The Writing Apothecary Podcast

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Today's episode of The Writing Process is with a kick arse romance author who has overcome so much. Chatting with Allison A. Andrews was a hoot and it was so fun to be the first podcast she ever did. Since this podcast she has come out with a spicier series under the pen name of Antoinette W May.

Dive into what her process is like and much like everyone else she is just as chaotic as you think when it comes to her writing. 

Tell me what you think, and while you're at it chuck her a follow.

Bio:

Allison A. Andrews is a wife and girl-mum based in Brisbane, Australia who loves to write swoon-worthy book boyfriends and strong heroines. Having always dreamed of one day being an author, it was a dream come true when her first book, Illusions, was released in July 2023, and now she’s pinching herself that she has 5 books published and many more to come. 

She dreams of the day when she can leave the corporate world of insurance, where she currently works as an operations manager in a brokerage, and focus all her work time on the lives of the characters who are screaming for their stories to be told.

Website: www.allisonaandrews.com

Social media links: Instagram 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Whew we are jumping back into our normal program but this may be one of the last topics we tackle together - because we're about to change it up in here. I'm hoping that this will be able to help me figure out how to get what i need out. 

The Writing Apothecary is about to change, ever so slightly, but we have an episode on that coming up soon. I'm so excited to see where we can. 

But for today, we're tackling our introduction to editing - many will already know a little bit about it but we go into the different steps of editing and what they entail.

The lessons will be broken up into developmental edits (known as dev edits) and then copy, line and proof edits. We will be finishing up with an interview with my editor, Brittany Bittossi of BLD Editing. 

I hope that you enjoy the episode, let me know what you think. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Today's Writing Process episode with fantasy author Elisse Hay. This chat was so much fun and listening to Elisse's writing process and how she tackles her stories is so much fun - as someone who is neurodivergent it was fun to get a sneak peak into how she makes it work for what she needs. 

Fun fact: Elisse was the first indie author that I bought when I first starting buying indie books and it was such a fan girl moment. 

Author Bio:

Elisee Hay is the author of Something Wicked and Fate Untethered. She have no patience for bullshit, lots of words to share, and love fiercely.

...but there isn't room in her life for toxicity. Give her big, wholesome and heartfelt! 

She lives, works and learns on the Wadawurrung lands of the Kulin Nation and acknowledge that the First Nations' people have a deep and magical connection to the land, which they have never ceded. 

Links:

Website

Amazon

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Today's Writing Process episode is with Fantasy author Abbigal Madder aka Abbie as I know her. I did this interview long before I really knew Abbie and she is such a hoot to be around and chat to. 

Through all of these podcast I ask the same questions and get such different responses from every one of my guests, which is why I love writers so damn much. 

Abbie's approach is also chaotic and planster coded. I would love to know what you think about it. 

About Abbie:

Abigail Mader is an indie author from Australia. She loves the fantasy genre, getting lost in magical worlds since she was little. Her favourite author as a child was Enid Blyton, and today her love of fantasy has grown. When she's am not reading or writing, Abigail loves spending time with her family and days out in the beautiful Australian countryside and beaches, soaking in the natural beauty and finding inspiration for her next story.

She also is at the helm of the AUS/NZ Indie Bookclub and apart of the Aussie Indie Hub team. 

Abigail's  Links:

Website

Instagram

Threads

Tiktok

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Today's Writing Process episode is with Fantasy author KJ Burrage and this was the second time we had to record it because my computer lost the original audio, but it was just as fun the second time around. 

Through all of these podcast I ask the same questions and get such different responses from every one of my guests, which is why I love writers so damn much. 

Kylie's approach is chaotic and planster coded. I would love to know what you think about it. 

About Kylie

She's an author that currently calls tropical North Queensland, Australia home. She has been developing her craft since she was ten years old. Alas, her original floppy discs from 1995 have disappeared!

Kylie currently live with my three young daughters, a fiery red-head and identical twins. As a little girl, she dreamed that she would become just like CS Lewis. When Kylie grew up, she decided she wanted to be JRR Tolkien. Now, she learnt to be content with being myself. KJ Burrage suits me just fine.

She have a Bachelor Degree in Primary Education with a major in literacy and worked as a primary school teacher. Along with teaching she have also been a co-owner in her own laser engraving business, designing customised and unique giftware.

Life can be unpredictable (and unfair). After the sudden and tragic death of her husband, she returned to her passion of the written word. Kylie first began to write picture books for her girls to help them understand and come to terms with their loss. She continued to write.

 Links:

Website: https://www.kjburrage.com

Social media links: Tiktok, Instagram

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Today's Writing Process episode is with paranormal author JA Jude who is not only a fabulous author but also a talented artist. She draws all of her own art and does her covers, which is absolutely stunning!

Through all of these podcast I ask the same questions and get such different responses from every one of my guests, which is why I love writers so damn much. 

Jude's approach is chaotic but so poetic. I would love to know what you think about it. 

About JA Jude:

J.A. Jude is a Melbourne-based indie author and artist who creates for the dreamers out there.

Sick of wondering ‘what if’, she began putting her love for writing and creating into writing her own book. A sucker for love and escapism, her stories are centred around romance with strong elements of the supernatural and fantasy worlds that shaped much of her life from a young age. 

She loves writing books that have that conversational, best friend tone that feels like they’re spilling all the tea. 

Links:

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/LuckorMoxie

Amazon Supernova AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0645818305

Amazon Stargazer AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0645818321

Amazon Supernova US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645818305

Amazon Stargazer US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645818321

Follow her on:

Tiktoke @authorjajude

Instagram: @byjajude

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary Podcast and back to our writing process section of the show. Today we have the amazing Mazrine L Amaris, who I adore, this episode was recorded a good year or so ago and we are now amazing friends. She is such a wonderful and thoughtful person and author and I can't wait for you guys to hear her chat. 

I'm patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting book 3 so make sure you read up on book 1 and 2, and whatever you do? Don't hound her...it makes her do the opposite of write. (I'll be over here pining for it, don't mind me.)

Tell me what you think about it. Head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com to tell me about it. Or hit us the socials.

About Mazrine:

Mazrine L Amaris is the Vietnamese-Australian author of the Two Realms series.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, she’s just here to have fun. She’s a creative at heart who enjoys writing stories she wants to read and making music she wants to listen to. 

The pandemic catapulted her desire to dream up a story worth reading. Woven with her lived experiences, a bit of magic and a pinch of spice, the Two Realms series is a world she hopes is worth escaping to.

Her links:

Website: https://mazrinelamaris.com/ 

Social media links: https://www.tiktok.com/@mazrinelamaris https://www.instagram.com/mazrinelamaris/ 

https://www.facebook.com/mazrinelamaris/ 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary Podcast and another Writing Process Podcast. Today we have the lovely ML Jewell, I met Mel at Supanova in 2023 and she has become a permanent fixture in my life since. This was so insightful and exciting to interview her about her writing process and her books. 

Author Bio:

M.L Jewell, or as most people call her, Mel, is a local Brisbane Indie Author. October 2023 marked the release of her first novel, Rise of the Witches. A dark adult urban fantasy about a small town plagued with flesh-eating monsters, government-suppressed secrets and magic.

Mel enjoys crafting stories that aim to immerse readers in fantastical worlds teeming with magic, mythical beasts, and tales of love.

Mel and her husband, Alex, live in Australia along with their two children. When Mel isn’t writing or reading, she’s spending time with her family. 

Website: https://www.mljewellauthor.com.au/ 

Social media links: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mljewell.author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.mljewell/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mljewell.author

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary and to another return guest and my bestie Peta Hawker, she was one of the first guests on the podcast and I love any chance I get to chat to her.

Her process has changed dramatically from when we first recorded this so it's fun to revist it all.

Peta's Official Bio
My daily grind involves content writing and knowledge management for a large organisation. When I’m not attached to my work computer, I like to squeeze our three cats (much to their chagrin), engage in linguistic wrestling matches with my partner or roll around on my yoga mat. A degree in writing and publishing and a diploma in yoga teaching remind me that I chose to quantify my passions with expensive pieces of paper, but I have no regrets about either one. 

Fantasy captured my heart when I was young, and it serves as the majority of what I read and write. Let’s throw in a good dash of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a sprinkle of Jonathan Safran Foer and a pinch of Lewis Carroll and we’ve made a meal fit for my queendom.  

Peta's Website: https://www.petahawker.com/ 
Peta's Social: @author.peta.hawker

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Come inside the curtain of Supanova Brisbane - most lovingly knowns as Brisnova - and chat to the plethora of indie authors and a few traditonally published authors there. This was recorded in November 2024. My second supanova and honestly, probably the most chilled and exhausting event I've ever done. It spanned over three days from 10-6, which as a self proclaimed ADHD introvert that was a lot of masking and talking. But so well worth it. 

This year, I could have sworn that there were so many more authors than there was last year and we all had a ball, from seeing our names on a t-shirt, to hyping each other up, to helping people move booths mid con and having dinner all together. 

It was the start of something amazing and I now call some of these amazing authors close friends.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont