Two Lit Chicks

This episode is sponsored by REEDSY.

We're back again with self-pub author Jo Lyons,  whose first book Benidorm, Actually  was shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print prize in 2021.

Jo gives us perhaps the most practical, actionable advice we've had so far.  Have a listen and make sure you have a pen and notebook at the ready.

You can sign up to her newsletter and visit her website at www.jolyonsauthor.com for a behind the scenes look at how she cobbles together her books, get free signed copies and sneak previews of all of her upcoming novels.

Find her on:
Twitter: @J0Lyons
Instagram: @hinnywhowrites
Amazon: Books by this author

More about our sponsors
Reedsy is a publishing eco-system for writers at any stage in their publishing journey. We provide a wealth of free educational resources, encourage writers to build a creative habit with our short story contest, and offer a high-quality marketplace to find the perfect publishing professional. We’re here to support aspiring authors every step of the way as they fulfil their publishing dreams.

Check out their new HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL course with author and bestselling ghostwriter, Tom Bromley. Next course starts on September 18.

Instagram: @reedsy_HQ
Twitter: @ReedsyHQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpo0MkTAyEl73PmIVs8CQvQ 

Keep in touch
Order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here.
I love our listeners, and I want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of my podcast platforms and chat with me on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

Thank you so much for listening.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here
For a free 30-minute consultation with Jeremy about podcasting get in touch with the code TLCLOVE.

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by BookFunnel.

Jo Lyons is a huge wine and cheese enthusiast as well as the author of three bestselling romantic comedies including ‘Benidorm, actually’ which was shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Awards 2021. Jo spent years working in Turkey as a holiday rep, in the Alpes working at a ski resort and in the south of France trying not to put a vineyard out of business before, eventually arriving in Spain to administer some poor linguistic skills on the unsuspecting population of Valencia. She now splits her time between Albir in Spain and Newcastle where she regularly tries to avoid her husband and two sons in order to improve on her embarrassing grasp of social media and to write her next novel.

You can sign up to her newsletter and visit her website at www.jolyonsauthor.com for a behind the scenes look at how she cobbles together her books, get free signed copies and sneak previews of all of her upcoming novels.

Find her on:
Twitter: @J0Lyons
Instagram: @hinnywhowrites
Amazon: Books by this author

Book discussed
Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe

BookFunnel--Sponsor Details
Whether it’s delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Just like you, we’re in the business of making readers happy. Let us help you build your author career, no matter where you are in your journey.

Twitter: @BookFunnel
Instagram: @BookFunnel
Facebook: BookFunnel

Keep in touch
Order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here.
I love our listeners, and I want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of my podcast platforms and chat with me on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

Thank you so much for listening.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here
For a free 30-minute consultation with Jeremy about podcasting get in touch with the code TLCLOVE.

Support the show

It's the final face off! Who will reign victorious in the end of season quiz - Ed or Julia?
All the questions are on the main episodes of this series, so regular listeners, the challenge is also on... but even if you haven't heard all the eps, fear not, for the magic of multiple choice is (mostly) here to give us all (and especially Ed) a helping hand.

And stay on at the end for a frankly bizarre speech from Ed and a musical tribute to Ed (at least we think it's a tribute) from the ever talented mercurial hotshot Producer Jeremy.

This is Ed's last ever episode... but don't cry (or celebrate). You can keep track of his writing exploits at www.ed-crocker.com (if you have some time away from burning his effigy) and his book reviews and author interviews can be found at www.fanfiaddict.com. He's also on Twitter (@ELCrocker3), Instagram and Threads (@edwardcrocker), bluesky (@edcrocker) and TikTok (@ELCrocker3). Yes, that is too many socials, society is crumbling and we're all Tweeting about it. If you’re brave enough to let him edit your book, get a quote by emailing [email protected].

Meanwhile, Julia will return in September for more of what made this pod the best in town and will have some new surprises and amazing guests in store. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

But in the meantime, make sure to pre-order her book Chasing the Light here. It’s going to be a doozy.

Thanks for listening…. it’s been a great series and we’re grateful for all your support.

 Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Support the show

Alex Hay is back for some writing advice! The author of one of the year's most exciting debuts - Edwardian mansion heist The Housekeepers - returns to let us know, among other things, how he researches his history; what comes first, the characters or the research; what the Curtis Brown Creative writing course he attended was like; and what it's like to be given the star debut treatment from your publisher.

You can order Alex's fantabulous debut The Housekeepers here, and if you don't we'll know.

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing for as long as he can remember. He studied History at York University and wrote his dissertation on female power in royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative Write Your Novel course. The Housekeepers is his debut novel and won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. Alex lives with his husband in South East London.

Alex's Book Choices
The Railway Children  by E Nesbitt
The House of Stairs  by Ruth Rendell as Barbara Vine

See here for the relevant excerpt from the Railway Children academic article Ed was talking about... 

Buy Alex's excellent book The Housekeepers  here.

Pre-order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here.

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Melissa Addey challenges the chicks with her Startling Quiz! What does that mean? Simply that the questions are based on literary things that are startling.

Just go with it. It's a good quiz and there are lots of great book recommendations woven through it, too.

Melissa Addey Bio
Melissa Addey writes historical fiction set in Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco and 18th century China. She is a fulltime self-published author and runs workshops for authors wanting to be entrepreneurial. Her books have been selected for Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society and won the inaugural Novel London award. She has been the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, has a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in London with her husband and two children. 

If you’d like to try her writing, visit www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Join us in a chat with Melissa Addey, who aside from writing historical fiction, also campaigns with The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), who focus on ethics and excellence in self-publishing. 

ALLi recently commissioned a survey into the income of self-published authors and the results are very interesting. Melissa takes Julia and Ed through the results and Ed brings up AI...again.

You can check out the full data dump here.

If you're interested in joining ALLi, here is Julia's affiliate link (she gets a small kickback if you use it).

Melissa Addey Bio
Melissa Addey writes historical fiction set in Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco and 18th century China. She is a fulltime self-published author and runs workshops for authors wanting to be entrepreneurial. Her books have been selected for Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society and won the inaugural Novel London award. She has been the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, has a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in London with her husband and two children. 

If you’d like to try her writing, visit www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup. 

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Hold onto your prams, this one is a doozy! We are joined again by psychological thriller author, Katherine Faulkner, to quiz us on all things Mum Noir--a subject she knows very well.

This is also a great quiz for book recommendations, so make sure to check out our blog post for the whole list.

Katherine Faulkner is a novelist and journalist. After studying History at the University of Cambridge, she completed a postgraduate diploma in journalism and spent a decade working for national newspapers. She has worked as an investigative reporter and won the Cudlipp award for investigative journalism for her undercover work. She's a former head of news projects for the Sunday Times and is now a full-time freelance writer. Her debut novel Greenwich Park was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and is an international bestseller. Her new novel The Other Mothers is available now from Raven Books. Katherine lives in North London with her husband and two daughters.

Order Katherine's newest thriller The Other Mothers here
Order Katherine's previous thriller Greenwich Park here

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

Katherine Faulkner is back!

After talking us through her book choices on Monday (and her thrilling journalist background), now she is ready to impart some valuable writing advice, discuss how she explores women's friendships in her books, whether the label "mum noir" really applies to her books and the power of putting location front and centre...

Order Katherine's newest thriller The Other Mothers here
Order Katherine's previous thriller Greenwich Park here

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news.

If you do two things, leave us a (nice!) review on Itunes.

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by IngramSpark, the online self-publishing company that allows you to print, globally distribute, and manage your print and ebooks

Vote for Two Lit Chicks
You can vote for us in the Listeners' Choice Award category of the British Podcasting Awards here. It only takes a second, and we would really appreciate it, thank you! Underdog for the win.

Katherine Faulkner is a novelist and journalist. After studying History at the University of Cambridge, she completed a postgraduate diploma in journalism and spent a decade working for national newspapers. She has worked as an investigative reporter and won the Cudlipp award for investigative journalism for her undercover work. She's a former head of news projects for the Sunday Times and is now a full-time freelance writer. Her debut novel Greenwich Park was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and is an international bestseller. Her new novel The Other Mothers is available now from Raven Books. Katherine lives in North London with her husband and two daughters.

Katherine's Book Choices
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
Voyage in the Dark  by Jean Rhys
My Dark Vanessa by Elizabeth Russell (Please note there is discussion of sexual abuse during this book chat)

If you need to chat with somebody about sexual abuse, here are some charities that can help: 

• For child abuse = NSPCC: call 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: Call free on 0808 500 2222 or  Visit the website to start a free online chat
• Safeline: Call on 01926 402 498
• Safeline National Male Survivor Helpline & Online Support: 0808 800 5005
  
  

The Indie Author Summer Extravaganza
If you want to get some great books, then check out the #indiesummerextravaganza hashtag on Instagram from July 14-17.

Keep in touch
We love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:

Twitter: @twolitchicks
Instagram: @two_lit_chicks
TikTok: @two_lit_chicks
Email: [email protected]

Thank you so much for listening.
Listeners, we love you.

Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice Here

Sponsor socials
Twitter: @IngramSpark
Instagram: @IngramSparkBooks
Facebook: Ingram Spark and Ingram Spark Author Community
TikTok: @IngramSparkBooks

Support the show