How do you write fast-paced, high-tech sci-fi that gets kids hooked on reading?

Debut children’s author, Steve Blackman joins us to talk about his new middle-grade novel, Zero Override!  Steve breaks down his writing process, how video games and classic sci-fi influence his world-building, navigating Middle Grade vs. YA, and his journey to landing a publishing deal with Scholastic.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Author, illustrator, and content creator Christy Anne Jones is here ahead of the release of her debut cosy fantasy novel, Theodora’s Tea Shop.

Christy pulls back the curtain on how she blended 1920s modernist influences with illegal magic syndicates and deep female friendships to craft a story that sits right in the sweet spot of cozy and dark fantasy. She also chats about her YouTube series where she tests out the writing routines of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Dan Brown, and Brandon Sanderson.

Plus we have an honest, behind-the-scenes discussion about the business of books. From Christy's first manuscript dying in the querying trenches to navigating an international publishing auction with Hachette, she shares priceless advice on marketability, rewriting entire drafts from memory, and being part of a creative team.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Are you an aspiring author wondering if indie publishing is the right route for your book?

In this episode of the Write and Wrong podcast, Jamie sits down with Rachel Pattinson—an independent children’s author, publisher, chartered librarian, and winner of the prestigious Hachette Children’s Novel Award (2023).

Rachel talks about the inspiration behind her debut middle-grade mystery novel, Seven: Distracted Detective and pulls back the curtain on her unique journey from winning a major traditional publishing award to successfully launching her own indie imprint, Aralyn Press.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Are you ready to take the next step in your traditional publishing journey? Literary agent Flo Sandelson of Curtis Brown joins us this week to share invaluable insider advice for aspiring authors. Flo chats about her path to becoming an agent, what it’s like working alongside Felicity Blunt and her incredible list of authors, and exactly what she looks for when reviewing a manuscript submission.

If you are currently writing a book, perfecting your fiction book proposal, or getting ready for querying literary agents, this episode is packed with tips on how to get published and how to catch an agent's eye. Tune in to find out what kinds of fresh voices and stories Flo is planning on building her list around—and learn how to make your own query letter stand out from the slush pile!

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Literary agent, Lauren Gardner of Bell Lomax Moreton is here to chat about how she became an agent, how she looks at queries and cover letters and a few things that she's looking to add to her list!

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

What happens when a book "dies on submission"?

Indie romcom author Mike Lawson discusses some of the difficult realities of the publishing industry and how he channeled his 17-year cabin crew career into his queer rom-com Winging It. He explains why he split with his first agent and accidentally landed a new one. There's also a good chat about how Mike has navigated self-publishing with more confidence on his second time around.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

What happens when your day job as a medical historian collides with epic fantasy?

Lindsey Byrd joins us to chat about finishing her fantasy duology, A Tale of Two Crowns with the recent release of the second novel, The Moon Blessed King.

Lindsey breaks down her high-stakes magic system that was inspired by real-world healthcare inequalities and the difference between fantasy romance and romantasy. Lindsey talks about being a reformed pantser and explains how her plotting style has evolved over the years.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Discover how inaugural Libraro Prize winner Donna Fisher is tackling cancel culture in her new novel Sheep's Clothing, and how the platform that discovered her is removing traditional publishing gatekeepers.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

What happens when real-world political anger sparks a dark fantasy trilogy? Isabelle Mongeau discusses her debut novel, The Debtor's Game, a dark fantasy inspired by the Palace of Versailles and American politics, where your financial debt is tattooed directly onto your skin.

Isabel shares her journey from writing unpublished crime thrillers to finding her voice in fantasy, the crucial difference between "romantasy" and her focus on political intrigue, and how she learned to stop over-outlining and trust the drafting process.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Literary fiction writer, Natalie Gregory joins us this week to chat about her debut novel and the long and unexpected journey she has been on with it through unsuccessful querying to winning the Primadonna Prize.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter