Welcome to the Prose Pros podcast, your go-to source for the art, the craft, and the business of publishing.

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Lauren Khan joined FinePrint Literary in 2025 as an Associate Agent following an internship at Triada US Literary Agency. She first entered the publishing world as an author. Prior to transitioning to agenting, she worked for over seven years as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Lauren brings both editorial and transactional expertise to her clients.Lauren lives with her family in her small beach hometown in Florida. She wrote her first novel while pregnant with her son and began agenting while pregnant with her daughter. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham University School of Law, she loves podcasts, long walks with her dog, and all things Nora Ephron. As a former theatre kid, Lauren is a lifelong champion of storytelling, subjecting her loved ones to her songs, stories, and plays from the moment she could talk.​An avid reader across genres, Lauren is particularly interested in adult and YA commercial fiction, especially women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles. She is an editorial agent with a strong interest in developing fulfilling and long-lasting careers for her authors.I​nstagram: @laurenjpkhanX: @laurenjpkhan

Tali Shammas is a literary intern at CMA Literary. Her work is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Literary Agency. Prior to writing, Tali practiced corporate law at a large multinational firm for a number of years, then shifted to academia with an eye to completing her PhD. While on maternity leave, she dabbled in fiction writing, and was immediately hooked.

Tali gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. Tali is the chair of a large writer’s organization and her award-winning short fiction has been published in an anthology. She currently lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.I​nstagram: @talishammasX: @talishammas

In this episode, Olivia shares her journey as an author, discussing challenges she’s faced throughout the publishing process, the personal themes in her writing, and her future plans. She reflects on her writing style, the importance of creating tension, and what it means to her to have a dedicated writing space. Olivia also talks about her goals for the upcoming year, including going on a book tour. The discussion highlights the power of community in writing, the role of podcasting in building connections, and Olivia's recommendations for upcoming reads.

The Prose Pros is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Olivia Muenter (pronounced Men-ter) is a writer, reader, and the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. Her first novel Such A Bad Influence (Quirk Books) was an instant USA Today Best Seller. Her second novel Little One (Little, Brown) will be published in Feb 2026.

A former fashion & beauty editor and freelance writer, Olivia’s work has been published in Glamour, Byrdie, Bustle, Brides, Health.com, Philadelphia Magazine, and more. You can find her most personal writing via her weekly newsletter where she shares about her life, her work, and everything in between.

For more regular life/work updates, follow Olivia on Instagram (@oliviamuenter)

Exciting news for The Prose Pros: literary agent Lauren Khan joins the show as a co-host!

In this episode, hosts Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan reflect on some key headlines that made publishing news in 2025. They discuss their accomplishments for the year and their goals for 2026. They also touch on the evolving role of authors and the trends shaping the industry as we move into 2026, sharing their predictions for the future of publishing.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Lauren Khan joined FinePrint Literary in 2025 as an Associate Agent following an internship at Triada US Literary Agency. She first entered the publishing world as an author. Prior to transitioning to agenting, she worked for over seven years as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Lauren brings both editorial and transactional expertise to her clients. Lauren lives with her family in her small beach hometown in Florida. She wrote her first novel while pregnant with her son and began agenting while pregnant with her daughter. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham University School of Law, she loves podcasts, long walks with her dog, and all things Nora Ephron. As a former theatre kid, Lauren is a lifelong champion of storytelling, subjecting her loved ones to her songs, stories, and plays from the moment she could talk. ​An avid reader across genres, Lauren is particularly interested in adult and YA commercial fiction, especially women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles. She is an editorial agent with a strong interest in developing fulfilling and long-lasting careers for her authors. I​nstagram: @laurenjpkhan X: @laurenjpkhan

Tali Shammas is a literary intern at CMA Literary. Her work is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Literary Agency. Prior to writing, Tali practiced corporate law at a large multinational firm for a number of years, then shifted to academia with an eye to completing her PhD. While on maternity leave, she dabbled in fiction writing, and was immediately hooked.

Tali gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. Tali is the chair of a large writer's organization and her award-winning short fiction has been published in an anthology. She currently lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.I​nstagram: @talishammasX: @talishammas

In this conversation, Demi Michelle Schwartz and I discuss her passion for short stories. She considers the challenges and strategies of character development, pacing, and revisions in short fiction. Demi also emphasizes the importance of feedback and building a writing community. She encourages aspiring writers to embrace prompts and have fun with their writing, regardless of their background or education.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Demi Michelle Schwartz is an author from Pittsburgh, PA, represented by Ciara Smith at Spencerhill Associates. She primarily writes young adult fiction, focusing on the fantasy and thriller genres, though she loves to explore other genres and age categories in her short stories found in anthologies. In 2019, Demi graduated summa cum laude with BAs in Creative Writing and Music from Seton Hill University, then earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill in June of 2022. Along with being an author, Demi is the host of Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast, a freelance fiction editor through her independently-run services, Amethyst Ink Editorial, an editor for Revise & Resub (#RevPit), and an award-winning songwriter and recording artist.

In this engaging crossover episode, my good friend Mylee J. Miller interviews me! We discuss our journeys in the podcasting world and share our inspiration, how we manage guests, and the tools we use. We touch on the importance of sound quality, the joy of connecting with others, and the challenges of balancing podcasting (and social media) with writing. We also discuss our goals for our podcasts and conclude with some awesome book recommendations.

Find the headphones I use here

Find the microphone I use here

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Mylee J. Miller is an author of fantasy, mystery, horror, and retelling novels, and is represented by Rachel Estep at D4EO Literary Agency for all of her literary works. She’s a freelance editor, a reader for the literary magazines Uncharted Magazine and Fractured Lit, a book reviewer with SFF Insiders, the host of the literary podcast Books And Beyond, and she is pursuing her BS in English in the hopes of becoming an agent or editor someday. When not walking her cats or adding books to her endless TBR, she’s screaming along to Imagine Dragons and eating too much Italian food.

In this eye-opening conversation, Nicole Dalcourt shares her journey as a writer, exploring the differences between poetry and prose. She describes how she refined her craft through workshops and open mics and discusses her recently-published poetry collection, WHAT REMAINS, and the healing process involved in writing it. Nicole also sheds light on her experiences with self-publishing, the importance of community support, and her aspirations for future writing projects.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Nicole Dalcourt is an award-winning Canadian writer and poet living on the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario. Her debut poetry collection, What Remains, uses a confessional voice to explore themes of grief, heartbreak, rebirth and belonging. Dalcourt’s work has appeared in Writerly Magazine, The King City Mosaic and on Howl Radio and the Viewless Wings Podcast. When not writing, Nicole hosts and participates in open mics around the region and pursues her passion for teaching poetry skills through in-person and online workshops.

Join me as I chat with Karis Rogerson about the writing journey, MFA programs, and the importance of community in the writing world. We recommend craft books to hone writers’ skills and touch on on the challenges of marketing and the significance of intentionality in storytelling. Other topics of conversation are the limitations of traditional workshop models, the importance of cultural perspectives in storytelling, and the subjectivity of writing. We also spend some time discussing the unique aspects of writing for children and young adults (Kidlit) compared to adult fiction, and emphasize the responsibility authors have towards their young readers.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Karis Rogerson is a writer, reader, and podcaster who was born in the South Carolina Midlands, raised in Northeastern Italy, schooled in the German Black Forest and Kentucky Bluegrass, and now lives in Brooklyn, on Lenni Lenape land. She has an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from VCFA and her fiction is represented by Eric Smith at Neighborhood Literary. Karis writes sapphic romance for all ages, as well as poetry, personal essays, and select journalism. She’s a co-host of the podcast The Write Way of Life, and you can find more at https://www.karisrogerson.com/ or follow her on Instagram.

Find Karis’s publishing info master doc here.

In this conversation, debut author Grace Morrow details her eventful querying journey and the creation of her upcoming novel, We Become Darkness (now releasing April 7, 2026, with Alcove Press). She discusses the challenges of the submission process, the importance of community support, and her unique approach to marketing her book. We also chat about the rise of genre blends, female agency, and the influence of art history on Grace’s writing, including the intricacies of world-building and the emotional depth of her characters.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Grace Morrow is an author of magic, mayhem and mischief. As an art historian, her goal is to inspire the same feelings one might associate when looking at a particular piece of art and integrating that feeling into her books. A true Californian, she lives with her husband and two unruly cats. When she isn’t writing you can find her binge watching the latest trash reality tv show, working with an academic support program, or trying to keep alive her many, many, succulents.

In this episode, entertainment lawyer Michael Duboff shares legal insights that all writers should keep in mind, focusing on the common legal questions and concerns. He discusses the importance of understanding copyright, the misconceptions surrounding that issue, and the necessity of contracts.

Mike emphasizes the need for writers to seek independent legal advice, especially when dealing with contracts, and highlights key clauses to watch for. He also addresses the dynamics of negotiation and conflict resolution. Finally, he offers valuable advice for both traditionally published and self-published authors, encouraging them to be proactive and confident in their legal dealings.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Michael Duboff is a Canadian entertainment lawyer with a professional focus on music, film and television, publishing, and corporate matters. He has worked with a variety of artists and creative businesses helping to facilitate projects, performance opportunities locally and across borders, and organizational matters.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Michael’s practice spans across Manitoba where he carries on clients and representation in addition to the firm’s primary residence in Ontario.

Prior to working as a lawyer, Michael has worked professionally in both the music and film/tv industries, as a musician in an alternative rock band and as a freelance director/writer/producer in Toronto and Vancouver. His passion for the arts and artists helps drive his practice and makes him grateful to be able to continue to work for and with the vibrant arts communities.

In this episode, I’m joined by author Katie Gergel, whose rom-com, WORTH PLAYING FOR, was recently acquired by Bantam Dell in a pre-empt. We discuss Katie’s path to securing a book deal, the editing process, and her experience with her agent and submission. She discusses the importance of persistence, professional relationships in publishing, and the lessons she learned querying. Katie also reflects on her marketing career and her passion for entertainment and reality TV.

My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Katie Gergel lives in Hoboken, NJ, and works as a senior marketing manager for Hearst Magazines in Manhattan. From writing books for her friends in elementary school to earning Film and Political Science degrees at Penn State University, she’s always been a storyteller at heart. When she’s not forcing her characters into messy scenarios, Katie can be found hunting down the best spicy margarita, gobbling up the latest reality dating show, or planning elaborate themed parties that will force her friends to dress up or vote each other out (or both).