The TufFish Show

Welcome Stephanie Landsem to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Part of writing a book is determining how to structure it, and if it’s fiction, how you develop engaging and complex characters. In this conversation with Stephanie Landsem, we talk about how she accomplished this in two different genres - biblical fiction and historical fiction - while leveraging and keeping real and documented events intact. Stephanie shared how she worked with her beta readers to ensure the reveals she wanted in the story were ideally timed as well as how she worked through writing roadblocks.

Stephanie Landsem writes about women in history for women who love history. Stephanie has traveled on five continents and dozens of countries. When she can’t travel, she reads fiction and history and dreams of her next adventure -- whether it be in person or on the pages of her novels. She makes her home in Lake Elmo, Minnesota with her husband of 33 years, occasional adult children, two cats, a dog, and a tortoise named Moe.

Visit - https://stephanielandsem.com/

Book purchase links:

Code Name Edelweiss: https://stephanielandsem.com/code-name-edelweiss/

In A Far-Off Land: https://stephanielandsem.com/in-a-far-off-land/

The Living Water Series: https://stephanielandsem.com/books/the-well/

Welcome back Daniella Rushton to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

The first time Daniella Rushton and I chatted, it was all about world building tips as well as dealing with doubt. This time, we talked about how challenges can be conduits to creativity and how empowering and therapeutic writing is. Daniella also shared a fabulous way of how she markets her book that took her main character and book cover to a whole new level!

Daniella Marie Rushton is British, wife to Nicholas and mother to Bertie. In 2017, her son challenged her to channel her renowned imagination into writing a book. The Panther Tales fantasy series was born.

The Watchers and the Gifted Ones, book one in the series, published in 2020.

The Queen and the Powerful Pendant, the sequel, published in 2022.

She has since gone onto collate a collection of fairy tales, of which one has been published online, as well as a collection of surreal poetry, which she hopes to have published someday soon.

Her brand, ‘Fantasy, Fairy Tales and Poetry’ was developed and is inspired by her Christian faith as well as living a thoroughly creative life. This belief, the core message of The Panther Tales, has led to her being featured on numerous podcasts, radio, as well as summits discussing and sharing her literary life.

Visit - http://www.thepanthertales.com

Book purchase link - The Queen and the Powerful Pendant

Welcome Jenn Hanson-dePaula from Mixtus Media to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Do you cringe when you think about marketing or having to market your book? Are you unsure what to talk about or how often so you reach your ideal audience? If so, let this in-depth, chock full of goodness conversation with Jenn Hanson-dePaula at Mixtus Media help you reframe how to think of and approach marketing, especially in social media. Jenn shared so much wisdom including the phases of book marketing, creating connections, and the difference between marketing and sales (hint: they’re cousins, not twins).

Jenn Hanson-dePaula is a marketing and social media expert who has been working with authors, musicians, and other creatives for over 20 years.

Jenn got her start in the music industry working for Essential Records in 2000 serving as the label publicist. In 2001 she was asked to join EMI CMG to serve as label publicist. For five years she helped musicians take their career to new heights, and actually has a platinum record to prove it.

In 2005 she ventured out on her own to start BookEnd Media, which was formed to serve the independent music and author communities. As the music and publishing landscapes changed and social media outlets became more and more prominent, she refocused the company, naming it Mixtus Media. She decided to concentrate on authors and book publishing to help her clients form a deeper and more powerful online presence. She has worked with a wide range of authors - from New York Times best selling authors to self-published authors starting from scratch.

Jenn is a 2000 graduate of Greenville University with a degree in Communication: Public Relations. In 2012 she was named "Outstanding Young Alumna" by Greenville University for her work in marketing and entrepreneurial ventures.

Visit - www.mixtusmedia.com

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/the-author-circle

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/tools

https://www.mixtusmedia.com/consulting

Welcome Donna Norman-Carbone to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about what draws you into a book, a strong and enticing chapter one is key, yet not easily done on the first pass. Donna shares the process she went through to get to this coveted first chapter status including how she went from five point of views to one and why. Another piece to the puzzle is knowing when it’s done, and Donna shares some insights to help here too.

Donna Norman-Carbone’s debut, All That is Sacred, a women’s fiction released June 6, 2023, and was published by Red Adept Publishing. A member of the WFWA and CAPA and a tour guide for Bookish Road Trip, Donna also teaches English in CT where she resides with her husband and family. She enjoys reading and traveling.

Visit https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

Book purchase link - All That is Sacred

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

One of the main messages in my business is about owning your space and letting your light shine. I wholeheartedly believe that there's only one YOU, and your gifts, message and story need to be shared. And I get how nerve wracking that can be. The language we use, especially to ourselves, about ourselves is powerful. The more you shifted your language toward success and believing you will do well, the more you will increase your confidence and it will show.

You are a gifted storyteller - your words can transport your reader to new worlds, new adventures, new ways of thinking, and even new mindset shifts for themselves and what they believe is possible. Your words are powerful for them, but also for you.

Visit - http://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Welcome Grace Sammon back to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

So much has happened since Grace and I last chatted on the show, including three anthology books that she’s also rapid launching. I was so intrigued that I wanted to have her back to talk about how the anthologies really came together and how she’s applying lessons learned from book one’s efforts into book three’s, all in a relatively short period of time.

Grace Sammon is recognized in “Who’s Who in Education” and “Who’s Who in Literature.” Grace utilized skills built up over decades to re-invent herself with her award-winning fourth book and debut novel - The Eves. She is the brainchild behind the Launch Pad Countdown series on writing, publishing, and marketing your book. Grace hosts two radio shows, The Storytellers and LAUNCH PAD. Always committed to creative collaborations, Grace is the founder of Author Talk Network; a member of both the Women’s Fiction Writers’ Association and the Women’s National Book Association; and she serves as the Director of Membership for the reader/writer online community “Bookish Road Trip.” She currently lives on Florida’s west coast with her husband and a small herd of imaginary llamas.

Visit www.gracesammon.NET

Book purchase links -

For Writing:

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Pad-Countdown-Writing-Your-ebook/dp/B0BX1GGTD7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RIJDW2L3HKA3&keywords=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+writing+your+book&qid=1683056144&sprefix=launch+pad%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

For Publishing:

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Pad-Countdown-Publishing-Your-ebook/dp/B0C3G7KPV9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W0N486T81SLP&keywords=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+publishing+your+book&qid=1683056212&sprefix=launch+pad+the+countdown+to+publishing+your+book%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

For Marketing:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/launchpad-mary-helen-sheriff/1143000453?ean=9781637773765

Welcome back Barbara Conrey to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable.

When my previous guest Barbara Conrey suggested we talk again about how it’s never too late to follow your dream, I couldn’t wait to have her back on the show. Barbara shared in this episode how age is just a number, her lessons between writing book one to now getting ready to publish book three, and how volunteering has helped her grow her author business.

Barbara Conrey is the USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, her debut, published on August 4, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Liza Fleissig represents her at the Liza Royce Agency. Her sophomore novel, My Secret to Keep, released on August 23, 2022.

Barbara is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Women’s National Book Association, and Author Talk Network. She also moderates the online book club for the Facebook Group Bookish Road Trip.

Travel is her passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Her greatest love is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. Barbara lives in Pennsylvania, close to family and friends.

Visit - https://www.barbaraconreyauthor.com

Book purchase links:

My Secret to Keep

Nowhere Near Goodbye

One of the main messages in my business is about owning your space and letting your light shine. I wholeheartedly believe that there's only one YOU, and your gifts, message and story need to be shared. And I get how nerve wracking that can be.

Your creativity is a gift and will require you to get visible to make the impact you want to have, so let this solo bite-size episode offer some perspective, encouragement and support to help you trust the creativity in you.

Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, developmental editor, coach and accomplished multi-genre author who leverages her 20-year corporate career, undergraduate Communications degree, and M.B.A. to help creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.

Having spoken to over 5,000 elementary school students about courage and confidence as well as being host of The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them. Tapping into your full potential means that joy, purpose, and possibility are coming together through you.

Visit - www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free tips to help you get started with podcast guesting or speaking: www.jennifermilius.com/start

TufFish: https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish

Welcome Hope Gibbs to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about content editing your manuscript, it can feel like a huge undertaking. And when you need to cut thousands of words to tighten and strengthen the story, how do you know where to start? What to keep? What to omit? If these questions are on your mind, then let this conversation with Hope Gibbs be a fabulous resource. Hope shares what she did over the course of several rounds of content editing to answer these very questions, so that she ended up with an even stronger story than where she started.

Hope Gibbs grew up in rural Scottsville, Kentucky. As the daughter of an English teacher, she was raised to value the importance of good storytelling from an early age. Today, she’s an avid reader of women’s fiction. Drawn to multi-generational family sagas, relationship issues, and the complexities of being a woman, she translates those themes into her own writing.

Hope lives in Tennessee with her husband and her persnickety Shih Tzu, Harley. She is also the mother of five. In her downtime, she loves playing tennis, singing karaoke, curling up on her favorite chair with a book, and playing board games.

Hope has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, a Bookish Road Trip Tour Guide, and a member of the Women's National Book Association.

Visit - https://www.authorhopegibbs.com
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Where-Grass-Grows-Blue-Gibbs-ebook/dp/B0BWL189GB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PV2RZ21DCO8C&keywords=hope+gibbs&qid=1677178237&s=digital-text&sprefix=hope+gibbs%2Cdigital-text%2C78&sr=1-1

Welcome Brooke Adams Law to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fabulous deep conversation with Brooke Adams Law is perfect if you’ve been in your head with getting your book out into the world. When you’re working on something that’s bigger than you, fear will not only show up, it will remind you that it’s there too. So no matter what phase you’re in (writing, editing, publishing, promoting), let the wisdom Brooke shares help you get refocused, grounded and moving to your next level.

Brooke Adams Law is an award-winning author and founder of the Writing Brave movement. Brooke helps creative, intuitive women claim their author identity so that they can start, finish and publish brave, dazzling books.

Brooke’s debut novel Catchlight won the Fairfield Book Prize, was named a Best Indie Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews, and was featured on Good Morning America’s blog.

You can visit Brooke’s website at http://www.wearewritingbrave.com and take her free quiz to discover YOUR writing routine personality type.

Visit - https://www.wearewritingbrave.com/
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Catchlight-Brooke-Law/dp/1949116182