Lots of great info this week! How to grow your writerly pumpkin patch this fall! Plus, an exclusive chat with wonderful author Linwood Barclay, as well as can you plot your book using an online template? I'll share the skinny about an amazing writer, D.J. McIntosh, who did just that! Plus, a crucial tip from a top agent about what to focus on in the book world!

Why did you buy the last book you did? And how can you use that knowledge to sell your own book (or buy your next book!). Plus, I chat about a fabulous writing collective, The Mesdames of Mayhem. Plus, what are The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful People and The Five Rules of Book Reviewing? I look at the good, the bad and ugly - all shall be revealed! Also, are we heading for a paper shortage and how will this impact the book publishing industry? Lots of great news in this episode!

Speaking of podcasts, are you watching "Only Murders in The Building", with Steven Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez? I'm Martin Short for sure, and I tell you why in the podcast! I look at the new language of the youth movement, empowerment, money and books, unleashing creativity with Osho, and I've added a new element to the podcast - sharing is caring - so there are two reviews! Plus there's breaking news about a law the French government is trying to pass, to stop Amazon's wild rampage.

Do you learn best by reading, writing or touching the fire? How you manage the social media minefield where you’re expected to know, understand and manage so many platforms? Do you find self promoting excruciating? And what’s worse, judgement or silence? Are there real guidelines on how to promote your book? What’s BookTok? Don’t forget to invest in yourself! How many times a day should you tweet without annoying people? How can you find out what works for you? Plus, a motivating quote and also, words from The Miramichi Reader/Weekly Ferocity and I’m pretty sure I pronounce Mirror-Ma-Chee incorrectly but maybe kind James Fisher will send me a cheat-sheet for next time!

Welcome back! What was Amazon going to be called before they settled on the moniker that changed our lives forever? And, what was their original product? Plus, have Amazon changed their (already dubious) review processes? I chat about a controversial tweet about books needing a timeout, Canada's non-fiction crisis, whether in fact you write a memoir or not and finally, should you write every day? I also share my one tried and tested secret to having ten published books!

Writers are dangerous people! I explain why. Also, there are snakes in the water but jump in anyway! Plus, fabulous writing prompts and who's the new Oprah when it comes to your ideal book reader? There's so much in this episode!

Do you love or hate Goodreads? And, if you're an author, does Goodreads love or hate you? How can you get reviews these days? Do you even want to? A bad review can be like someone sitting on a beautiful cake you've just baked! How so? Listen in!

Book launches strike fear into the hearts of the most hardened authors! Why? Listen in! Also, what are book blurbs and why do they matter? Maybe they don't but ask yourself this, are you a member of the 'blurboisie'?

On the importance of first lines (according to literary agents), author bios, passages that make us think, criteria for publishing non-fiction and how many books to CEO's really read a week? 

Welcome to six and a half minutes of buzzy snippets about reading, writing and publishing books. Amazon, friend or foe? Better to write twaddle than not? How much time does a writer really spend writing? Why write at all? Is there money to be made from writing? And so much more! I hope you'll join me for the start of a great adventure!