Uncorking a Story

One of the biggest misnomers in publishing is that there are overnight successes. Being a writer requires hard work, creativity, and persistence. All authors, including new and experienced, will face setbacks and many challenges. Rea Frey was a former boxer who became an Author, and she joined me recently to share the story about how she became a successful author.

How did she go from flop to a multiple book deal with St. Martin Press? How did she pivot from writing nonfiction to being a bestselling fiction writer? Why was it not a good idea to get married at 22? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions as well as her take on what aspiring authors need to know in order to be successful.

REA FREY

Rea Frey’s passion in life is telling stories, connecting with readers, and helping other aspiring authors tell their stories too. She’s the celebrated author of Not Her Daughter, Because You're Mine, and Until I Find You. She also is the founder and CEO of Writeway, which helps aspiring writers become published authors.

CONNECT WITH REA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reafrey/

Website: https://www.reafrey.com/

Company Website: https://www.writewayco.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reafrey/

Link tree: https://linktr.ee/writewayco

Where to purchase “Secrets of Our House” book?

Bookshop.org, Amazon, Fantastic Friction, Barnes & Noble

Key Topics in this podcast:

• How does Rea Frey's writing career start?
• How did she go from first-time flop to a multiple book deal with St. Martin Press?
• What is her process of writing and wow can she craft a story quickly?
• Why is she driven to the domestic suspense genre?
• What would her career be if she weren't a writer?
• What is the concept of the book "Secrets of our house"?
• How does Rea help support other offers?
• What kind of chord did her podcast episode, “Dear, Publishing Industry, F*ck You!” strike with fellow authors?

The Hot Seat Questions for Rea:

• How do you feel when you are staring at a blank piece of paper or blank computer screen?
• What lesson about writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
• What’s the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
• How do you celebrate your success?
• If somebody you loved was having a bad day, what book would you choose to cheer them up?
• What will you be most proud of in your final moments?
• What words of advice would you give your younger self?

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Success never comes overnight. Rhea Frey first book was not considered a success but she pivoted genres and began to approach publishing differently.
• The good side of failure. When the first book she published failed, it wasn't just a case of giving up for her. The failure gave way to an opportunity that would allow room for growth and success.
• Inspirational Journey. Writing is a journey. Rea’s story is an inspiration tale aspiring authors and is a blueprint for helping set themselves up for success.
• Powerful Voice. When she released a solo episode of her podcast called "Dear Publishing Industry, Fuck You!" it became an advocate for other writers who are experiencing difficulties in the publishing industry.

Memorable Quotes/Advice From Rea

“Understand the business that you're about to get into. I know a lot of people say write the best story you can, and that's great. That's the fun part. But all the stuff that comes after that are the pieces and parts that components that will separate you from just writing a good story to being a successful author.”

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Is it possible to experience healing after having a traumatic childhood characterized by neglect, sexual assault, and crime? The answer is yes, but it takes a brave soul to stare down the trauma of their past only to come out the other side stronger and able to love oneself. Join me and Lauren Dollie Duke as we uncork the story about how writing, therapy, and yoga helped her empowered her to heal the wounds of her past and find her voice. Listen as she tells the tale of how she shed the overwhelming weight of shame that she’d been carrying around since childhood and why it was so important for her to immortalize these experiences in her memoir, Sh!thouse.

LAUREN DOLLIE DUKE

Lauren Dollie Duke is the author of “Sh!thouse” a memoir, and is also an educator, entrepreneur, and community activist. She’s taught thousands of yoga students over the last 15 years, led dozens of international retreats, and continues to push the edge between yoga, mental health, and trauma. She founded a one-of-a-kind community center and yoga studio in Encinitas, California. In a sea of corporate yoga, where most independent studios don't survive, she created a thriving community, teaching and hosting a variety of beloved yoga classes, educational seminars, and writing workshops. She devotes her time to help educate people on the anatomy of trauma and how those experiences are woven into the tapestry of our lives. She has studied with the world’s leading traumatologists: Bessel van der Kolk, Peter A. Levine, Gabor Mate, and Stephen Porges.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollieduke83/?hl=en 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Duke-104095274562505/ 

Link Tree:  https://linktr.ee/LaurenDollieDuke 

Where to purchase Sh!thouse?

  Amazon, Bookshop.org, Goodreads, Elliot Bay Book Company, Target, Booktopia

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Lauren’s story and where it all started
• The story behind Lauren’s “Love Thyself” tattoo
• The traumatic childhood Lauren experienced
• How she copes with PTSD
• How writing has been a critical part of the healing process
• How the book has helped Lauren repair her relationship with her sister

Hot Seat Questions for Lauren: 

• How do you feel when you stare at a blank piece of paper or computer screen?
• Do you feel pressure for book number two?
• What lesson of writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
• What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
• How do you celebrate success?
• What are you capable of doing now that you couldn’t do before writing your book?
• What advice you would give your younger self?

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Healing is a process. Lauren's childhood was filled with trauma, which made it hard for her to heal and become the person she wanted to be.
• Movement helps. Lauren discovered that yoga allowed her to heal herself and brought a sense of normalcy. She found it as an outlet for calming herself down and feeling like she fit in with others.
• Writing as therapy. Lauren's journey to healing began with the written word. She would write whatever came into her head, no matter how painful it was, and this led to an incredible story of survival that will inspire you too!
• Workshops were important. When she started writing, there were no rules or processes to follow. To make things more streamlined for herself, Lauren attended several workshops on how best to approach the process from start to finish. 
• An inspiring story. Lauren's story is a memoir of what she went through in her own life. This inspires and  motivates all aspiring authors to let their stories be heard!

Memorable Quotes/Advice From Lauren 

“There's no better time than now, just start writing. Many people will say, ‘I need to do this first, or I need to do this workshop first.’ There’s a bit of imposter syndrome because it's something new, you've never done it before. Just start now because, literally, the first draft, you're just telling yourself the story anyway. Right now is the time.”

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As the daughter of a college professor, Kaira Rouda moved around a lot as a kid. Being constantly thrust into new environments helped her develop the resilience that she’s carried with her throughout her life; which is a good thing because it's a big requirement for becoming an author! Kaira is a USA TODAY, Amazon charts, and international bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novels include Best Day Ever, The Favorite Daughter, All the Difference, and The Next Wife. 

How did she go from working two jobs to becoming a bestselling author? How did her third grade teacher impact her career choice? Is Dallas one of the best TV shows ever? Listen in to hear Kaira’s answers to these questions as well as discuss her new novel, Somebody’s Home, which will be released on Tuesday, January 18th.

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What happens when you skip doing your chemistry homework so that you can read historical romance novels? You might not learn about the substances of which matter is composed, but if you are Jill Shalvis it just might set you up to become a bestselling romance novelist.

What proof do I have (and man, I wish proofs were used in Chemistry and not just geometry so I could keep this comparison going)? Well, Jill is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has written more than fifty acclaimed, award-winning romance novels. She is a three-time winner of the National Reader's Choice Award and has been nominated for the RITA Award and for Romantic Times' Career Achievement Award. Her latest novel, The Family You Make was released on Tuesday, January 11th. 

How did she pivot from keeping track of debits and credits to being a bestselling novelist? What’s so inspiring about living in a small town? What happened when her dog had a celebrity death match with a porcupine? What famous rock musician drops in from time to time to play at a bar in her small town in the Sierra Nevadas? Listen in to uncover the answers to all of these questions as well as learn which accomplishment Jill is most proud of (here’s a hint, it has nothing to do with writing).

Happy Listening!

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Authors get to play God when writing a character. We shape them, give them characteristics to make them memorable, and ultimately control their destiny. Elizabeth George knows this well, and takes the role of God seriously when writing her mysteries.

If you love a good mystery but aren’t familiar with her work, allow me to introduce you to Elizabeth George. She’s The New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. Her latest novel, Something to Hide, was released on January 11th

How did she transform herself from a HS English Teacher to a bestselling author? How does writing and creativity help her in managing depression? What important lessons did she learn from early failures? Listen in as we cover all of this as well as a spine tingling story about the Universe bringing Elizabeth together with someone who needed her in her life. 

Happy listening!

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Art is medicine—that’s the core message that poet, musician, and artist Aliana Kann Michals wants to convey with her forthcoming poetry collection entitled In Defense of Science. 

What valuable life lessons did a relationship coming to an end during the pandemic teach her ? Why does she believe that vulnerability is her superpower? What words of advice would she give her younger self? Listen in as Aliana answers all of these questions and more in today’s insightful episode of Uncorking a Story.

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I’ve had many different types of storytellers on Uncorking a Story including authors, comedians, and filmmakers. What I haven’t had yet is one of the most popular types of storytellers these days—fellow podcasters! That changes with today’s episode featuring Kathy Kay, the host of Strictly Anonymous. 

I came upon her show by accident. Over the past few years I’ve been on a self-improvement kick, part of which involves listening to podcasts by the likes of Lewis Howes, Brene Brown, and Brooke Castillo. While looking for something new to arouse my ears on long runs, I came across Kathy’s show.

I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to hear in episode 411, and it’s true what they say—you never forget your first time. The episode’s headline was, “Peter Tried Swinging After His Divorce, and he’s Been Swinging Ever Since.” Now I knew something about “the lifestyle,” as swinging was a key plot point in my novel All the F*ucks I Cannot Give and I had to do some research while writing that story. While the content of the episode was certainly provocative, the way Kathy guided the conversation and made “Peter” feel comfortable sharing his story left me wanting more after my listening refractory period was over.

I wanted to chat with Kathy to uncover how she came up with the idea for the show, take a deep dive into what she’s learned about people by hosting an advice show focused on sex, and talk about her autobiographical book, The Cartoon Misadventures of a Total Trainwreck. This is a fun conversation that you aren’t going to want to miss!

Be sure to check out Strictly Anonymous at http://strictlyanonymouspodcast.com/ or listen wherever you get your podcasts. For bonus content, including sexy (and anonymous) pictures of some of her guests, check out Kathy’s Patreon.

Happy listening!

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Out of the many guests I’ve hosted on Uncorking a Story, Michael Macari may have one of the most varied tales to tell. The son of immigrant parents, he was in Adonis, an up and coming rock band that was just about to feel the sensation of stardom with a record contract until a kidney stone sidelined his musical ambitions and put him on the path to a career in film and television. There’s no way he could have predicted that another medical issue three decades later would put him on the path to publishing a passion project—a book on the birth of Jesus.

Inspired by the big budget biblical films of his childhood, Michael started the project over thirty years ago and originally envisioned it as a screenplay. After being sidelined with Covid-19, he found himself with ample free time and dusted off the yellowed pages now close to three decades old and reimagined his story as a novel. The result is a work of fiction entitled The Star of Bethlehem: The Epic Story of the Birth of Christ, recently published by Trilogy Christian Publishing. 

Listen in as Michael bridges the gap between the rock and roll lifestyle of his youth and his faith filled work of fiction. We also discuss how he weaved Old and New Testament biblical stories with historical fact in this faithful retelling of the Christmas story. This book couldn’t have come at a better time—with only a handful of shopping days left until Christmas, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you that books make great gifts.

Happy Listening!

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Nadine Crocker survived a suicide attempt when she was 23 years old. After leaving home at 16 to pursue a career in front of the camera, maybe she thought she could leave the intense feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety back in Fresno. Also, really pretty and talented people aren’t supposed to have those kinds of feelings, are they? Well, they do and Nadine wasn’t immune to the feelings that run through her family. She wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Continue as a gift to the world to help us all have better conversations about mental health.

Most working actors will tell you that overnight success is a myth. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but there’s a lot of rejection that comes when seeking an on-screen career. Authors tell me the same thing—many of us can line our walls with rejection letters from agents we’ve queried over the years. Just like there are few overnight successes, depression and anxiety are slow burns that, for some, eventually may lead to suicidal ideation, attempts, and, for too many, death. Those of us who have experienced these emotions, or who have loved ones who live with them, know that we all need to do a better job at recognizing mental health issues, addressing them, and loving those who experience them. 

If you look closely at the cover art for the film, you will notice that the title is spelled Cont;nue, with a semicolon replacing the letter i. A friend of mine had to educate me on the significance behind this. She pointed me to a website for Project Semicolon whose late founder, Amy Bleuel, explained, “A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” There is a tragic beauty to that sentiment; tragic that it had to be written at all but beautiful because the second chance/hope it implies.

I know that you will enjoy my interview with Nadine, which is certainly much more upbeat than the subject matter we discussed. She’s an amazing person with a light that comes through in her voice.  My only regret is not asking her if she was familiar with the 1986 mini series Fresno which took place in her hometown! Think Dallas but about raisins instead of oil.

Please visit https://www.continuethefilm.com/ for more information about Nadine and the film. Follow Nadine on social @nadinecrocker. 

If you, or anyone you know is in distress please know that help is available through Lifeline, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ for more information.

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Cindy Finch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in helping people through their darkest times. She trained at the Mayo Clinic and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, and CURE magazine. A survivor of traumatic life events, Cindy writes and works from lived experiences. She's helped thousands of people through their suffering, encouraging them to move forward and keep enduring to come out invincible.

Her latest book, When Grief is Good, was released this past September and, at some point during this interview, we actually talked about it. Before that, though, she turns the tables a few times and puts me in the hot seat. This is definitely one you have to buckle up for and stay to the end because if you do I’ve got two words for you—hot monogamy!

You can learn more about Cindy at her website, cindyfinch.com. Additionally, Cindy would love it if you learned more about Love to Pivot, an organization that helps individuals, couples, families, and groups pivot from unhealthy relationships into healthy relationships.

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