In which Sacha and Rachael talk about Sacha’s move, Rachael’s upcoming trip, and intentionality! ✏️ 90 Days to Done and 90 Day Revision NOW OPEN! 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing! And quarterly online writing retreats included!) Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually Write (and how you can, too) Writing doesn't have to be so hard. With internationally bestselling author Rachael Herron, learn how to embrace ease, reject perfectionism...
Jun 04, 2026•50 min•Ep. 563
Don’t miss this one, in which Laurie Frankel reveals the trick she uses while reading to aid her writing - it blew Rachael’s mind! Laurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the novels Family Family, One Two Three, Goodbye for Now, The Atlas of Love, and the Reese’s Book Club Pick This Is How It Always Is. Frankel lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and border collie. Enormous Wings is her latest novel. Laurie’s site: https://www.lauriefrankel.net/ And But...
May 28, 2026•38 min•Ep. 562
Are you a controller or a perfectionist? What if you lowered the bar, and just let it all unfold as you go, as you support yourself in your writing? Meghan Cathlin is a writer, speaker, and founder of Considerate Ventures. For over 25 years, she has been a trusted advisor to authors, celebrities, CEOs, and dignitaries, in high-stakes environments and heart-centered missions. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her son Greyson and their two dogs, Lucy and Django. Leading with the Heart is her first ...
May 14, 2026•29 min•Ep. 561
DON’T SKIP THIS ONE! Portia Elan has written Rachael’s favorite book in recent years, and THIS is the story of how her debut novel has come to be released with such gorgeous (and deserved) fanfare ! Portia Elan earned an MFA from the University of Victoria before returning home to California, where she has worked as a teacher and public librarian. She is a former Lambda Literary Fellow and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her wife and an abundance of cats. Homebound is her first novel. ✏...
May 07, 2026•49 min•Ep. 560
In which Sacha is moving (and making moves!) and Rachael is in a bit of a panic! Links mentioned re: Claude: https://rebeccabultsma.substack.com/p/before-you-use-claude-code-build and then: https://substack.com/home/post/p-186996234 ✏️ 90 Days to Done and 90 Day Revision NOW OPEN! 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing! And quarterly online writing retreats included!) Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually Write (and how you can, too) Wri...
Apr 30, 2026•59 min•Ep. 559
Moorea Corrigan is a master at lunch hour writing, getting her books written on her breaks at her the publishing house where she works. She talks about done being better than perfect, and gives Rachael a life-changing phrase she won’t soon forget! Moorea Corrigan holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in English literature from the University of Edinburgh, where she studied modern British history and the fall of the “manor house” after WWI, which served as inspiration for Thistlemarsh Hall. She a...
Apr 23, 2026•39 min•Ep. 558
Kelly Yang knows that if she lets the world get in the way of her writing, it will, so she is relentless about protecting her practice. Join us for this amazing conversation! Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author o f the YA Front Desk series. In addition to being a novelist, she has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. Kelly immigrated to the United States when she was six years old and grew up in Southern California. She went to colleg...
Apr 16, 2026•38 min•Ep. 557
Are you hard on yourself? Ever? You need to listen to this gorgeous chat about following the pleasure in your writing (and your life). Alicia Jo Rabins is a writer, musician, filmmaker, and feminist Torah teacher. The San Francisco Chronicle calls her writing “a poetry page-turner, both sexy and humble.” Rabins is the author of five books, most recently the spiritual memoir When We're Born We Forget Everything. As a singer-songwriter, Rabins tours internationally with Girls in Trouble, her indie...
Apr 09, 2026•30 min•Ep. 556
What’s the question that’s most useful to Ashley Herring Blake as she sets up her characters? Who hurt you? And why? And how? Follow along! Ashley Herring Blake (she/they) is an award-winning author. She loves coffee, cats, melancholy songs, and happy books. She is the author of six novels for young adult and middle grade readers, as well as the Bright Falls adult romance novels, the holiday romance Make the Season Bright, and the Clover Lake adult romance novels. She lives on a very tiny island...
Apr 02, 2026•47 min•Ep. 555
In which we talk about being intentional! 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now available here: https://rachaelherronbooks.com/ Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually Write (and how you can, too) Writing doesn't have to be so hard. With internationally bestselling author Rachael He...
Apr 02, 2026•58 min•Ep. 554
What do you do when your first book dies on sub? You write the most fun thing you can imagine, just for yourself. Maria J. Morillo tells us how! (And Rachael shares a hard story of recent publishing woes.) Maria J. Morillo is a born and raised Venezuelan ESL teacher, translator, and author of love stories featuring Venezuelan women getting absolutely everything they've always wanted. When she's not writing, you can find her leading the choir at her local church. She currently lives in Maturin, V...
Mar 19, 2026•41 min•Ep. 553
You’ll adore this episode where the Pens to Paycheck Authors wax lyrically and hilariously about all things writing, business, and mindset! Samantha B. Cummings writes gripping young adult fantasy novels and atmospheric dark academia mysteries for teens. Matilda Swift writes culinary cozy mysteries that are quintessentially British. Her books offer more twists than a country road, pairing them with quirky characters who feel like old friends. The Pen to Paycheck Authors Podcast is hosted by Sam ...
Mar 12, 2026•55 min•Ep. 552
Lauren Novak wrote the book she needed to read, and in this episode we talk about how to uncover your next book (or how to wait for it!) as well as asking for help and dropping your reader into the middle of action! Lauren Novak is an award-winning Australian journalist whose work has been published in News Corp newspapers, magazines and websites for the past two decades. Lauren specialises in coverage of child safety, gender and family violence and is a three-time winner of the South Australian...
Mar 05, 2026•43 min•Ep. 551
Rachael and Sacha are planning for the new year! And Sacha's had her most stressful month ever. IMAGINE. 🤯 ✏️ 90 Days to Done NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/90daystodone ✏️ 90 Day Revision NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/revision 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now availab...
Mar 03, 2026•59 min•Ep. 550
Sure, you can drive the whole way there in the beam of just the headlight, but what IS that headlight, anyway? Virginia knows! New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is the author of almost thirty novels. She is married to her college sweetheart, a coffee shop owner who keeps her well supplied with caffeine and material. They make their home in North Carolina, where they raised three (mostly adult) children. She is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytell...
Feb 26, 2026•44 min•Ep. 549
Jacque Gorelick looks at life like a pie chart — what’s going to fit, and what won’t? Don’t miss this fabulous conversation on how to rely on yourself as a writer! Jacque Gorelick’s essays about family, motherhood, estrangement, education, and health have appeared or are forthcoming in The New York Times, Salon, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Kenyon Review, Pithead Chapel, X-R-A-Y, Healthy Women, The Washington Post, HuffPost and more. Map of a Heart: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Finding the Wa...
Feb 19, 2026•44 min•Ep. 548
Don't look away - if you keep looking at those hard questions, the answers come. Listen as we chat about this today! Diana Hongcha is a Chinese American author whose debut thriller, If You Don’t Go , earned a silver medal at the Global Book Awards and reached Amazon Bestseller status. Born and raised in China, Diana emigrated to the United States as a teenager. A frequent traveler to China and a self-appointed culture attaché, she aims to write compelling stories that bridge the gap between the ...
Feb 05, 2026•39 min•Ep. 547
In which Sacha and Rachael share their words of 2026, and their thoughts about their wins and losses from 2025, and where 2026 is taking them! Hint: Sacha’s world dominating, and Rachael’s waking up from a nap. 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now available here: https://rachaelher...
Feb 02, 2026•49 min•Ep. 546
Times are hard, y'all. So here's a hopeful story. In this solo episode, Rachael shares about the time Madeleine L'Engle wrote to her. ✏️ 90 Days to Done NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/90daystodone ✏️ 90 Day Revision NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/revision 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026...
Jan 29, 2026•23 min•Ep. 545
Michelangelo said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free" - How do you do that in your own work? And how do you bring a place to life, even if you haven’t ever been there? Traveler and archaeological-thriller writer Luke Richardson is our guide today! Luke Richardson is the author of international thrillers that blend history, mystery, and adventure in exotic locations. A former English teacher and lifelong traveller, he brings his real-life adventures to the page—and to...
Jan 22, 2026•33 min•Ep. 544
Money AND power? We’re allowed to want those things? Heck, yes, we are. Don’t miss this dynamic conversation about how to do it! Amy Suto is a freelance memoir ghostwriter, bestselling author, and the writer behind the top-ranked Substack, Make Writing Your Job. As a ghostwriter, Amy has written memoirs on behalf of Olympians, CEOs and NBA players. Her Substack, Make Writing Your Job, has more than 23,000 subscribers, providing a job board and practical tips for writers. In addition to her ghost...
Jan 15, 2026•34 min•Ep. 543
💰 The Annual MONEY Episode! How did Rachael make her money in 2025 and how does she feel about it? Enjoy! ✏️ 90 Days to Done NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/90daystodone ✏️ 90 Day Revision NOW OPEN! http://rachaelherron.com/revision 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now availabl...
Jan 08, 2026•36 min•Ep. 542
Sacha and Rachael get real in their annual Lessons Learned show! Don’t miss it! Write in the Junkyard! https://rachaelherron.com/online-writing-retreat-2026/ 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now available here: https://rachaelherronbooks.com/ Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually...
Dec 31, 2025•54 min•Ep. 540
Finally, someone’s written the book for creative people who need to use their time to care for loved ones. How do you set aside perfectionism and guilt? Fan favorite Donn tells us how! Donn King is an author, podcaster, and communication coach who helps writers and speakers say what they really mean without losing the personality that makes them worth listening to. A longtime professor turned publishing sherpa, he blends clear storytelling with a warm, wry voice that leans more Anne Lamott than ...
Dec 30, 2025•43 min•Ep. 541
V. F. Mejia has a process for writing that might change the way you show up for your writing! And she’s just funded her first Kickstarter, and Rachael can’t be more excited about this one! V. F. Mejia is a sapphic fantasy author dedicated to writing for all the Latine sapphics out in the world. With a focus on Peruvian folklore, history, and mythology, her books transport readers to immersive new worlds outside the Western sphere.When she’s not writing she’s hiking through ruins or reading sapph...
Dec 22, 2025•44 min•Ep. 539
Lisa Dailey had a sideways entry into writing fiction, and she’s been having a ball ever since. Don’t miss this super fun interview! Lisa Daily is one of the top nonfiction and self-help book coaches in the US, coaching everyone from first-time writers to 7-figure authors. She's a USA Today bestselling author of more than 15 romance and non-fiction books herself, including HOW TO WRITE A SELF-HELP BOOK in 14 DAYS . She's the founder of Author (dot) coach and the Bestseller Academy, and hosts a p...
Dec 11, 2025•54 min•Ep. 538
This is one of Rachael’s favorite episodes, ever — join Paul as he tells us about Cai Emmons’s new book The Bells. Paul Calandrino is a playwright, educator, and actor based in Eugene, Oregon, where Cai and he lived until she died. Since she passed, he has been curating her literary legacy with the release of this book, and he is currently collecting her blog content into book form. Cai Emmons (1951-2023) was the author of seven novels and a story collection, Vanishing. The Bells , is her final ...
Dec 04, 2025•50 min•Ep. 537
In which we catch up on two months! Sacha’s new goals, her amazing Shopify success, and Rachael’s new book idea (plus a challenge from Sacha). 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🎉 Unstuck is now available here: https://rachaelherronbooks.com/ Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually Write (and how...
Dec 02, 2025•53 min•Ep. 536
I ADORE this episode, in which I talk to Louisa about making things by hand, including books! Louisa Owen Sonstroem considers garment-making skills to be deeply empowering. Louisa writes and teaches about patternmaking and hand stitching clothing. For most of a decade, she worked in technical design and patternmaking, most recently for Macy's and Eileen Fisher. Previous projects have included a self-published book called Hand Sewing Clothing: A Guide , as well as two seasons of “Patternmaking in...
Nov 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 535
Samantha Browning Shea is an agent who knows about selling books, and we talk about how it felt when her first book didn’t sell on submission, and how she started again. Also: on the struggle of the middle, on touring, and on how to keep readers reading (hint: it’s about those open loops). Samantha Browning Shea is an author and the vice president of Georges Borchardt, Inc. literary agency. A graduate of Colgate University, Samantha lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two daughters. ...
Nov 20, 2025•47 min•Ep. 534
