are you getting from readers?

[00:04:38] Donna: The last bag Lin is not out yet. It's right now we're working on the cover. My publisher is having an artist do a rendering for the cover. So they'll all be unique and tied together. I'm really excited about that.

Taking my description Miriam for the cover. How's the moon, incredible feedback from people, how they've always wondered about the [00:05:00] sixties, how they felt one reviewer said it was like going to sleep and waking up in the trenches. A lot of people saying that it gave them the courage to be more honest about their own lives and to.

To revisit trauma because the book is, I don't want anybody to think it's a fun laugh, filled, want through the sixties. It's a very dark disturbing book because that's what the 60 is more to me as a time.

Overview

Mickey works with authors and offers them a great service. He runs a publicity company called Creative Edge.

Many authors have had bad experiences with publicist not actually helping them get noticed and sell books. It doesn't appear Mickey has that problem.

I first heard him on another podcast and liked what he said about his philosophy and work. We had already connected and several of the authors he represents have been on the show (including upcoming shows with USA Today Bestseller Ann Charles and Mark Leslie Lefebvre of Draft 2 Digital and formerly Kobo Writing Life) and said nice things about Mickey and his company, so I thought it would be great to chat with him.

Authors - if you are wondering about a publicist, give Mickey a call. The authors I've interviewed speak highly of him and his services.

Readers - check out the authors Mickey represents and grab some great books. He has everything from new authors to USA Today Bestselling authors.

Website

The company website - https://www.creative-edge.services/

If you want to contact Mickey direct - [email protected]

YouTube

https://youtu.be/U1Xv0SZUesE

Transcript

[00:00:50] Stephen: Hello, and welcome to episode 90 of discovered wordsmiths. We're approaching 100 really quick. I'm not sure if I'm going to do something special for a hundred, like I did for [00:01:00] 50. Um, but I better figure it out really quick today. I've got something a little different for you. This one is for the authors more than the readers.

I have a publicist, something that is talked about at times. And most of the time, I don't hear good things about publicists. I hear people who feel they spent money on a publicist and did not get what they thought they would get. Uh, so it's the general recommendation is don't use a publicist unless you think you really need one and do a little bit of research check.

This publicist seems like the real deal and somebody that we can trust to help us. Uh, his name is Mickey Mickelson with creative edge publicity. Um, several of the authors I've had on this show use Mickey and Mickey is the one that pointed them my direction and they have nothing but good things to say about him.

They love him. Uh, he's been doing great. I heard him on another [00:02:00] podcast. I believe Joanna Penn's podcast. I could be wrong on that. Uh, but he, the things he was saying, I was like, yeah, I like what he says, this guy is good. He's not just saying things that sound businessy. It was a personal thing. And he enjoyed it.

So I asked him, Hey, would you like to be on, I'd love to talk to you. And we chatted. And it was a great chat, which you're going to hear here in a few moments. And, uh, I actually am talking to him, myself about possible using a services. So, uh, you know, full disclosure, I guess you could say though, uh, I'm not getting paid for this and I'm not getting any bonuses for, from him for.

Saying that or using him or anything like that. So, uh, he really sounds like a good guy, uh, which I'll find out more when I work with them closely. But judge for yourself, take a listen to the podcast. Uh, and I've got some links in the show notes to check out his service. Uh, in the meantime, uh, [00:03:00] I'll ask again, anyone listening, check out the authors,

Overview

Janice has a special story to tell. She is the woman that got rock and roll banned from Cleveland, Oh. Yup, no rock and roll in the rock and roll capital of the world.

And it was all because of the Beatles. And she did it when she was 16.

Come on, do you really need any more reason to listen to this episode and check out her book?

Book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598511165/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1598511165&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=e26c6a1613e9ee572b0b857f9275d20d

Website

https://janice-mitchell.com/book

YouTube

https://youtu.be/a_1a3gJhL4U

Transcript

[00:00:46] Stephen: Hey, y'all welcome to episode 89 of discovered wordsmiths. We're just cruising along and I'm very excited to get this episode out to you. This is a special one for me. I heard that. Author talk at a, another [00:01:00] group meeting of some authors in Cleveland. And I was like, oh man, I really got to talk to her. Um, you're going to really like it if you're a Beatles fan.

And especially if you live in the Cleveland area, because it is a hometown story, uh, believe it or not, this woman did something that many people don't believe. Uh, but it's true. And she got rock and roll band from Cleveland. So you have to listen to the interview and read her book to find out more. So before we do that, I want a new play.

One of the shout out promos of some friends of mine. Uh, this is Kobo writing life, and I know lots of people here are hearing the wide for the win, uh, that mark Leslie LaFave, who is going to be on the podcast has talked about. And, um, he helped, he used to work in help with Kobo writing. Uh, they are still going strong and they are one of the best things out there.

If you are a writer and you want to get away from just using [00:02:00] one company. So here let's take a listen real quick and then we'll get right into the interview with Jen.

[00:02:11] Janice: Hi, I'm Rachel and I'm Joni and we're from Kobo writing life Cobos free, fast and easy self publishing platform. KWL was built by authors for authors and our team of dedicated book lovers is always working hard to help offers, reach new readers around. With Kobo writing life authors can now publish audio books and e-books right in their KWL account.

We don't ask for exclusivity and you'll always control your pricing. And up to 16 currencies, you can also create a pre-order for your audio books or e-books with no date limitations. We have a lot of great opportunities for indie authors, including the options. In our Kobo plus subscription catalog. And so it's the regions as well as great promotional opportunities available in the promotions tab, right in your KWL dashboard.

If you're KWL author and you don't yet have access to the promotions tab or the audio book tab, email [00:03:00] [email protected] and we'll get you sorted. We're all about providing excellent support. Create your free account today at kobo.com/writing. Like if you want to learn more about Kobo writing life, check out our blog podcast and find us on socials.

[00:03:17] Stephen: Alright, Janice. Welcome to discovered wordsmiths. How are you doing today, Ben? How are you? Fine. Not too bad other than my might not working correctly somewhere, but we got it going here.

Michael read a selection from his short story collection - Death Rattle and other Dark Tales.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FVZQ8XP/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09FVZQ8XP&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=096ae23cd2737fce4cdb6289dfa76c68

Overview

Michael has had experience with several different presses and talks about his experiences in this second part of episode 88.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/zKDHghS4thY

Transcript

Michael let's talk some author stuff.

Now, some writing publishing before we get onto our discussion topic, what are some things you've learned through writing several books over a decade and getting them out and published that you're doing different now [00:01:00] than when you did at the beginning?

[00:01:02] Michael: At the beginning, I really didn't have a process whereby I could, I didn't use an outline.

Really I did. Eventually I've learned that you really have to outline a novel, at least for me, some people don't, some people just write what comes to mind, but I have to have some idea of the direction of the plot. And I would say over time, my outlines had become a little bit more detailed. One thing I have done in writing that I didn't do before is I would write out scenes like.

On cards. All right. And you can write a screenplay that way, but you can also write a novel that way. In fact, obedience started as a screenplay and then I turned it into a novel. So that's one thing you can do it. It was a hard pass to turn it into a novel because you got to add in all [00:02:00] your details. And some people think it's easier to turn a novel into a screenplay, but I've found it easier to go the other direction.

And it's going to vary from writer to writer, but you have to find what works for you. I focus a lot on the, on a lot more on looking at the plot and characterization in general, rather than just doing the line edits that I used to focus on so much as this working, is this not working and I do listen to people's advice.

But one thing I would say to people in workshops, listen to the people's advice you think is best and ignore the others people. Oftentimes, oh God, I got to do this. Then I gotta do this. Oh, this person says this. And this person says that they're going to say contradictory thing. All right. Ultimately it is your novel, your, it is your work or your story.

And the, you have to decide for yourself, what's going to work and what's not [00:03:00] going to work. Listen. Yes, take it seriously. If several people say the same thing, make use of it. But I'm not, uh, you know, I don't pay as much attention to it, so it worries me all the time. I agree. And I

[00:03:15] Stephen: think people need to understand that the guy that writes nonfiction about military hardware is going to have different path and different advice than someone that writes cop thrillers.

And that's going to be different than the lady who writes a romance. And so you need to think any. And I had this at a writers group where the there's a couple of guys that write suspense thriller, and there's one guy who's reading the opening couple of chapters of his book, and it was a horn story. And it wasn't till like clear into the third chapter or something that you realize.

The main focus. Character is a ghost and you don't realize that at first something's wrong and something strange and it's a buildup and they were like telling them, oh no, you [00:04:00] can't do that. You need to put it like first chapter, we need this conflict. We need to know. And I'm like, no, not for her book. A horror book has to bill.

I, if it's a suspense, okay. Here's the dead body. Let's go. But for a horror,

Overview

Michael is a professor of philosophy, which makes him one of the most prestigious guests we've had. Not to mention, he plays in chess tournaments.

He has written several books, including a horror poetry collection. His more recent short story collection is all horror. If that wasn't enough, he's writing a screenplay.

If that wasn't enough, he's working on turning one of his books into a movie.

His Book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FVZQ8XP/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09FVZQ8XP&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=b96561601827ebc4027461056d045ef4

Favorites

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014310571X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014310571X&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=b4b38d4ee80b6a717526db6b43243be4

https://www.2ndandcharles.com/ - 2nd and Charles bookstore

YouTube

https://youtu.be/osiLfakQ2uk

Transcript

[00:00:48] Stephen: Oh. Um, I want to welcome you. A great new episode of covered wordsmith. Got Michael Potts with me today. He is actually a professor and has a PhD. So he's [00:01:00] probably one of my most prestigious guests that I've had on here. He's published some interesting things, including some horror poetry. So it's a great listen.

We had a great chat about this. Um, and I'm sitting here. It's the first, really big snowy day of 2022 for me, uh, and, uh, joined the snow. Have a good podcast to listen to. So sit back and enjoy and words of wisdom for any of the writers out there. If you've come up with 27 new story ideas today, but you haven't finished the other 362, you might be a writer.

So here's what. First of all. Tell me the names of your books. I don't think I had that in any of the emails. We haven't really started the interview. This is just a talking a little bit, so I know. And then we'll get started.

[00:01:49] Michael: My first book was a poetry book that was won the Mary Bell Campbell awards from the North Carolina writers network.

And it was from field. And that was [00:02:00] published. And 2006, it was really a nice addition. I don't have many of these left. I reprinted it with my own edition and published it myself later on when I read out of most of these, but it's mainstream poetry. And then my next book was in 2011. This was end of summer.

It's a Southern fiction book published by WordPress press in Tullahoma, Tennessee. And unpardonable sin was 2014, I believe. Yeah. From word towards craft press. That is a horror, novel, love crafty and horror and obedience. Cool. Nice cover here is going to be made into a movie. Hopefully we can get the funding by a.

Rule 14 pictures, which is associated with my publisher work graphs. And it's also a horror novel. Then I self published a hiding from the reefer [00:03:00] and other horror points as that was my first collection of horror poetry. It's hard to publish horror poetry. I would say a lot of well-known writers in horror poetry have to self publish.

On that. And then my latest shoot this year, I have the death rattle and other dark tales, and I worked through breath to digital on that one. And that means it's an ebook only I sent you a copy,