The Author Wheel Podcast

Ever felt overwhelmed at the thought of writing a 50,000-word novel in a month?

We're here to help!

In our second "betweeniesode," award-winning fantasy adventure author Megan Haskell and USA Today bestselling mystery thriller author Greta Boris, give you new tips to prep for the marathon of National Novel Writing Month, aka "NaNoWriMo."

In this episode, we're going to help you set a foundation for your novel to streamline your writing process. How? By planning your chapters in advance and creating a story bible to house your research, world building, character development, and more. 

Does this mean you have to be an outliner? 

No! Megan's not. But building a file structure in Scrivener or whatever program you like to use—even writing down your ideas on notecards—and inputting as many details you can in advance will still help you avoid decision fatigue during the challenge. Listen in for all the details. 

Let's get you ready to "Win" NaNo!

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Tired of the traditional 9 to 5 grind and yearn to ignite your creative spark?

You've heard today's guest before . . . on our intro! We're talking with our podcast producer, Jim Wilbourne about his journey into the writing and publishing world.

Fun fact: a lot of writers don't write full time. Arguably most. In fact, many "full-time authors" have multiple streams of income. Jim has taken his background in music into the author world to provide audio engineering and editing services for audiobooks and podcasts—like ours! This has allowed him to embrace his unique writing style and still fulfill his creative career dreams.

We talk about how he focuses on evergreen content that can be shared essentially forever, his multi-years' long email autoresponder, repackaging content into multiple media formats, and the power of niche-focused marketing.

Jim Wilbourne is a creative at heart. If he’s not writing a novel, he’s writing and recording a song, or once again trying to learn how to draw. When he’s not working on the next project, he spends his free time working on another project. He totally has a life. Jim lives in the deep south with his wife and son and doesn’t miss the snow at all.

Follow Us!

Jim Wilbourne
Fiction Website: www.jimwilbourne.com
Audio Services: www.emergentrealms.com
All the Stuff: https://linktr.ee/jimwilbourne

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor
TikTok: @AuthorMeganHaskell

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Are you ready to WIN NaNoWriMo but worried about the overwhelming challenges to writing 50,000 words in the month of November?

Fear not! Starting this week, The Author Wheel will be sharing our best tried-and-true novel writing and productivity strategies in weekly "betweeniesodes" of the podcast.

First up, prepping for the challenge begins with setting the right atmosphere at home. We'll guide you on communicating your goals to your loved ones, carving out dedicated writing time, and even preparing your mind and body for daily writing. Also, we'll shed light on the importance of starting a daily writing habit beforehand to minimize the shock to your system come November. So, buckle up and get ready to transform your writing journey with our practical tips and tricks!

Want even more writing productivity help?

From now through Halloween, we're offering podcast listeners and subscribers 50% off our online course, Finish Your Novel Faster. Just go to https://www.authorwheel.com/finish-your-novel-faster and use code NANOWRIMONOVEL at checkout.

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Lead magnets, advanced reviews, author cross-promotions, and more...

Are you ready to unlock the secrets to building an engaged readership and securely sharing your work with the world?

Join us as we welcome Damon Courtney, creator of BookFunnel to the show. In this interview, we unpack the platform's fascinating features that help authors track reader engagement, deliver digital books, and create compelling reader magnets. From aiding budding authors with their newsletters to managing advanced review teams for established authors, Damon enlightens us on the plethora of ways BookFunnel is beneficial for authors. Authors are even using this platform to coordinate book promos and build a community of 'true fans.'

Damon Courtney is the creator and CEO of BookFunnel, an ebook and audiobook delivery service for authors and publishers. As a lifelong software engineer, Damon is an expert in just about everything technical and can offer unique insight on publishing as it relates to software and technology. He is also the self-published author of his very own Fantasy trilogy and continues to spin stories in his head that he hopes to some day get around to writing.

Follow Us!

Damon Courtney
Website: https://www.bookfunnel.com
Email: [email protected]

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Should you self-narrate your own book? Should an indie take a traditional deal?

This week, mystery author and podcast host, Pamela Fagan Hutchins, is taking us on a journey into her writing world. We talk about the art of narrating your own audiobooks and how to manage continuity across multiple book series. Plus, hear first-hand why she's a dedicated indie who's just secured a traditional publishing contract—and the challenges that came along with it.

Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a USA Today bestselling and Silver Falchion Best Mystery winning mystery/thriller/suspense author (and recovering attorney and investigator) who splits time between an off-the-grid lodge on the face of Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains and a rustic cabin on Maine’s Lake Mooselookmeguntic with her husband, kids and grandkids, rescue pets and sled dogs, and draft cross horses. 

Follow Us!

Pamela Fagan Hutchins
Website: http://pamelafaganhutchins.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pamela.fagan.hutchins.author
Podcast: Crime & Wine Novelist Chats https://pamelafaganhutchins.com/crime-and-wine-with-pamela-fagan-hutchins/

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

The first step in defining your strategy? Getting clarity.

Clarity. What is it? How do we find it? Where do we even start?

In today's duo episode, we're once again talking about finding clarity in our lives. It's a topic that's been on our minds a lot, both personally and professionally. And honestly, it just might be the most difficult part of developing a productivity system that works.

Clarity breathes life into stale systems and provides the focus for our future plans. But to get there, we have to first dig through our past and honestly assess where we are today. It can be a rough road, emotional and fraught with hard truths, but without knowing where we are, we can't plot our path to the future we want to achieve.

Join us on the journey!

Follow Us!

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the writing process. Specifically, we’re talking with screenwriter and novelist John Gaspard about the similarities between the movie-making process and the novelist’s journey. They have a lot in common! From pre-production story planning to writing productivity, then editing and distribution, it’s a complementary system. And lucky for us, John is willing to share some of his best “popcorn principles” with us.

John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has four other stand-alone novels, including two greyhound inspired pastiches: The Greyhound of the Baskervilles and A Christmas Carl.

John has directed six low-budget features and has written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. In addition, he wrote two books for novelists: The Popcorn Principles and More Popcorn Principles: The Sequel.

His most recent fiction book is a prequel to his Eli Marks series, “The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks.” The Middle Grade book introduces us to thirteen-year-old Eli and explores how he came to the world of magic and magicians.

Question of the week:  What's your purpose for writing? Or have you ever even thought about it? Join our new Facebook group and let's chat!

Follow Us!

John Gaspard
Website: https://www.albertsbridgebooks.com/
and: https://www.elimarksmysteries.com/

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Overcoming depression and finding your purpose in writing books…

Books provide an escape. I think most writers know and appreciate this, but sometimes we forget our books reach people on a fundamental level, giving them an experience they can’t find in the real world.

Today’s guest, Tonya Kappes, leans into a desire to help one reader each week, and in so doing, has found massive success reaching thousands of readers. With over 180 books published, she is an incredibly savvy author-preneur who never loses sight of her core purpose.

Amazon All Star Author Tonya Kappes has written more than 180 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and Woman’s World Book Club pick twice. Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper!

Question of the week:  What's your purpose for writing? Or have you ever even thought about it? Join our new Facebook group and let's chat!

Follow Us!

Tonya Kappes:
Website: https://tonyakappes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaKappes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyakappesbooks/

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

What's your writing ritual? Do you have an accountability partner?

This week's guest really does it all. Not only a fiction author, she's a multi-business owner, consultant, and savvy entrepreneur. She's found success by partnering with others to keep herself accountable, and keeping her creative fiction writing space separate from her business publishing space. It seems to be working!

Chelle Honiker is the publisher of Indie Author Magazine, bringing over two decades of executive operations and leadership experience to the indie publishing world. She's a grounded digital nomad currently hunkered down near her adult daughters in Texas, but it's said she could run a small country with just the contents of her ever-present backpack. She'd rather not put it to the test.

In early 2021, together with Alice Briggs, Chelle launched Indie Author Magazine, where writing means business. Their vision is to be the trusted industry leader for indie authors by providing unbiased, well-researched, and articulate content, in the most engaging format possible.

Question of the week:  What's your process? Do you have a writing ritual or an accountability partner? Join our new Facebook group and let's chat!

Follow Us!

Chelle Honiker:
Website: https://indieauthormagazine.com
Facebook: @indieauthormag
Twitter: @indieauthorzine
YouTube: @indieauthormagazine
Instagram: @indieauthormagazine

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!

Clarify, Simplify, and Implement . . .

These are the lessons we've learned after a year of interviewing some of the top minds in the author world.

Today, we're talking about our new Author Career Strategy system and how we've implemented these changes in our own author lives.

Follow Us!

The Author Wheel:
Website: www.AuthorWheel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheel

Greta Boris:
Website: www.GretaBoris.com
Facebook: @GretaBorisAuthor
Instagram: @GretaBoris

Megan Haskell:
Website: www.MeganHaskell.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Support the show

FREE Mini Email Course

Have you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel’s new mini-course might be your solution.

7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language.

Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it’s free.

Click here to learn more!