In this episode of The Book Deal Podcast, hosted by Natasha Rai, multi-talented writer and tsunami scientist Kaya Wilson discusses their unique publishing journey. Their debut memoir, 'As Beautiful As Any Other,' was widely acclaimed, and Kaya offers insightful advice on developing a writing practice, the importance of setting boundaries, and the collaborative but challenging editing process. They also share experiences from significant events like the Sydney Writers' Festival and provide a glimpse into their upcoming queer coming-of-age novel, 'Romeo, A Tale of Four Jumps.' Kaya emphasizes the value of strategic planning, the role of grants, and the emotional complexity of writing memoirs versus fiction.

Our debut in the spotlight this week is Steve Minon, whose literary fiction novel, First Name Second Name, was released on 4 March 2025 with UQP.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:39 Meet Kaya Wilson: Author and Scientist
01:13 Kaya's Elevator Pitch and Writing Style
03:45 The Importance of Boundaries in Memoir Writing
08:41 Navigating the Publication Journey
10:27 Finding and Working with an Agent
17:45 The Role of Competitions and Fellowships

16:00 Steve Minon's novel: First Name Second Name

19:22 The Waiting Game: Resubmission and Acceptance
20:47 Navigating the Editing Process
23:15 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Legal Edits
24:15 Memoir Release and Festival Experience
27:29 Transitioning to Fiction Writing
30:15 Balancing Work and Writing
36:06 Tips for Emerging Writers
37:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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