In this week’s episode, we meet with historical fiction and mystery author, Mary Kendall. 

Mary lived in old (and haunted) houses growing up which sparked a life-long interest in history and story-telling. She earned degrees in history related fields and worked as an historian for many years. Her fiction writing is heavily influenced by the past which she believes is never really dead and buried.

Fueled by black coffee and a possible sprinkling of Celtic fairy dust, she tends to find inspiration in odd places and sometimes while kneading bread dough.

The author currently resides in Maryland with her family (husband, three kids, barn cat and the occasional backyard hen) who put up with her mad scribbling at inconvenient hours.

Mary shares about her writing journey from her childhood experiences in haunted homes to the inspiration behind her novels. She discusses her writing process, the discipline required also known as the “butt in chair” technique, and the unexpected opportunities and personal growth that come with writing and publishing a book. 

Mary’s next novel drops on July 16th, 2024. 

This is a can’t miss episode!

Connect with Mary:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Facebook and Instagram @signmybook.

Felicity Green is a self-published author of the Scottish Witches Mysteries, a paranormal cozy mystery series set in Scotland. Each book in the series focuses on a different witch in the coven, each with a unique magical ability. The fifth book is set to be released May 23rd (today!). 

Felicity started writing seriously after completing her master's in creative writing and has since written around 30-35 books in various genres. She is a plotter but allows room for flexibility in her writing process. Felicity chose self-publishing for the freedom and control it offers, and she enjoys being able to choose her own covers and do things her way. Currently, she is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited to test its impact on book visibility and readership. 

In today’s interview, Felicity and I discuss various aspects of the writing process, including outlining, writing to market, and finding inspiration. We chat about the importance of editing and the benefits of working with editors. Felicity shares her experience with self-publishing and the resources she uses to find editors. She also mentions her Scottish Witches Mystery series and offers a free novella to readers who sign up for her newsletter.

Connect with Felicity:

Website: felicitygreenauthor.com

Instagram

Goodreads

Amazon

The Alliance of Independent Authors

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

In this week’s episode, I got to interview one of the most inspirational people I know, Jessie Rosen about her new book, The Heirloom. In our conversation, Jessie takes us inside the inspiration behind her book, her writing process, how she tracked not only the plot and story but the main character’s emotional response at each chapter to balance introspection with plot development, receiving notes, writing multiple drafts of a novel, what a vomit draft really is, having a meditation practice as part of the writing ritual, learning to write at any time of the day and not restricting ourselves to specific time, how she conquers getting cornered and not knowing what to do next in the story, her amazing and supportive parents, the fears and challenges of starting a second novel and the transformative power that writing a book will have on your life. 

This is a can’t miss episode!

Also, pick up a copy of The Heirloom in digital or paperback available May 7th, 2024 wherever you buy books.

Connect with Jessie:

Instagram

Website

Nat Rosen’s (Jessie’s father!) Blog: https://www.thecanswerman.com/

On today’s episode, author and comedian, Ali Hassan, discusses his experience writing his memoir, ‘Is There Bacon in Heaven?’ and the challenges of transitioning from stand-up comedy to book writing. He shares how his background in comedy influenced his writing process and the importance of connecting creatively with your editor and how they helped to shape his book. He emphasizes the value of learning from failures and embracing the writing process. He goes on to share his love for reading and expands on his background in the food industry and how it inspired his show 'Does This Taste Funny?' 

Connect with Ali:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

X/Twitter

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

This week, I chat with cozy-fantasy-fiction author, Sierra Cross. She discusses her book series, writing process, and experiences with traditional publishing versus self-publishing. She shares her love for cozy genres and the inspiration behind her Blue Moon Bay Witches series. 

Sierra also talks about the benefits of using pen names and the creative freedom it provides. She highlights the collaborative process of writing with a friend and the challenges and joys of being a parent while pursuing a writing career. Additionally, Sierra discusses her structured writing process, dividing her book outlines into quartiles and the importance of finding balance as a writer and parent. 

We also spiral into conversations about our love for pets, using AI in writing, cow sanctuaries combined with a writer’s retreat. This is a fun and informative episode!!

Links:

Story Engineering by Larry Brooks

Story Physics by Larry Brooks

Connect with Sierra:

Amazon

Instagram

Facebook

Bookbub

Newsletter Sign-Up

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

In this week’s episode, I meet with actor-turned-screenwriter-turned-novelist, Bob Saenz. Bob discusses the importance of having a bucket list, how it can inspire and enrich a writer's work, and how imposter syndrome keeps him humble. Bob shares his journey from acting to screenwriting and the challenges he faced along the way. He talks about the process of writing his novel, Jessica's Vampire Diary, and the joy he found in writing it. Bob also discusses the business side of writing and the current challenges in the film industry. He emphasizes the importance of starting small and working your way up as a screenwriter and that screenwriters need to be great storytellers because producers buy stories. 

Bob also advises against writing scripts based solely on personal experiences, highlighting the importance of knowing what you write and encourages writers not to give up and to embrace the imposter syndrome.

Connect with Bob:

X: @BobSnz

Books: Jessica’s Vampire Diary

That’s Not The Way It Works

In this week’s episode, I talk with Hollywood screenwriting veteran, Gordon Greisman about his debut novel, The Devil’s Daughter. Gordon fills us in on his book and writing noir set in 1950’s New York City, living in Los Angeles, joining the WGA picket lines in the summer of 2023 and how the life of a working screenwriter has changed. Gordon shares his writing process which may simply be about “doing the work” and not an actual process, the importance of making the decision to write and writing every day. It’s about discipline, folks. 

Grab your notebook and a pen and get ready to take some notes. You want to catch this episode.

Connect with Gordon:

Website: https://gordongreisman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gjgordo/

Email: [email protected]

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

Today’s guest, Loren E. Chadima is an alumnus of the prestigious AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women. Loren’s films have won several Best Film categories and qualified for the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Loren has also been named one of the “Best Acting Coaches in the United States” by The Federation of American Musicians, Singers, and Performing Artists. Her Intentional Acting technique has helped launch the careers of new actors and helped veteran actors take their careers to the next level. 

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Loren to talk about her upcoming nonfiction book, 'Stop Memorizing Your Lines,' which explores the nine questions of Intentional Acting and their application not just to acting but also writing, and directing. She highlights the importance of technique and the need for actors to be self-sustaining in their craft. 

We start out today discussing her journey from aspiring actor to film and theater director and acting coach and how her passion for acting and directing led her to create the nine questions of intentional acting, a technique empowering actors to make effective decisions and internalize dialogue. 

Later on, Loren shares her writing process and the importance of finding joy and fun in creativity. Loren also emphasizes the need to overcome resistance and distractions and to approach writing as play. She concludes by discussing her book deal and offering advice for aspiring actors and writers. 

Connect with Loren:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.IntentionalActing.com

IG: @IntentionalActing

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

In this week’s episode, I hope you’re ready for an insightful journey into the world of writing as I sit down with the incredible Waka T. Brown. This multi-talented soul takes us through her writing journey, shedding light on her transition from screenwriting to crafting compelling books for middle-grade readers as well as a children’s picture book.

She shares with us her experiences with Pitch Wars which helped launch her writing career, and also the intricacies of the publishing process. We’ll talk about the inspiration behind her books and the thoughtful decision to pen a memoir tailored for middle-grade minds. 

Waka opens up about her seasonal writing process, where breaks between writing seasons become a sanctuary to rest and replenish creative resources. And for all you aspiring writers out there, Waka leaves you with this gem: write what you love, embrace imperfections, and relish every step of the writing process.

Connect with Waka:

Website: https://wakatbrown.com/

Purchase books: https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/books-by-waka-t-brown

Purchase signed books: https://www.annieblooms.com/waka-brown-signed-book-requests

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Developmental book editing - Rebecca Petruck

For picture book resources - Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].

Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram @signmybook.

In this episode, Lisa interviews poet and voice coach Lauren Best. Lauren shares her journey as a writer, from starting as a songwriter to becoming a poet laureate. She discusses the transformation of her identity as a writer and the impact of her tenure as poet laureate on her creative process. 

Lauren also explores the intersection of spoken word and poetry, and the different ways she performs her work. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing poetry and the validation that comes with sharing it with others. In this part of the conversation, Lauren and Lisa discuss the challenge of vulnerability in poetry and the transition from music to poetry. 

The episode concludes with a discussion on various writing techniques and processes that can help tap into vulnerability and promote personal growth. They explore the power of timed writing, the role of journaling in reflection and healing, and the importance of designing a creative process. 

Learn more about Lauren:

www.laurenbest.com

www.bestpracticearts.com

https://laurenbest.substack.com/

Listen to Lauren on the podcast she co-created:

https://infiniteimprovisation.podbean.com/

Listen to Lauren interviewed on The Rural Entrepreneur:

https://laurenbest.com/podcast-interview-on-the-rural-entrepreneur/

Listen to Lauren interviewed on Sounds of Encouragement Podcast: 

Part I  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inJR-gCbcTY

Part II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYVNXFZjW4k

Want to be on the show? Send your emails and pitches to [email protected].
Be sure to hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode of Sign My Book. And for more content follow us on Instagram ⁠@signmybook.