The Shared Desk

Pip and Tee host Michael Ventrella to talk about publishing, writing, and the 1st Amendment.

The Shared Desk has tried to remain politics free, but then politics collided with writing and publishing.

• 8:46 : Michael has been involved in the Tales from the Archives, but he is currently a practicing defense lawyer, and has taught the Constition. He is the author of How to Argue the Constitution with a Conservative.
• Tee has some background with the 1st Amendment…. Pip has of course none.

Well, one of us isn’t…

• 05:55 : So of course, Pip reads the 1st Amendment…
• Michael points out why the 1st is so short and succinct.
• 08:22 : Tee brings up, why we are discussing this on the Shared Desk. A fresh senator got his book contract cancelled, and tries to use the 1st Amendment as a shield.
• Michael points out, that there are plenty of dumb lawyers out there.
• Many lawyers read the Constitution to be what they want it to say.

• 11:03 : We touch on the other hot button 1st Amendment, people being blocked off social media.
• Pip (the foreigner) points out the very first word.
• Michael says a smaller publisher will probably pick his book up. (Addendum: He was right… Apparently the senator has found a new publisher.)
• 14:33 : Isn’t it more about that sweet advance?
• That’s part of it, but also playing to the base with an eye on a presidential run.
• 15:21 : Pip wonders about ‘morality clauses’.
• 16:12 : On the left side of the aisle, writers have run into those too.
• Writers have to be aware of them, and understand that they also can’t claim oppression. Most contracts have provision these days to protect the image of the corporation.
• 18:02 : Social media rights as far as the 1st Amendment.
• Michael points out if you want to talk about regular conservative talking points you can.
• What you cannot talk about is violence and racism.
• All social media platforms have Terms of Service… even if people click through them without reading. They are there.

• Michael points out the peaceably portion of the 1st Amendment.
• 22:47 : Tee posits a question to Michael
• Michael says not with the 1st, but contractually there are more grey areas depending on the situation.
• 24:27 : Michael brings up how some authors make claims of being censored.

• The government censors, but everything else is editing.
• No Shirts. No Shoes. No Service. But it has to be applied in a non discriminatory fashion.
• Shout out to the Legal Eagle

• 34:58 : Tee, Pip and Michael discuss WandaVision on Disney+ NO SPOILERS!
• Plenty of throwbacks to Bewitched and I Love Jennie, Pip enjoyed it
• Michael enjoyed the first ten minutes, and then wanted a bit more to happen.
• There were a lot of deep cuts for those deep into Marvel history.
• Tee brings up the excellent HBO Max show Snowpiercer
• More clues are revealed in the second episode.
• Pip enjoyed how they used vintage feel to full advantage- including consulting Dick Van Dyke!

Find Michael A Ventrella here, and pickup his book How to Argue the Constitution with a Conservative. Also, his steampunk book with Teddy Roosevelt, Big Stick – which Pip highly recommends!

If you have an event in 2021 and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

(Podcasting for Dummies, the 4th edition is out in the wild today… pick up a copy from your favorite online store!)

Pip and Tee take on the subject of blogging. Is it still useful? Relevant?

00: 58 Intro

• Amanda J Surowitz sent us an email complimenting Social Media for Writers, which includes a Discord chapter (or you can do a deeper dive with Discord for Dummies.)

04:11 Tee Talks about his experience with blogging

• Tee has worked professionally for universities, and the government. Writing blogs was part of what he did every day.
• Amanda drops into chat
• Tee was on a roll, then the world changed.

Everyone knows that feeling

• Tee then had back to back projects, but blogging is still his thing
• Pip hasn’t blogged for awhile. Now she thinks the space is a lot more crowded, and now you have streaming competing.
• Pip makes the internet noise and Tee joins in.
• People like Chuck Wendig make a success of it, but has a very particular style.
• Tee found he would spend days writing a blogpost on writing, and getting behind on his actual writing.
• Pip feels like she never found her niche in blogging… and worried she just whined a lot.
• Pip wonders about jumping on current events… say ‘Waffle House fights’
• We mention Chris Evan’s… moment and how he turned it to his advantage

• You can tap into what is trending, as Pip points out they have from time to time. Tee agrees as long as it is within your field, jumping on current issues is a good policy.
• Pip tries to justify her next Waffle House fight blogpost…
• When you sit down to write, have a point to it
• Keep an eye on comments on the blog and your social media
• Blogging for blogging sake is problematic

24:34 Pip has a question

• So lists were popular a while go ‘top five’ or the ‘five worst’. Are they still popular?
• People do still seem to want to read quick articles
• Tee suggests setting a word limit.

27:07 Tee has a question

• As pros, with other projects how do you manage blogging?
• Add it to your weekly schedule.
• Tee suggests some people are using Twitch, as a video blog.
• But do all authors think on their feet quickly? A riff can easily become a ramble.
• Bullet Alexander returns… and Pip is not impressed.
• What are authors most comfortable doing?
• Social Media for Writers is out now, and has new chapters, including one on crisis management.
• It’s made trickier when you don’t have a book to promote, but publishers these day want you to have a platform before they’ll give you a book deal.

• So figure out if you have a purpose and do you have the time for it?
• But at the end of the day deadlines have to come before blogging.
• If it is making you miserable, then you don’t have to blog.
• Your platform should include blogging only if you enjoy doing it, and can remain consistent.

If you have an event in 2021 and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

We welcome our pal, Jack Mangan to the Shared Desk, and back into the writing gig. Jack’s new foray into creativity is a graphic novel. We dig deep into this process and how Jack’s getting it done with crowdfunding.

0:45 Jack Mangan introduction

• Though he has no AKA name, we’re glad to see him.
• You might know Jack from Spherical Tomi and Deadpan
• From back in the days….

• Jack talks about his podcast trajectory… and then life intervened.
• Known as a novelist, and podcast, we dive into how Jack’s moved into the new arena of graphic novels.
• Pip and Tee discuss how much they loved having Jack in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Find it in the second collection of Tales from the Archives

7:29 What were the challenges of changing genre

• Jack researched the masters of this new genre
• At first he tried drafting out instructions to the graphic artist.
• You have to form a relationship between writer and artist- collaboration!
• Pip contemplates a Ministry graphic novel…

12:48 Pip asks ‘But what is this project?‘

• Jack’s history as a music journalist, brought him into contact with Diamond Head.
• Yes, this project is so METAL!

• Jack got all the relevant permissions
• Am I Evil, is a song with a story to tell.
• Now to the funding of it! Challenges Jack faced… well pandemic!
• Kickstarter didn’t work out, but now I Am Evil is live on IndieGoGo
• The idea is to make sure every professional gets paid
• Meet the team!

• This is Jack’s passion project, that he wants out in the world.
• Marketing is always tough. But you have to find the right time to launch and promote.
• Pip and Tee popped by to Jack’s live launch
• Everyone delves into their metal credentials…
• Jack has been writing as a journalist, but he is getting back to fiction—including coming back to Spherical Tomi
• Many of the original podcasters, are going back to their original fiction worlds.
• When you are part of a team, you don’t want to let people down.
• Jack talks about being a mature writer
• Check out the video!

• Jack explains how he created the video.
• Pip brings up stretch goals, and the dangers of pineapple related ones.
• Jack teases us with royal connections…
• Am I Evil campaign is live now!

If you have an event in 2021 and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

• Technology works, and we shout out to the live audience who joined us on Twitch
• Our cat is recuperating from surgery, and we’re recuperating from the Hugos. Makes him rather grumpy…
• Guess what made Pip and Tee grumpy
• It’s not the gloves from Ritual Motion

2:31 Let’s talk about the Hugo Awards

• The latest Worldcon was held in Pip’s hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, but the pandemic made it have to become virtual
• The Hugo are fan voted, and are not strangers to controversy
• Pip and Tee discuss that ‘golden age’ of science fiction
• George RR Martin was asked to be toastmaster
• Tee has been the MC at Pip’s brother’s wedding.
• The role requires you talk about the people who the event is for.
• The Hugo Awards were about the nominees, but GRRM didn’t get that memo
• He then proceeded to pine for the good ole days of John W Campbell, Heinlein, Asimov et al

• All of GRRM’s parts were pre-recorded
• Tee asks Pip how she feels as a New Zealander and a writer

• ConZealand was planned for many, many years
• Pip was angry, disappointed and mortified… New Zealand is better than this
• Even assuming GRRM was not sent pronunciation, that doesn’t let him off the hook
• Pip and Tee remain unsurprised at how his recordings went down

• The Hugo Awards have become more diverse but it has a history of being exclusionary
• Lots of inside jokes, name dropping… all of these things make sure there is an ‘us’ and ‘them’
• Making community means being welcoming
• Harking back to an age GRRM has nostalgia about, brings a lot of baggage
• Pip talks about the nature of fandom in New Zealand

• Fandom needs to think about how they empower people by ignoring their behavior
• The award winners were a diverse, world-wide group of people, but GRRM barely mentioned them
• The always popular apology-non-apology
• Pip dives into how women (especially of an older generation) are taught not to make a fuss in order to be part of the boy’s club

• New Zealand’s specific national psyche may have fed into this.
• Pip wonders what happened? Did they watch it? Were they afraid of GRRM?
• Tee reminds every writer, that this is a professional setting.
• Pip confirms New Zealand is massively passive aggressive
• There is a way to own it though
• But not just GRRM and the con organizers should own it.
• We need to be better… as fans and writers.
• The Hugo Awards are meant to celebrate about what is best during the last year
• Young authors need to feel that they can be in the space of the Hugos. This is a place for them.
• Hopefully good changes will come out of this.

If you have an event in 2021 and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

We welcome Savan Gupta to the show, but Tee is audio only… and it had nothing to do with Pip!

• Savan kicks it off, and the party begins.
• Having a company is apparently just as stressful as kids

3:07 Savan begins to unravel all his creative endeavors

• Steam-funk Studios– a multi-media and marketing firm
• From that came the Living Multiverse, a cross-media fiction project… and World Domination
• The Unconventional champions journalist and academic excellence in fandom—The Rolling Stone of Fandom. Fanthropolgy
• Sepia Riot, a project in development, championing Indian, Arab and Asian representation in fandom
• The Unconventional will be coming this year!

8:03 Tee asks Savan how he manages all these amazing projects

• Savan keeps a regular schedule, military like
• Manage expectations with those that are working with you
• Savan vets everyone and gives them an orientation so that people are ramped up
• Communicate any problems that crop up in life
• Tee throws himself under the bus, but also owns his problems
• Savan points out that when you act like a professional everything is simpler

12:29 Pip asks Savan just how many people he’s collaborated with over the years

• Savan remembers another collaboration, Geeks Gone Wild
• Collaborating means having standards and processes to encourage others who want to work with you
• Savan comes to this from a financial market
• Pip gets jealous of Savan’s organization
• Tee points out the collaboration with Galileo Games was very well organized
• Savan mentions that he’s spent years all over the country, finding talent
• Savan says past and present he’s worked with hundreds of people

17:41 Tee asks, so what do they all do?

• Everything began as a performance troupe
• In 2014 critical mass happened. Slick-brass and the Crew of the A.S.S. Titilus was joined by Rohan and the Dogs of War. Then more… and more… and consulting for others
• It got so big, that they needed residuals to support the performance, so Savan changed tack.
• Rebooting the brand, they turned inward to evaluate what goods and services work best, to make money
• The Unconventional is free, because its aim is to make a community- but it gives plenty of attribution, and a bio
• Attribution is something we need more of
• Savan answers the question about how many people who work in the company
• Shout out to Savan’s teams!
• Pip’s mind is blown

27:01 Tee asks Savan how he handles when collaboration goes bad

• Savan makes clear what expectations are, and how much time it will take to his collaborators
• His exceptions clauses are; your health (you don’t have to disclose what those are, legally as well), day job/school (hell weeks do happen in both), and finally your family.
• Everyone needs paperwork!
• Tee, Savan and Pip discuss about deadlines
• Savan describes his ‘break glass’ situation

• Now the Hobbit comes up… we have all been forged by fire
• Savan calls back to his father, for his fortitude and persistence

51:14 Tee makes sure when the pandemic is over, Savan will break bread with he and Pip once again

• Tee reveals his love for Trejos Tacos cook book
• Culinary arts series coming from the Unconventional!

53:17 Where can we find Savan Gupta?

• The Unconventional News
• Geeks Gone Wild
• Steam-funk Studios
• So many of Savan’s websites will combine their forces shortly
• We look forward to seeing Savan and his groups at events next year!
• Tee’s hair is becoming mythic… almost as mythic as Thomas Willeford!
• If you want Savan and his productions to visit your event next year, now is the time to book!

If you have an event in 2021 and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

• We’re still social distancing, but we can still be social!
• We welcome Aly Grauer and Drew Mierzejewski—another collaborating couple!

• We’ve know each other… Aly and Drew are ‘like us but younger!’
• Collaborators in life and art!
• Aly produced two short stories for Tales from the Archives
• Pip tries some new words from the youth! Vibe and dabbing are no allowed.

6:05 Tee asks the hard question of Aly and Drew; Where’d this all start?

• Like many collaborators, editing and brainstorming often comes off
• Aly and Drew started on a project from the Renaissance Faire
• Starting off sharing creative projects can be fun… but the rewards are worth it

• For a start, there are no rules
• Writers are often imagined solitary- but they don’t have to be!

• People tend to think ideas are precious, and can be easily lost… but the truth is there are a lot out there
• Tee admits thinking never to write another podcasting book.
• …and is currently working on 4th edition of Podcasting for Dummies

• Tee brings back the story of the Silver Pharaoh.
• Aly and Drew share their own tense moment.
• The truth of the matter is, everyone looks back at their first book critically.

21:00 How do you navigate criticism between partners?

• Talk about specifics, good and bad
• It can be bad when you take criticism too much to heart, and let it break your confidence
• Aly and Drew poured energy into Warda, and it became a podcast and a tabletop game
• Aly finally found a way back in with Drew’s support
• Drew points out, building a collaboration takes years
• Pip recounts the path of collaboration for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
• The couples talk about the strengths that make their collaborations work

38:42 Let’s talk Skyjacks:Courier’s Call

• Aly and Drew have a new podcast collaboration, Skyjacks: Courier’s Call
• Skyjacks is a wider collaboration, but it wasn’t child friendly, hence the spinoff
• Pip gets excited by large birds… especially large kiwis!
• We touch on the advantages the Kickstarter campaign had
• The nature of the podcast and the storytelling is very collaborative.
• Tee waxes lyrical on the latest wave of roleplaying
• Art is not created in a vacuum!
• Pip and Tee call out some of the wonderful folks they’ve collaborated with in the past!
• Pip talks about her own roleplaying fun with George the Dinosaur

• Aly and Drew’s Patreon
• Aly Twitter and webpage. Aly teaches accent and dialect.
• Drew Twitter and Courier Call. Drew also consultation on world-building, DMing, and acting for roleplaying.

If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

• We’re in the middle of a pandemic.
• Tee and Pip didn’t have the ‘rona, we had a cold each.
• Shout out to all the magnificent health care works who are working and helping society through this.
• Tee and Pip are raising money for No Kid Hungry, while streaming. They provide meals to children who otherwise would depend on school lunches. You don’t have to watch to donate.

5:23 How to stay creative in a pandemic

• How things have changed since Smoky Writers in North Carolina. We were so lucky to get it in before COVID-19
• If you’re a long time listener to the show, you’ll be familiar with our yearly writing retreat
• A beautiful house by the beach, with some of our favorite people in the world
• The retreat this year was shorter, but we stayed in Wilmington, NC
• We returned home, carrying a heavy cold each

• We recorded this episode once before, but we sounded awful.
• Shortly after Virginia closed schools for the whole year
• Now we are on lockdown. Grocery shopping is the only trip we make
• We are getting comfort from New Zealand’s Prime Ministry, Jacinda Arden
• Pip reminds Australia they can’t have her

• Let’s talk projects.
• Pip and Tee have the rights back for Social Media for Writers
• There are going to be re-writes in the next edition. Quite a few things have changed in the social media landscape.
• Tee is working with Chuck Tomasi on a 4th edition of Podcasting for Dummies
• Discord for Dummies is coming out in May. Pre-order now!
• Secret of the Monkey God is on the docket too. Tee is not going to be left out.
• Pip is working on Ride or Die, as well as Fierce Dead 2
• Polishing up a few old projects too
• Bear in mind, the current pandemic situation has a lot of consequences, not just health, but mental and economic
• We’re all being creative with getting things done

• We need to look out for each other
• And know, it’s OK to not be OK.
• Use technology to check in on people, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from those that care about you.
• Writers may need solitude, but we’re not used to not being able to go out to cafes… or libraries.. or anywhere

• Writers online, writing together while ignoring each other.
• Being kind, also applies to yourself. Be kind to yourself
• Have a routine. Take showers.
• Get up, get dressed (except for those odd pj days)
• If you feel you can’t write, then find another creative project.
• Pip and Tee are currently working on their bathroom. It’s been needing an update for about… 10 years…
• Clearing out the house, and organizing your books.
• Gardening is great… and if you’re lucky you get fresh food
• Pip bought supplies online from Lowe’s, and used contactless pickup
• Give your mind a break, rather than forcing it to pump out content all the time
• Pip thinks getting back to baking, brewing, gardening is great.
• Limit your diet of news. Don’t spend too long scrolling through Facebook
• Pip gets on her hobby horse of history.
• The message from John Rhys Davies
• Pip tries to post positive things.

• So in this time, give yourself a break.
• Apparently people are using this time to learn about podcasting from Podcasting for Dummies and Twitch for Dummies

37:31 Wrap Up

• Where will Pip and Tee be this year
• RavenCon has been postponed. So to Balticon… but it will be available virtually
• WorldCon in New Zealand is going to be virtual only
• Other events are still on the fence…
• Follow TeeMonster on Twitch to catch the live show

If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

• They said we couldn’t make it… whoever they are…
• Pip and Tee chose Birds of Prey for their Valentine’s movie!
• We get cheers from chat!

3:04 Let’s Look Back

• Pip tried to count Dog Days of Podcasting that Tee did in 2018
• Consistency… well not so much our thing….
• Episode 1… we started off pretty exclusively about the craft!
• And we started with the idea of half hour episodes…

7:23 Types of episodes

• We’ve done craft and business episodes
• But our most downloaded episode was Episode 59, about Penny Dreadful from a writer’s point of view
• Then we’ve covered, marketing, had guests in show, and recorded from events
• Then there are the odd ones…
• And the evergreen content ‘writers did what now?’

9:29 Let’s talk about guests

• Guests… we’ve been very lucky!
• Piper J Drake and K T Bryski duke it out for most on show
• Nick and Stacia Kelly also been on there quite a few times
• Lauren ‘Scribe’ Harris has stopped on by a bit too!
• The WINNER IS KT Bryski! (Also involved in beer talk)
• Episode 30… what is a writer’s intern? K T came and stayed for quite a while.
• We’ve had MK Backstrom, Alex White, Tim Dodge, Spence, Nobilis on the show

14:02 We Tracked Smoky Writers

• From the beginning, our beloved retreat was covered. Either there, or a post-retreat review
• Our largest guest episode, with all the microphones!
• Pip reflects on the fun stuff represented by the Shared Desk

14: 55 Consistency? What’s that??

• Sometimes we slipped…
• Editing is a thing… we don’t like to just release into the wild
• Deadlines and families to come first… podcasting fell by the way side
• Some years have been easier than others
• We started streaming in 2018, episode 90.
• Streaming has kept us more on track

17:28 Memories of past segments

• Eagle vs kiwi — limited options after a point
• Crazy Uncle Charlie — his time passed (Pip was happy about that)

20:32 Picking out some favorite episodes and topics

• Pip mentions episode 23, where we talked about a writer’s kit and giveaway swag
• Tee diverts into Penny Dreadful side rant…
• Pip and Tee discuss some of the changes to swag people expect
• Pip mentions the 99c book promo choices authors make
• The infamous way Goodreads reviewers mark books before they’ve even been released
• Giving away your work, you need to be careful how you do it
• The short story market has changed over the course of this podcast
• Work for free is still however something to be avoided
• SFWA has also changed… and improved!
• Print is still alive!
• Pip’s patreon got started in the middle of the Shared Desk

36:37 Live shows!

• A lot of fun has been had at a lot of conventions
• Episode 75 from the SFWA Nebula Awards show. One of Tee’s favs
• Our first on the road show, was Author’s After Dark
• Demi-Con was a blast, and Tee was Guest of Honor
• Alyson Grauer we met there, and has a book out
• PC Haring showed us around

40:47 Pip can’t recall and episode

• The mysterious episode 45… the world is full of disturbing books
• Oh and it was a racist POS
• The Shared Desk could be writers behaving badly

41:52 Pip’s Favorite

• Episode 51: The ABC
• Recorded around the time of the book cover shoot. Featuring Verena Vorsatz and Christina Payton.
• Quite a memorable time

46:21 Pip gets the credit

• Tee riffs on Pip causing the whole damn thing
• So many good times, so many good friends.
• We met the Kellys just because of this podcast
• What a grand time it’s been…
• Thank you for all the support and love

If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Show art by Candy Cane Studios

Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.

Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

00:00 Introduction

We can smell episode 100! We had to stream this twice though….

01:22 Into 2020

• Tee and Pip have plenty of plans
• Time for prohibition?
• Check out where we will be in 2020
• Tee helped found RavenCon. So we will be there this year!
• Escape Velocity in Washington DC

• Tee guesses wrong
• Gencon bound!!
• We had a time a great time last year, looking forward to more shenanigans in Indy
• Next up Key City Steampunk Festival which is now in Gettysburg, PA
• And then venturing into Florida, as Guests of Honor at Necronomicon in Tampa Florida!
• Tee heads back to TwitchCon
• Twitch for Dummies is now a year old!
• These old bones can manage this schedule
• Tee and Pip have a few requirements for traveling to events…
• …but they will do a Shared Desk LIVE!
• Asking the organizers of events works- but get in advance
• Our writers’ retreat is coming up… and this year, we’re heading to the beach!

16:49 Talking Publications

• Pip has a schedule… with a nebulous section
• Didn’t work out so well last year, but that is why we go with nebulous
• Chuck Wendig’s post on write what you want, because everything is falling apart.
• Pip and Tee put a lot of expectations and pressure on writing last year.
• However Tee’s 2020 started off with a bang.
• Podcasting for Dummies is going
• Discord for Dummies is currently under construction, but Tee just lost a month
• So let’s write what we want to write.
• Pip *sigh*
• The Weald, is Pip’s current WIP. A fantasy novel set in Regency England
• At the same time, she’s editing the first book of the Spectral Protectors. The Fierce Dead– now available for pre-order
• Pip and Tee argue about The Secret of the Monkey God release date
• Pip also plans book Two of the Spectral Protectors.
• Death and the Falcon or Falcon and the RAVEN, the story of Henrietta Falcon and Sophia del Morte are planned for the end of the year.
• Tee’s heart is calling him to write, Villainy LLC, a story of the B List superheroes. Setting it in Richmond, VA
• Check in with us at the end of the year
• Pip wants Tee to get back to enjoying the pure creativity of just writing
• Tee is still thinking about retooling Dope story.
• Pip suggests putting away a project for awhile to give perspective

• Pip is resetting, by making sure to read every day.
• No faux Jane Austen though.

31:35 Writers Off the Clock: The Witcher

• Pip wants to find a show where Henry Cavill takes a bath
• Tee brings an ear worm
• Based on the books from Poland
• Prepare for the cosplaying!!
• Party City wig was replaced… thank goodness!!
• The separate timelines took a bit to work out
• Episode 4 was a little wobbly… but we forgive them
• Pip starts streaming Philippa’s Freaky Friday playing Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Check in on Friday nights for fun times…
• Stealing from peasants is part of the story… morally wrong as that is.

If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.

Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

00:00 Introduction

Pip and Tee are ready for the New Year, and we’re kicking off with a show many tongues are wagging about: The RWA Bruhaha Extraordinaire!

Above you got the live open mic segments and tangents a-plenty, and we’d love to see you come by and visit us when EPISODE 100 rolls around. Be there for the fun and we will gladly take your questions LIVE on stream.

Join us for a good time as we take a good look at what is going on with the RWA.

01:05 The Romance Writers of America

• Tee and Pip are not romance writers, but they have an RT Award, and write stories with romantic elements
• America is changing and so should its writing.
• Check out Claire Ryan’s ongoing chronicling of the situation
• It all kicked off when Suzan Tisdale filed an ethics complaint against Courtney Milan
• It spiraled from there into resignations, cancelling of events, and people cancelling their memberships
• Just own your mistakes.
• Now the original complainant says she only ever wanted an apology
• But at the same time threatened legal action!
• Karen wants to see the manager!!
• Another example of keeping your receipts…
• Presidents have toppled…

• Chuck Tingle got involved. Nora Roberts got involved
• Pip The best disinfectant is sunshine.
• Hopefully there will be good things from this
• SFWA offers a safe haven for those with spec fic elements
• The whole affair has esculated akin to the Thing

• Our genre has had plenty of its own problems too…
• But what will rise from the ashes…
• But wait… the original complainant has remembered something differently
• What is the takeaway from all this?
• Diversity and representation does matter
• Pip is dealing that right now. The Fierce Dead coming in February.
• Sensitivity readers are important.
• Also check out Writing the Other
• The balance is delicate
• Keep your receipts
• And we’ll see how this all plays out

27:38 We’re in the Kitchen

• Don’t freak out, we’re detoxing
• Yes, we’re aware we have livers, but this is for something else

• Stevia is not Tee’s thing
• Monkfruit all the things!!
• Tee is caffeine free… for now, but it’ll be first up!
• Lots… and lots… of water…

36:50 Wrap Up

• Thanks again to Claire Ryan for chronicling all the RWA shenanigans
• Don’t forget to join us live on Twitch, we have a post show not in the podcast

If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us… 703.791.1701
[email protected]
[email protected]
…and social media, of course.

Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on Spotify,  iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.

Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.