Kathleen Barber’s bestselling debut, TRUTH BE TOLD, was turned into a TV series with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company. Her sophomore novel… didn’t do so well. But she kept on writing despite many disappointments, publishing books in both the thriller and romantic comedy genres. Her latest novel is SISTERHOOD ABOVE ALL: A #RUSHTOK NOVEL, with Amayah Shaienne.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

• Website: kathleenbarber.com
• IG: instagram.com/katelizabee
• Substack: kathleenbarber.substack.com
• Sisterhood Above All by Kathleen Barber with Amayah Shaienne: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250400055/sisterhoodaboveall

• Amayah Shaienne IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayahshai/
• Eva's Babysitter's Club Fan-Fiction on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcdbYj5FeRP/
• With shoutouts to Lisa Grubka, Ashley Spivey, Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator, Bouchercon, Mystery Writers of America, and Hello Sunshine
• Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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David Griffin Brown and Michelle Barker have both been on long journeys to publishing their novels. Now, in addition to being editors at The Darling Axe, they are successfully self-publishing their co-authored craft books. 

Between the two of them, David and Michelle write and publish in nearly every genre: picture books, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, historical, nonfiction, and even poetry. We talk about their experiences with agents and traditional publishing, as well as their experiences with small presses and self-publishing. And, of course, we discuss David’s decision to found his company, The Darling Axe, which provides editing, novel development, and other services for writers.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

• The Darling Axe: www.DarlingAxe.com (Michelle and David's co-authored books can be found here)
• Website: www.SeptimusBrown.com
• @SeptimusBrown and @DarlingAxe on most platforms

• Website:www.michellebarker.ca
• https://substack.com/@michbark
• https://michellebarker.ca/books/

• Book Broker Agent Interviews: https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tagged/agent-interviews
• Book mention: Story Genius by Lisa Cron
• Shoutouts to Orca Books, Annick Press, Victory Co-op for Netgalley, Storygraph, Invisible Ink Editing, Gail Anderson Dargatz, and The University of British Columbia MFA

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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Journalist Mimi Montgomery signed with the first agent she queried (!!), and is using her dog as part of the guerrilla marketing campaign for her debut novel, MURDER BITES, which is a satirical murder mystery on the set of a reality TV show about dogs.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
• The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

• Website: https://www.mimimontgomerywriter.com/
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mimi_montgomery/
• SUBSTACK: https://mimimontgomery.substack.com/
• MURDER BITES: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798842/murder-bites-by-mimi-montgomery/

• "Half the People Who See This DIY Promo Go On to Preorder My Book" by Jo Piazza (Substack article): https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-half-the-people-who-see
• Book recs: Story Genius by Lisa Cron, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, Before & After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum
• Movie and TV recs: A Simple Favor and Bad Sisters
• Shoutouts to: The Writer’s Center, Carl Hiassen, Virginia Evans, Courtney Maum, Emily Jane, Jo Piazza, Andrea Bartz, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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After brainstorming over 100 ideas, Amy Tern came up with a Hitchcock-inspired premise for a middle grade novel… and finally landed both an agent and a book deal with Holiday House for her debut novel SNEAKS.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: amytern.com
• Sneaks: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780823461622

• Eva's interview with Rebecca Lehman on This Mama is Lit!: https://literarymama.substack.com/p/rebecca-lehmann-resurrecting-anne
• Eva's online Substack workshop, How to Catch and Keep a Reader: https://evalangston.substack.com/p/how-to-catch-and-keep-a-reader-workshop
• Shoutouts to: SCBWI, Sally Morgridge, Holiday House, Shanna Upchurch, Kids' Indie Next, American Booksellers Association, Indies Introduce program

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

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When former FBI agent Jerri’s crime novel died on submission, she “accidentally” started self-publishing. And after a long and emotional road (and some work as a TV consultant!), she’s finally landed her first traditionally-published contract: a two-book deal with Sourcebooks: Poisoned Pen Press.  

Jerri produces and hosts the podcast FBI Case File Review, and her popular FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series debunks misconceptions about the FBI found in books, TV, and movies. Her work helps authors, true crime enthusiasts and aspiring FBI agents learn how the FBI investigates crime.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: https://jerriwilliams.com/ 
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jerriwilliams1/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JerriWilliamsAuthor/
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jerriwilliamsauthor
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@FBICaseReview

• Shoutouts to International Thriller Writers (and ThrillerFest), Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America
• Shoutouts Isabella Maldonado and Joseph Wambaugh
• Craft Books Mentioned: The First 50 Pages, Story Trumps Structure, Plot and Structure, The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell, Story Engineering by Larry Brooks, The Story Grid by Shawn M. Coyne, and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau started out writing books for teens in French for a French publisher. She now writes in English, and has had four novels published in the US: two YA rom-coms and two adult thrillers. In this episode we talk about her experiences with book packagers, her three different literary agents, her love of screenwriting, and so much more. Anne-Sophie’s latest book is We Would Never Tell.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: https://www.asjouhanneau.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asjouhanneau/
• Substack: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/

• Shoutouts to: Gotham Writers, Austin Film Festival, Alloy Entertainment
• Eva as a background extra: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZhlxVxFava/?img_index=1
• My Somewhat Bonkers Publishing Journey Part 1: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey
• " " Part 2: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey-ca9
• " " Part 3: https://asjouhanneau.substack.com/p/my-somewhat-bonkers-publishing-journey-191

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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Bestselling author Eliza Knight self-publishes romance novels and traditionally publishes historical fiction and contemporary thrillers. Her latest novel TRADWIFE, coming out in August under the pen name Michelle Brandon, will be her 99th published book! Her journey has been long and twisty… and wildly prolific! 

We talk about her latest historical noel, LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ‘69, and how she manages to successfully juggle so many publishing balls at once!

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website:  https://elizaknight.com
• Instagram and FB handle: @ElizaKnightFiction 
• Podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com
• Lost in the Summer of '69: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781464255113
• Tradwife: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780063470538

• Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780691256160
• Mentions of Novelists, Inc; Romance Writers of America; Historical Novel Society; Women’s Fiction Writers Association
• Vellum Software: https://vellum.pub/?utm_source=google-ads&utm_campaign=vellum_search&utm_agid=141737776969&utm_term=vellum&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17767505168&gbraid=0AAAAAowUQB2cN9QMg6n9bFOxx7x4m9Pki&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxLQnUHaLI2rxVvGdET9G-qzUVvOFRSS5jlT5BjP-c1GPpdZHgB8iqcaAlz_EALw_wcB

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawyer and bestselling author Emily Jane has penned an incredible pile of genre-bending manuscripts, and her publishing journey is just as unconventional as her books. 

It wasn’t until her 6th manuscript that Emily landed her amazing agent, and her debut novel was actually the 17th book she wrote. Plus… you won’t believe the mind-blowing reveal that comes towards the end of this episode! 

Her latest novel, MR. YAY, released on June 2, 2026, and her fifth novel, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE, is coming out in March of 2027. 

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: https://www.emilyjaneauthor.com. 
• Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2282824/emily-jane/ 
• Instagram: @emilyjane.author  
• threads: @emilyjane.author
•  Bluesky: @emilyjaneauthor.bsky.social
• GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-the-people-what-they-want-emily-jane/1150359820?ean=9781368116053&irclickid=WvBSwhwl-xyZWiQwKeQDZ3sCUkuTyMWNsSwYwM0&sharedid=&irpid=128773&irgwc=1&afsrc=1

• Emily’s camper van IG video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYSbsnbR7BI/

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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Moniza Hossain had FOUR middle grade novels die on submission before landing two picture book deals. Now she also has a middle grade horror novel coming out. After a brutal 10-year journey, it’s finally her time to shine!

Her two picture books, Street Puppy, Masjid Cat and Ritu in the Sun, are out now. Her middle grade novel Bad Things Happened Here is coming out this September. 

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: monizahossain.com
• Ritu in the Sun: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740790/ritu-in-the-sun-by-moniza-hossain-illustrated-by-merce-lopez/
• Bad Things Happened Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825012/bad-things-happened-here-by-moniza-hossain/
• @monizahossain on Instagram 

• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/
• Triada US Literary Agency: https://www.triadaus.com/

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

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April Henry goes to extreme lengths to research her mystery/thriller novels, like allowing herself to get kidnapped! 

She has published 31 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with more to come. Her latest YA novel is called IN THE BLOOD.

In this episode we talk about where she finds inspiration, her adventures in co-writing, and, of course, the ups and downs on her long road to publishing.

• Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
• Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
• Send me an email at [email protected]
• To pitch to the podcast, go here
• Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston

• Website: aprilhenry.com
• Instagram and Threads: @aprilhenrybooks
• Facebook: @aprilhenry 
• BlueSky: @aprilhenry
• TikTok: @aprilhenrywritingadvice and @aprilhenrybooks 
• IN THE BLOOD: https://annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books

• Rules for Liars by April Patten and Debra Garfinkle

The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love

License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.