Read And Write With Natasha

What if becoming a parent actually made you MORE creative, not less?

Writer and "book therapist" Heidi Fiedler discovered something surprising: when life became more demanding after she became a mom, her creative drive didn't disappear. It intensified. 

"I had less time, less energy when I became a mom, and yet I wanted to keep writing. It felt more important to me than ever."

In this deeply personal conversation, Heidi reveals why the pressure to write fast is killing our creativity and how embracing the "messy, dreamy early stage" is where the real magic happens. 

As someone who coaches writers through the emotional rollercoaster of creating, she knows that your biggest writing challenge isn't finding the perfect plot twist—it's surviving the mental game.

You'll discover:

• Why "slow progress is still progress" (and how to stop comparing yourself to Stephen King)
• Practical techniques for staying connected to your writing when life is chaotic
• The surprising truth about writer's block and what's really happening in your brain
• How to navigate the agent-finding maze without losing your soul
• Whether self-publishing might be your secret weapon
• Why one genuinely moved reader matters more than a thousand followers

Heidi takes us on an unexpected journey through Substack communities, the universal plague of creative doubt, and her game-changing philosophy: focus on the joy of creation, not the outcome of publication.

The most powerful moment? When Heidi shares why sometimes all you need is one reader who truly connects with your work. That single connection can sustain your creative flame through the darkest moments of doubt.

Perfect for writers at any stage, parents juggling creativity with family life, and anyone who's ever wondered if their creative dreams are worth pursuing.

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The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,
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What if you could design your entire life around freedom and flexibility?

 That's exactly what Kayla Ihrig did when she bought a one-way ticket to Mexico in 2017, launching herself into the world of digital nomadism. This journey ultimately led to an unexpected book deal, "How to Be a Digital Nomad," and a thriving freelance career.

In this conversation, Kayla shares the truth about the digital nomad lifestyle beyond the Instagram highlights. While beautiful destinations like Croatia and Guatemala feature in her story, she discusses the challenges that rarely make it onto social media: loneliness, financial instability, and the mental toll of constant movement.

"It can be bad for your mental health," she admits, describing the delicate balancing act nomads face between enjoying their surroundings and maintaining professional commitments.

Key Topics Covered

The Reality Behind the Instagram Life

• The mental health challenges of constant movement
• Financial instability and uncertainty
• Dealing with loneliness on the road

From Content Creator to Published Author

• How daily LinkedIn posts led to a book deal
• Building an authentic audience through real experiences
• The power of consistent, genuine content creation

Marketing in the Digital Age

• Why podcast appearances trump social media for book promotion
• Building genuine connections through conversation
• Leveraging digital platforms for unprecedented opportunities

Making Nomadism Sustainable

• Organization strategies (Google Sheets for everything!)
• Establishing routines and family check-ins
• Finding community through coworking spaces
• The freedom to be present for life's crucial moments

Resources

Visit writingfromnowhere.com to learn more about Kayla's journey and discover resources for your own adventure in reimagining work and life.

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The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,
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Imagine being just 20 years old when police force you to confess to a double murder you didn’t commit. 

Then imagine spending the next 21 years of your life behind bars, with no hope of release.

This isn’t fiction; it’s the reality Deon Patrick lived before his exoneration in 2014.

In this powerful conversation, Deon shares how Chicago police built a false case against him and seven others, including a 15-year-old with borderline intellectual disability.

 One of the most shocking parts? His co-defendant, Daniel Taylor, was already in police custody at the time of the murders, yet authorities fabricated evidence and hid documentation that could have freed them decades earlier.

When Deon was imprisoned, his daughter was just eight months old and his son eleven months old. He watched them grow up through brief visits, powerless to guide them. Even after a $13.4 million civil judgment, Deon says:

 “I still can't remove some of the barriers I have within myself and in my head that have happened in my life.”

The prosecutors and police responsible for this miscarriage of justice faced no consequences. 

As Deon puts it:
 “They’re still collecting their pension. They just as arrogant as they were back in 1992.”

Today, Deon documents his story through advocacy and co-authorship. Alongside three others who were wrongfully convicted in the same case, he wrote "The Hazel Boys: The Trials of Four Innocent Men"—a memoir and a vital teaching tool for law students and the public alike.

For anyone still fighting for their freedom, Deon offers simple advice:
 “Never give up.”

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▶️  Watch the episode: The Bold Leap: How JD Barker Left a Six-Figure Career to Write Full-Time

What would drive someone to leave behind a comfortable six-figure corporate career and sell everything they own to pursue writing? 

For JD Barker, New York Times bestselling author and collaborator with James Patterson, it was a calculated risk that changed everything.

In this conversation, Barker reveals the eerie inspiration behind his upcoming thriller Something I Keep Upstairs,  a real-life haunted house perched on a tiny granite island just off the New Hampshire coast. He describes his personal experiences visiting the isolated structure and the visceral, instinctual dread it evoked.

 "I felt something really weird. I just did not want to be in there," Barker confesses, explaining how the island's dark history as a quarantine facility, prison, and site of mysterious deaths dating back centuries formed the foundation for his novel's supernatural elements.

The conversation discusses modern publishing as Barker shares his journey from indie author to creating his own imprint with Simon & Schuster. 

His unconventional marketing approaches, from television commercials to streaming platforms and innovative BookTok strategies, showcase why his books consistently reach audiences that other authors miss. 

JD's daily writing discipline (even while working 80-hour weeks in finance), strategic business thinking, and willingness to reinvent himself demonstrate what it takes to succeed in today's publishing landscape. 

As he explains his philosophy: "I look at what everybody else is doing and then I try to come up with something different."

 Listen now to discover how this approach transformed his life and might just transform yours.

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What if anyone could have a biological child with anyone, regardless of gender, fertility, or age?

That’s the provocative premise behind Baby X, the new novel by author and bioethicist Kira Peikoff. 

In this episode, we explore the world of In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG), a cutting-edge technology that transforms ordinary cells into sperm or eggs using stem cells. It’s already been tested in mice. Humans may be next.

Kira explains how IVG could revolutionize parenthood for same-sex couples, single parents, and those facing infertility, while also confronting the chilling potential for misuse, like unauthorized reproduction using stolen celebrity cells.

With a master’s degree in bioethics from Columbia and a background in science journalism, Kira brings deep insight to this discussion at the intersection of science, ethics, and policy. She traces her fascination with biotechnology back to her early days as a reporter, covering President Bush’s stem cell veto.

We also explore:

• Her journey publishing five novels
• How she markets science-driven fiction
• Why medical thrillers are still a male-dominated genre, despite focusing on women’s bodies

Curious about the future of reproduction—and the stories we’ll tell about it?
Hit play and prepare to rethink what’s possible.

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What happens when a marketing strategist decides history shouldn't be boring? In this captivating conversation, Paul Lloyd Hemphill shares how a simple question to his teenagers about history sparked an unexpected creative journey. When they repeatedly called history "boring," Hemphill set out to change the narrative, literally.

Hemphill shares the fascinating evolution of his book, Inspiration for Teens, which uses stories from the Battle of Gettysburg to teach leadership skills and character development to young people. What began as management literature found its true audience only after two teenage girls suggested a title change, transforming it into an Amazon bestseller almost overnight. 

His practical approach to self-publishing, studying bestsellers at the library, hiring professional designers, and choosing colors based on market research provides valuable insights for aspiring authors.

The conversation takes an intriguing turn as Hemphill explains his decision to adapt his content into a video series called "America's 52 Stories." By adding thought-provoking questions at the end of each video, he created an unexpected benefit: meaningful conversations between parents and teenagers. 

Throughout the discussion, Hemphill emphasizes his commitment to keeping politics and religion out of his work, focusing instead on "common sense" lessons that can be applied universally. 

His mission is beautifully simple yet profound: "to help our kids believe in themselves and their country." Whether you're a parent seeking inspiration for your teenager, a history enthusiast, or an aspiring author, this episode offers practical wisdom and a refreshing perspective on making history relevant in today's world.

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What makes a truly unforgettable literary villain? 

According to bestselling thriller author Gary Braver, it's not mustache-twirling evil, but rather those "sweet smelling reasons" that justify their actions in their minds. 

Drawing from over four decades of teaching creative writing and penning critically acclaimed mysteries, Braver takes us behind the curtain of compelling thriller construction.

Braver's latest novel, "Rumor of Evil," follows two Cambridge homicide detectives investigating a suspicious death that connects to the cold case of a Romani exchange student who perished in a treehouse fire.

Inspired by the infamous Slenderman case, the story explores how destructive rumors, prejudice, and superstition can have deadly consequences—themes that resonate powerfully in today's climate of misinformation.

For writers seeking to master the mystery genre, Braver offers an architectural approach: study successful novels like a carpenter examines a house. 

Notice how authors craft cliffhanger chapter endings that keep readers awake at night, balance action scenes with reflective moments, and create dialogue that distinguishes characters without attribution tags. This technical dissection of craft transforms passive reading into active learning.

Whether you're a fiction writer seeking to strengthen your villains, a mystery lover curious about the mechanics behind your favorite thrillers, or fascinated by how stories are crafted, this episode delivers invaluable insights from a master of the genre. 

How will you apply Braver's architectural approach to your next reading or writing experience?

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What does it take to reinvent your life in your 40s, face down hundreds of rejections, and still come out on top?

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Christina LePort, a former cardiologist turned medical thriller author, about her remarkable journey from the operating room to the written word.

Born in Bologna, Italy, Christina once dreaded writing assignments. But everything changed in her mid-40s as she waited to start cardiology training.

That’s when she discovered the magic of fiction. “I realized that if you’re an author, you create the world, you invent the characters you want to meet,” she says.

Her debut novel, Change of Heart, is a medical thriller that dives into the dark ethics of heart transplantation. 

In it, a string of suicides in New York City turns out to be something far more sinister. Victims are dying in ways that preserve their hearts, making them perfect for organ harvesting. Enter detective Jack Mulville and FBI cyber expert Charlotte Bloom, who must untangle a web of medical conspiracy and murder.

In our conversation, Christina shares the surprising overlap between medicine and storytelling, from reading people under pressure to navigating life-or-death stakes. 

She also opens up about the emotional toll of rejection and her hard-won publishing journey.

 “The therapy for rejection is writing more,” she says, after enduring three years of no's before landing a deal with Bancroft Press.

For aspiring authors, Christina offers a candid look behind the scenes: why you need a professional editor (“not your friend—someone who will tear it apart”), how to build your platform, and why writing should always come from joy, not just the pursuit of validation.

If you’re ready for a high-stakes story rooted in real medical expertise, or you just need inspiration to keep going after rejection, don’t miss this episode.

📚 Grab your copy of Change of Heart
🧊 Stay tuned for Christina’s next books: Defrosted (on cryogenics) and Dying to Remember (a prequel exploring her detective’s mysterious past)

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The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,
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What if it didn’t take a life-altering tragedy to change your life for the better?

In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Scott White, also known as the “Life is Too Short Guy,” who’s on a mission to make the world a happier place—one smile at a time.

Scott breaks down the ten simple but powerful principles from his Amazon #1 bestselling book. These aren't vague motivational quotes—they're real, actionable tools you can use right now to shift your mindset and improve your life.

From “Attitude is Everything” to “Live Today, Don’t Wait for Tomorrow,” Scott’s message is rooted in science and real stories—people who found light after illness, grief, or even suicide attempts. 

But his goal? To help you have that “aha” moment without needing to hit rock bottom first.

We talk about:

• Why positivity can literally extend your life (yes, there’s data!)
• How a simple smile can change your brain chemistry
• What it means to live with urgency—but not fear
• The underrated power of random acts of kindness

This episode is packed with heart, science, and straightforward takeaways you can start practicing today. 

Learn more about Scott and grab his book at lifeistooshortguy.com.

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The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,
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When Patricia Bonis lost her children to international abduction, she was thrust into every parent’s worst nightmare—fourteen years of silence.

In her memoir Jeddah Bride, Patricia recounts the unimaginable journey from Florida courtrooms to the heart of Saudi Arabia, where a judge’s decision to allow unsupervised visitation led to more than a decade of separation.

With raw honesty and emotional clarity, Patricia exposes the human toll of international custody battles. Her story reveals the alarming gaps in protection for children and parents caught between conflicting legal systems. 

"Within one hour of his unsupervised visitation, they were on a plane to Saudi Arabia—and I didn’t see my children for fourteen years," she says, still stunned by how swiftly her world changed.

Now a passionate advocate through the organization Find My Parent, Patricia channels her pain into purpose, offering hope and support to others navigating similar tragedies. 

Her story is a powerful reminder of how quickly ordinary lives can be upended—and how resilience can restore what once seemed irretrievably lost.

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The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,
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