Lately, I've been inundated with some of the best experts in publishing the world has to offer, and I count Kelsye among them. You will too, after you listen to this episode.

Think class, expertise, and a great sense of humor, and you have Kelsye Nelson. She not only walks the walk, but she shares her passion and wisdom with the world, both through her blog and her social media presence. She sat down with me to talk publishing, both indie and traditional, writing, and following your passion. I came away from this interview with so many notes and thoughts, I had to write them down immediately afterwards.

I first learned about Matt Iden via an article picked up by the Passive Voice Blog. I knew the minute I finished reading it that I wanted to talk to him, and I was so right. Matt is down-to-earth and forthright about book publishing, but he's also brilliant in his approach: keep it simple, achievable, and intelligent. It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his work that he was recently picked up by Thomas and Mercer, Amazon Publishing's mystery imprint. Matt stopped by the podcast to talk about his mystery series featuring Marty Singer, book marketing, and why we shouldn't pay for reviews.

More than thirty-five years of experience in the writing world, author and journalist Doug Garr shares his knowledge of craft, co-writing, and ghostwriting with us in this episode. Doug has written in the voices of others for years, and we discuss what that's like, as well as the journey to finding his own. His memoir Between Heaven and Earth details his experience as a skydiver with over 1,300 jumps to his credit, and he's still leaping from planes! A fun, energetic interview that's sure to inspire you to get back to it.

It's that time of the month for the editors' show (I know, I know...it's only been two weeks...) , and Patricia and I are sharing our own writing woes this time: the dreaded block. Is it that your story isn't working...or procrastination? We talk about how to know the difference, characters vs. caricatures in your fiction, and naming your heroes. And our craft tip focuses on outlining--a great way to do it that even the most pantsed-determined writer will enjoy (we hope). 

Note: if you want a copy of the outline, go check out this episode over at upgradeyourstory.com—there's a downloadable file for you there.

Patti Larsen is a force to be reckoned with...and I use that cliché with purpose! In five years, she's written over sixty paranormal YA books, has readers who are rabid for her next installment (in any of her series), and she won the World's Best Book Award in 2014. Did I mention she also makes movies and teaches improv? Patti took a few minutes away from her schedule to hang out with me for an interview, and let me tell you: if you want to be successful as an author, both as a creative mind and as a business owner, do NOT miss this interview.

It's that time of the month where editor Patricia D. Eddy and I talk editing, writing, and marketing. In this episode, we talk about finding the right editor for YOU, the importance of understanding what should be "on screen vs. off screen" in your novel, and why researching your details matters. Struggling to find your place in the publishing world? Come join us as we offer tips, tricks, and other useful tidbits for your writing journey. And check out previous "When Editors Chat" podcasts for more advice.

Wow! That's about all I can say after talking with Lindsay Buroker. She's a powerhouse of information that no author should be without. From how she got started as a fantasy author to her exploration into sci-fi opera with a pen name, she doesn't hold back. Lindsay is a best selling indie author with a legion of fans awaiting her next book, and she does it right with well-written, engaging plots and strong characters. Do NOT miss this episode!

Emotions...and editing. Not always what we think about when we jump into the revision process. Patricia Eddy and I both experience the highs and lows of emotions as editors and authors. We talk about how to frame the experience, why there's nothing wrong with you, and how to mitigate your response if you're someone who struggles when receiving critique.

We also discuss about understanding your genre, the expectations of your audience, and why tropes can be both your friend and enemy. Let us know your thoughts and experiences!

I learned about Pubslush when I interviewed Rachel Kambury in Episode 40. What is Pubslush, you ask? It's crowdfunding for authors that just keeps getting sweeter as they go along. Co-founder Amanda Barbara joined me on the show to talk about the awesomeness that Pubslush makes possible. They not only have crowdfunding available, they have full support for authors, as well as an amazing "pre-sale" feature. If you are an author who recognizes the need for professional editing and marketing for your book but can't afford it, or you've already published your novel and realize it could use a little more TLC, check out what Pubslush has to offer!

You've probably seen her gorgeous covers here and there on social media. Now you get to hear from the woman behind the young adult Eve series, as well as her alternative identity Addison Winter, under which she pens the erotic With Honors series. If you've been thinking about crossing over from writing in the young adult genre to serving up some steamy reads, this is the podcast for you! We talk about the challenges of marketing in a new genre, the downsides (and upsides) to harsh reviews, and why you should totally have awesome cover design for your book!