Episode 266 / Cozy mystery author Diana Xarissa joins us this week. With over 150 books in her backlist, Diana shared how she found success through rapid release (but she works a year ahead) and why embracing her passion was the key that helped her find and connect with readers.

Topics:

• Diana's unique process for building a year-long advance writing schedule to maintain a steady release pace
• Tips for creating likeable characters and a “Scooby gang” that keep readers coming back and also keep Diana excited to write their stories
• Diana’s advice around ambition, goal setting, dreaming big, and celebrating success
• Dealing with imposter syndrome

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⚡Links:

• www.dianaxarissa.com
• Sara’s How I Met My Kdrama podcast
• Historical Cozy Mystery Book Box (Affiliate link)
• Trope Con: https://trope-talk-jennifer-s-school.teachable.com/?affcode=1589366_yo0_fyjf (Affiliate link)

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🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Subscriber-only episode

🎉 Supporter chats are back! In this post show episode, we get some more insights from Jen and talk about:

Jen’s #1 Writing Hack
Burnout
How to Process Stress

Send us a text

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 265 / Jen discusses how she found her passion for working with authors, her experiences in developmental editing and coaching, and the importance of aligning your business with personal visions of success. 

• Tips on how to find an editor 
• Frequent mistakes she sees authors making
• Trends Jen sees in publishing
• Alternate pathways to success
• Effective social media use 
• Different types of support teams and why you need them 

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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⚡Links:

• https://www.jengraybeal.com/

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 263 / Do you want to make your newsletters more personal and connect with readers? Bev Feldman, an email marketing strategist at Your Personal Tech Fairy, joins us today to share how to do just that through the type of content you share as well as sequences and segmenting.

• Setting expectations in a welcome sequence
• The value of letting subscribers go
• Basic ways to segment your newsletter list
• Tips to make resending to unopened more effective
• Common mistakes Bev sees people make with their newsletters
• Subject lines and ALT text tips  

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

• Access to backlist of exclusive supporter episodes
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⚡Links:

• https://yourpersonaltechfairy.com
• https://yourpersonaltechfairy.com/newsletter

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 262 / Jennifer Hilt shares how her writing career has  evolved since she was with us in 2023, including expanding her trope thesaurus books to specific genres and her thoughts on launching an online event, TropeCon. She also shares her lessons learned for planning online events. If you want to connect with your readers through an online event, Jennifer has plenty of tips and ideas. 

Topics: 

• The messy path to achievement and why you shouldn’t overthink or underestimate yourself
• How tropes relate to different genres like horror, romance, and fantasy sci-fi
• The art of making mistakes and bouncing back
• Understanding tropes across genres and insights into tropes in different genres
• Tips for setting up and running an online event, including platform and logistic choices, pricing strategy, and promotion possibilities

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

• Access to backlist of exclusive supporter episodes
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• Shoutout on a future episode. 

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⚡Links:

• www.jenniferhilt.com.
• https://jenniferhilt.substack.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/@TropeTalk
• https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hilt.
• 2025 Trope Con Registration Link: https://trope-talk-jennifer-s-school.teachable.com/?affcode=1589366_yo0_fyjf (affiliate link)

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 261 / Elizabeth O’Roark shares about tapping into her creativity during the pandemic, tackling the ups and downs of switching genres, the power of tropes, and breakout success.

Topics:

• Chasing success
• What Elizabeth wishes she’d started earlier 
• Assessment of opportunity cost
• Benefits of shifting to a new genre
• How Elizabeth incorporates tropes and microtropes into her plan for a new book
• Moving into special editions and direct sales

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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⚡Links:

• www.elizabethoroark.com

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 259 / Cat Johnson shares about writing resilience and creative innovation. We discuss Cat’s diversified distribution strategy that includes wide retailers as well as KU and her innovative promotion idea that lean into the personal and real life connections.

Topics discussed: 

• The power of pivoting in an unpredictable industry
• The value of building a strong backlist
• Out-of-the-box marketing ideas
• What Cat wishes she’d known about being a hybrid author
• Writing and promotion tips for multi-author projects, like her interconnected series with several other authors 
• Incorporating real places into your fiction and promotion: what it’s like to live in a Hallmark-type town in real life–and write about it!

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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⚡Links:

• https://catjohnson.net/
• Trope Con: https://trope-talk-jennifer-s-school.teachable.com/?affcode=1589366_yo0_fyjf (Affiliate link)

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 258 / We delve into your responses from our previous episode, "What Do You Want?" We’re all ears and sincerely grateful for the feedback! 

You shared your love for the podcast and some brilliant suggestions. We unpack your ideas, which range from having more diverse author guests to potential coaching sessions with listeners. You also chimed in with some fantastic new questions to ask guests. 

📢 Suggest authors or volunteer to be on the podcast! https://bit.ly/WishGuests 📩

✍️ Thank you for all the wonderful comments and engagement. It fuels us! 

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

• Access to backlist of exclusive supporter episodes
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⚡Links:

• SPA Girls interview with Amy Award: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep484-interview-with-amy-award/
• Death in the English Countryside - mass market paperback subscription edition: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335425454_death-in-the-english-countryside.html

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 257 / Catharine Bramkamp is a writing coach, workshop facilitator, poet, traveler, and has authored 27 fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. She joins us to share about creativity, finding joy in the process of writing, and common mistakes she sees as a writing coach. 

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

• Access to backlist of exclusive supporter episodes
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⚡Links:

• www.Catharine-Bramkamp.com
• https://sierrawritersconference.wordpress.com/schedule/
• https://www.sierrapoetryfestival.org
• Flutter Romance Bookstore: https://flutterromancebookstore.company.site/
• Everylibrary.org Library Lover’s Event with Sara Rosett and Jennifer Hilt:  
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/1129658792042176

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-Srqv34lE

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 256 /  Cozy fantasy author and illustrator Hanna Sandvig joins us to talk about working with illustrators to create gorgeous special editions. We also chat about how Hanna’s business has evolved over time as she’s incorporated illustration into her own books and begun using Kickstarter and Patreon. 

💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

• Access to backlist of exclusive supporter episodes
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• Shoutout on a future episode. 

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⚡Links:

• HannaSandvig.com
• https://www.patreon.com/Hannasandvig
• https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/hannasandvig/created
• https://www.instagram.com/hannasandvig

Sample illustration contract: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0D4JyHdwJC3i002y0TIgnBxnTnPpHrGPDL_Pu9an-s/edit?usp=sharing

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing