This is the Holy Trinity of the romance-writing world; if you don’t have your “GMC,” you don’t have a readable book. Meredith walks Pru through the fundamentals using (so entertaining!) “The Wizard of Oz” as an example. Then we answer Merry’s CRITICAL FIVE QUESTIONS for “The Princess Bride.” Two GREAT storytelling examples!

Meredith explains to Pru how to get reviews of a book onto Amazon and other book-buying sites. Spoiler alert: It’s not just begging your mom! Smart, practical information that any author can use. Phew!

Pru describes the confusion, excitement, and error messages involved in uploading her novel to Amazon…and IngramSpark…and Kobo…and Draft2Digital…and Apple. Well, not really Apple, since Apple now needs two full weeks to verify her taxpayer ID number, which, are you freaking KIDDING ME??

Classic, timeless, unbelievably consistent across cultures, the hero’s journey is all about transformation. After hearing Meredith describe the sequence, Pru figures she’s on about step two of her hero’s journey, and is grateful for the Merry who gives her the gift of wisdom. Maybe by step twelve, she’ll be worthy of the gift!

Having been studying about author websites, Pru volunteers to lead this podcast, trusting (correctly!) that any novice ignorance will be corrected by the wise Meredith. And then—o! Marvelous!—Pru actually tells Merry one tiny detail that Merry didn’t know! What are the odds?!

What makes a character pop off the page? Can you just have a nice guy who treats people well and had a happy childhood? MUST there be trauma there somewhere?? The answers make Pru unhappy, but Merry is DETERMINED! Get your characters up that tree and THROW ROCKS AT THEM! Make them miserable!

How many ways can you measure your success (or failure)? At what point do you know if you’re doing well…and does that answer change over time? Does a novice author value the same things as an experienced author? Lots of questions from Pru (as usual!) along with calming wisdom from Merry.

How do you find beta readers? What do you say to them? Why would they help you? And how do you find reviewers? Pru gasps at her lack of knowledge and Merry soothes the wrinkled brow. All the answers are right here. Phew!

In which things start simply with actual dollar signs and concrete goals and then spiral wildly out of control, leaving Pru slack-jawed (as usual). Book Bub, Amazon and Facebook ads, boosting posts, web hosting and email service providers--Merry walks Pru through it all. Knowledge is power, after all!

In which Pru and Merry find common accord on the subject of the Oxford comma but nearly come to blows over the concept of “theme,” which is (so far) WAY above Pru’s pay grade. Also: at last! A reason to justify the purchase of all these delicious highlighters!