Talk Fiction

Welcome, loyal listeners, to SEASON THREE of Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers!

To quote myself from minute 56 of today’s season opener:

“I like talking to people who are willing to like tell it like it is”

My fabulous guest, Molly Moynahan, is willing to do precisely that. The child of successful writers herself, Molly has decades of experience working on all sides of one of the most heart-breaking industries known to mankind … PUBLISHING.

And what better way to commiserate on our shared lot as soon-to-be-published (again) writers than through plenty of humor and honesty.

This laughter-filled chat about identity, adaptation, and the art of disappearing behind the work of writing in a culture of “look at me over here working” is certain to make you hungry for more storytelling from Molly. Lucky for you, her “comeback” novel, MotherPerson is launching this week from Empress Editions!

Snag yourself a copy of this phenomenal work of (auto)fiction wherever you buy books. Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Booktopia, Target, Amazon, Walmart, or Books A Million.

Explore Molly’s diverse backlist of published titles, including her highly acclaimed, New York Times Notable book Stone Garden on her website.

Subscribe to her newsletter, The Teachers Way, on Substack.

As your esteemed host, I know that podcasts are a big ask of your time and bandwidth. If you don’t have the space to listen to today’s installment but would still like to support my podcasting endeavors, kindly smush the “like” button and/or share this post with your people. 💜🙏🏼

You can also give me a boost in the algorithm department by following, rating, or leaving a review for Talk Fiction on your favorite listening platform.

Thank you for your support!!!

-Meg O.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

Today’s episode is all about podcasting, from the point of view of two who have podcasted, are podcasting, and will likely continue to podcast for many years to come.

J.E. Petersen (Jordan) is current co-host of Gods, Ghosts & UFOs, and retired front-man for bite-sized solo series The Nooner. He’s also one half of the archived cult classic audio-duo Nerd Critic.

When not busy casting interdimensional pods, Jordan pens speculative short fictions and philosophies on his Substack newsletter Dispatches from Inner Space, while continuing to nurture his science-fiction-magnum-opus-in-progress, Arch/Eternal.

Please do listen in on today’s lively deep-dive into the wonderful world of podcasting.

Thank you for your support!!!

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

In our current self-made-business-focused era of creativity, almost anyone can (and will) call themselves a “teacher”, so long as there are “students” willing to sign up (and pay) for their lessons. But I can tell you from experience that not all writing teachers are created equal.

My guest today is a cut so far above the rest, I simply HAD to share her with you. Jolie Stekly is a teacher, consultant, and coach for authors writing books for children of all ages. A children’s book writer herself, she currently leads two certificate courses for The University of San Francisco’s MFA for Young Readers Program and is also the creator of several online courses for authors looking to start, enrich, or advance their careers in writing and publishing.

As a successful graduate of two of Jolie’s classes, I can honestly say that I have never been as consistently motivated or inspired to just write books as when I was under her wing. She is a treasured friend and mentor in my author story and I cannot recommend her enough.

I hope you’ll take the time to listen to our discussion, which covers Jolie’s fascinating journey from chalkboard-adoring youngster to beloved teacher of burgeoning storytellers. Whether you write children’s books or not, I’m certain you will be inspired by what she has to share.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

Joining me today is the ray of Ibiza sunshine that is Francesca Bossert. Francesca is a poet, novelist, crocheter, horse whisperer, artisan bag maker, and celebrity talk show host. 😉

Among the many things I admire about Francesca is her insistence that art remain a source of joy and escape for both creator and receiver during these unsettling times.

Together we are here to uplift and entertain, and we invite you to join us on the patio for a laughter-filled tête-à-tête about poetry, perseverance, and the many shapes our creative journeys can take.

While you’re here, I invite you to pick up a copy of Francesca’s poetry book, Illicit Croissants at Dawn, which I gush about it at length during our chat.

Follow her on Instagram @francescabossertauthor

And be sure to subscribe to her newsletter, For Fun and Then Some, for fun and then some! ❤️

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

Many authors dream of attaining bestseller status. Many more would be happy just to be able to “make a living” as a writer.

But how many of those authors would be ready (or willing) to wait a quarter of a century to realize those dreams?

Hopefully, today’s guest will convince a few more creative souls to “hang in there,” because her success story proves that patience, along with flexibility and a willingness to experiment, is an indie author’s most valuable asset.

Mary Louisa Locke is the bestselling author of dozens of independently published books, novellas, and short stories from Historical Mystery and Romance to near-future Science Fiction.

She is a wealth of information and an inspiring example of how a writer’s childhood dreams can become reality … if only given the time.

I hope you’ll sit in for this illuminating conversation, and don’t hesitate to drop a follow-up question for Mary Lou in the comments. She’s as brilliant a business woman as she is a storyteller.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

I’ve been gently needling today’s guest, the whip-smart and culturally attuned Beth Lisogorsky, for some time about starting a Romance themed podcast with me. Actually, I think she brought it up first and I refused to let it go. 😏Either way, I think you’ll appreciate the crisp co-host chemistry on this episode, wherein Beth (Front End Research/The Smarts) and I (Back End Production/The Sass) dig into our mutual obsession with the Romance genre.

Swoon as we verbally flirt-tackle everything from genre cliques to teen soaps, Audrey Hepburn to Alan Rickman, grinding to knotting, and lots more in between.

So, light some candles, pour yourself a froth-forward Nespresso, slip into something salacious, and lend us your ears.

Oh, and please do yourself a favor and subscribe to Beth’s Newsletters!

She’s as brilliant on the page as she is in the “studio.”

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

Today, I’m hosting a bevy of badass Empress authors who, in addition to building independent careers around their writing in literary spaces, film, television, journalism, and publishing, have each penned a memoir which illuminates the rocky road taken on each their own journey through “the thick of it.”

My fabulous guests— Eleanor Anstruther, Kimberly Warner, and Alisa Kennedy Jones, each offer a unique perspective on the process of discovering (or being handed) their mystery puzzle box, dumping out the pieces, and slowly nudging them back together to reveal the full-color portrait of their lived experience.

This episode is a must listen for anyone considering writing a memoir, anyone looking for a highly-recommended memoir(s) to read, or anyone keen on sneaking a peek into how the real storytelling sausage gets made.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

In the hot seat this month is expat story-maker Troy Ford, creator of Ford Knows Books and author of Lamb, a novel in snapshots. Troy and I had a rollicking chat, ripe with “air quotes,” about the far too often undisclosed wear-and-tear authors experience building a “platform,” keeping it afloat, and finding “success” while being “authentic” without sacrificing their values.

Self-published authors take note! Troy has gobs of wisdom to share on his experience bringing Lamb in to the world. Listen here! And be sure to check out The Road to Published series on his Substack for more inspiration.

Thanks for supporting Talk Fiction! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.

You can also give me a boost in the algorithm department by following, rating, or leaving a review for Talk Fiction on your favorite listening platform.

Thank you for your support!!!

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers!

I was crazy delighted to host two of my favorite fiction writers and OG Substack friends, Maegan Heil and Wil Dalton, for this petite panel podcast on the ins, outs, and undersides of writing horror stories.

Thrill as we talk-tackle the power of genre fusion, the allure of escalation, the pursuit of the perfect twist, and the perils of sharing your unhinged art with your unseasoned loved ones.

Plug in (if you dare) for this seasonally appropriate chat, and be sure to indulge in the deliciously dark fiction offered by my esteemed guests at your earliest convenience!

maeganheil.substack.com

wildalton.substack.com

As your esteemed host, I know that podcasts are a big ask of your time and bandwidth. If you don’t have the space to listen to today’s installment but would still like to support my podcasting endeavors, kindly smush the “like” button and/or share this post with your people. 💜🙏🏼

You can also give me a boost in the algorithm department by following, rating, or leaving a review for Talk Fiction on your favorite listening platform.

Thank you for your support!!!

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

Helping me kick off Season Two today is the Forged series author, 𝐂𝐁 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧. CB’s debut novel, Shattered, launched in April of this year (2025) from Provender Press, and Book Two, Merged, is scheduled to arrive early in the spring of 2026. Official release date TBD!

CB and I had a fabulous chat about her writing origins, research process, side hustles, and the mystical power of a Dropbox policy change notification that lead to the creation of a three book series which eventually found a publisher through the kind of word-of-mouth-deal-making magic we all dream about.

We hope you’ll plug in and have a listen!

Thanks for supporting Talk Fiction! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.