Join us for a brand-new installment of the Working Writer Podcast! Today, we're excited to feature Trinity McFadden, a distinguished senior literary agent with a deep commitment to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices in the publishing industry.

Trinity shared her journey from her early love of literature, through various roles in publishing, to her current impactful role in agenting where she champions innovative and untested authors.

This episode is packed with invaluable advice for both authors and industry professionals. Don't miss it!

Order A Well-Trained Wife! 

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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠ 

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TikTok : @tialevingswriter⁠⁠

Connect with Trinity McFadden:

• Website: Trinity McFadden 

• Instagram: @trinityjmcfadden

Welcome to another episode of The Working Writer Podcast! I had the fantastic opportunity to speak with Cait West, author of Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy. We explored how our religious backgrounds impact our writing, touching on themes like horror in literature and the balance between creativity and darker story elements.

Cait shared her journey of faith deconstruction and finding her voice amidst patriarchal pressures. We discussed the emotional and technical sides of book publishing, the challenges of recounting personal tales, and the importance of managing emotional energy during the creative process.

Tune in to hear compelling stories of confronting past traumas, embracing healing, and the ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or navigating your own path, this episode offers enlightening perspectives on harnessing your narrative amidst life's complexities.

Order A Well-Trained Wife! Free Fundie Cheatsheet ⁠⁠

The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠

TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ 

Connect with Cait West: 

• Rift : A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy 

• Website: Cait West 

• Instagram: @caitwestwrites 

• Twitter: @caitwestwrites

Bethny Ricks is the author of the memoir, FACE FORWARD : RECLAIMING HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART.

Face Forward is the story of how Bethny navigated failure and setbacks with unwavering faith. We talked about the importance of finding an agent who truly believes in your work and the impact of personality traits on creativity. Bethany shared her powerful journey from corporate HR to becoming a published poet, emphasizing the value of solitude, self-advocacy, and the freedom writing brings.

We also explored maintaining boundaries, the need for rest, and prioritizing genuine connections over social media metrics. Don't miss this episode; it's packed with insights on resilience, creativity, and living authentically. 

Pre-order ⁠A Well-Trained Wife⁠! 

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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com 

⁠Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠

TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠

Connect with Bethny Ricks:

• Face Forward : Reclaiming Hope When Everything Falls Apart 

• Website: Bethny Ricks 

• Instagram: @bethnyricks

You may want to start ironing your pajamas after this episode! Topics include: opening creative space, building more brain, time management, anchor clients, productive rest, and a quantum leap for writing.

Yi Shun Lai, author of A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic, joins us to discuss her novel about an American suffragist who embarks on an Antarctic expedition during the Golden Age of exploration. Her journey evolves from a quest for equality to a fight for survival after their ship is crushed in ice.

Our conversation covers the disparities faced by writers of color, the lack of ADHD research in girls, and Yi Shun's upcoming books set in the Antarctic and Death Valley. We also delve into productivity tips, the power of a "second brain," and the impact of cultural conditioning on creativity. Don’t miss this enriching discussion—tune in to hear more!

Pre-order A Well-Trained Wife! 

Free Fundie Cheatsheet ⁠⁠

The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠

TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠

Connect with Yi Shun Lai:

• A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic 

• Website: Yi Shun Lai 

• Instagram: @yishunlai 

• Twitter: @gooddirt 

Mentioned Resources:

• Building A Second Brain 

• Tiago Forte

Athena Dixon is a poet, essayist, and editor. And today is a HUGE day for her--her latest book, THE LONELINESS FILES, releases today! Happy launch day, Athena!

Additionally, her work is included in the anthology The BreakBeat Poets Vol.2: Black Girl Magic and her craft work appears in Getting to the Truth: The Craft and Practice of Creative Nonfiction. Athena is an alumna of VONA, Callaloo, and Tin House and has received a prose fellowship from The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Athena now resides in Philadelphia.

Our convo explores the realities of being a working writer on a single income, how to find clearings in a calendar year to focus on deep writing and maintain project diversity. I hope you enjoy listening.

Connect with Athena:

AthenaDixon.com

On Instagram: @the_muse_paper

Connect with Tia:

Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠⁠

The Anti-Fundamentalist: ⁠⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠**@tialevingswriter**⁠⁠

TikTok : ⁠⁠**@tialevingswriter**⁠⁠

Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠⁠

Author Melanie Brooks recently released her memoir of growing up forced to hide her father's painful secret-- his HIV/AIDS diagnosis after a blood transfusion. Join us for this broad conversation that shares the journey of writing A HARD SILENCE, as well as:

Connect with Melanie:

MelanieBrooks.com

@MelanieJMBrooksWriter on social media

Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠⁠

The Anti-Fundamentalist : ⁠⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@tialevingswriter⁠⁠

TikTok : ⁠⁠@tialevingswriter⁠⁠

Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠⁠

Ryan G. Van Cleve is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, teacher, and writing coach. They run the creative writing major at the Ringling College of Art and Design which has an annual free-to-enter creative writing contest for high school students. They serve as Editor at Bushel & Peck, which publishes exciting titles for kids, tweens, and teens.

They're also not-so-secretly known as the Picture Book Whisperer™–the industry’s go-to person to help celebrities and high-profile clients write and sell children’s books.

In this episode, Ryan shares a lifetime of hard-earned wisdom for every writer's practical challenge: how to pay the bills as a writer. We discuss maintaining multiple streams of income, setting realistic goals and expectations, and how writing opportunities you may not have considered can empower your overall career.

Find Ryan at the links above or at RyanGVanCleve.com

Writing Memoir for Dummies

The Weekend Book Proposal

Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror for Dummies

Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠

The Anti-Fundamentalist : ⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@tialevingswriter⁠

TikTok : ⁠@tialevingswriter⁠

Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠

Laura Cathcart Robbins is the author of the "quitlit" memoir, STASH: MY LIFE IN HIDING. Stash is Laura’s story of addiction, motherhood, imposter syndrome, being a woman of color, divorce, and privilege. Our conversation digs into her book journey and we had some frank and honest dialog about book promotion and the hard work of publishing well.

We also delved into writing and relationships, what it means to be a writer, and the power of a great query letter––which in Laura's case, was a powerful portal to success.

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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com

Instagram: @tialevingswriter

TikTok : @tialevingswriter

Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar

Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins :

Alycia Ripley is an actor novelist, screenwriter, and director with over 20 years of experience in PR and brand marketing. In the months since we recorded this, Alycia directed a film she also wrote, currently in final production. In our chat, we cover a ton of working-writer topics, from industry trends to favorite software. One of my favorite things about Alycia is that she shares the insider tips! Support her projects through her patreon and I hope you enjoy the podcast! 

I met Laura on Instagram through her work educating and nurturing survivors of religious trauma. Over the years she's become a trusted friend and an incredible resource on all things trauma-healing. I wanted her for the show because of the volume of thoughtful, conscientious content she generates along with being a full-time therapist and running a business. Laura's a working writer extraordinaire and I'm excited to share her with podcast listeners. 

Here's more about her: 

Laura Anderson is a Licensed Psychotherapist with a private practice in Nashville, TN and an Abuse and Trauma Resolution Coach for clients outside of Tennessee. Her primary clientele deal with complex trauma including intimate partner violence, sexual abuse and assault and religious trauma. Laura heads the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, is the co-founder of the Religious Trauma Institute and received her PhD with her research focused on the experience of living in a healed body after sexual trauma.

Laura is the author of two educational manuals: one on the topic of domestic violence and the other for clinicians and other healers regarding religious trauma, including how to work with clients who are hoping to heal from religious abuse and trauma. When she’s not working or writing, Laura enjoys spending time with her dog, Phoebe, hiking, being outdoors and spending time with her friends.