Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time

Megan O’Russell•meganorlowskirussell.podbean.com

Join author Megan O’Russell in this candid, humor-filled glimpse into the creation of a new book series, starting at page one. You’re invited to step into the real-time writing process as Megan weaves fae, shifters, witches, and seers into her latest young adult fantasy novel: Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer. No second drafts allowed. No untwisting love triangles. No bringing characters back to life. meganorussell.substack.com

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Episodes

Writing What You Know

Ever heard the phrase "write what you know"? Ever wonder if some of your favorite authors heeded that advice and to what extreme? In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell shares some of her favorite (sometimes ludicrous) real-life encounters and how she wove those moments into her stories, and wonders what would happen if we could ask big name authors about their real-world inspiration. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe...

Feb 24, 2020•14 min

Heartbreaking Scenes in Fantasy and the Joy of Being in the Know

Have you ever watched someone read a book you've already read? You know they're about to get to a really upsetting part, and you just can't look away? You have to see what their reaction is going to be? In this spoiler free (as always) episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell confesses her love of watching readers do this exact thing (i.e. Book Six of Harry Potter, that scene in Mockingjay...you know the one), and muses on why we love watching others get their hearts torn out. In case you ...

Feb 17, 2020•10 min

A Grown-Up Love for YA Books: An Interview with Leah Stuhler

"Grown-ups" LOVE YA books. From The Hunger Games and Maze Runner to Twilight and Harry Potter , the vast majority of YA books are bought by adults between the ages of 18 and 64 . On this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell talks with guest Leah Stuhler, author of The Cupcake Bullies , about how Leah's love of YA books and podcasts culminated in her starting a podcast of her own YA Book Chat . You can find Leah at YA Book Chat on Instagram and Facebook Or on Twitter @LeahStuhler And fe...

Feb 14, 2020•32 min

Terrible Choices Fantasy Characters Make and the Real World Consequences for Readers

Did you ever crawl into a wardrobe in the hopes of reaching Narnia? Or dream of running head-first at the wall between platforms nine and ten at King's Cross Station? In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell discusses the fears of blurring the lines between fantasy and reality in the reader's mind―from broken noses to terrible tragedies with a special shout out to the horror of following a true tale like Into the Wild and the sad fate of some fans. Be sure to connect with Megan O'R...

Feb 11, 2020•9 min

The Twists and Turns of Writing a Book

Before Harry Potter landed on bookstore shelves, entire scenes, entire story arcs were rewritten. Ever wonder what our favorite books would have been like in their original forms? In this episode of A Book and A Dream , Megan O'Russell discusses what it's like as an author to "kill your darlings" in order to give readers the best journey possible. *As referenced in this week's podcast, the number of books Megan has written totals twenty (with the twenty-first being written as this plays). Get fu...

Feb 03, 2020•12 min

Top Five Survival Lessons Learned from Fantasy Novels

Need tips on surviving natural disasters and stranger danger? These five fantasy novels might help. In this episode, Megan O'Russell shares the top five lessons in survival she learned from fantasy novels, ranging from The Chronicles of Narnia to Maze Runner . Did you know the CDC released a guide to surviving the Zombie Apocalypse? It's true! That was almost a decade ago, and it's what inspired this episode of A Book and A Dream . You can find the original CDC blog post here: https://blogs.cdc....

Jan 27, 2020•10 min

Battling Imposter Syndrome and Claiming Your Victories

Imposter syndrome: the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills. In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell discusses wrestling with imposter syndrome as an artist and taking steps to defeat it. Check out the Style Your Life podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/style-your-life Prefer videos? Catch this episode and all the rest on YouTube by vi...

Jan 20, 2020•14 min

Realistic Travel in a Fantasy World

By horse, by train, or by dragonback, consistency in travel makes a story shine. In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell discusses this particular obsession, sheds some light on how she navigates these stormy seas, and also shares some advice to aspiring writers on how they might avoid the trouble with travel times. Prefer videos? Catch this episode and all the rest on YouTube by visiting https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWz8gqksUVpd1aEXSjRtc0g Get full access to Page by Page Podc...

Jan 13, 2020•11 min

The Right Book at the Right Time

Books, like scents, can trigger powerful memories. Some become ingrained in our yearly traditions. Others act as pinpoints in the timelines of our lives. In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell shares some books, as well as other works of art, that take her anywhere from beaches in Thailand to sitting on her couch, recouping after a stress fracture. Prefer videos? Catch this episode and all the rest on YouTube by visiting https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWz8gqksUVpd1aEXSjRtc0g Ge...

Jan 06, 2020•10 min

The Art of the Book Binge

In the age of Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, content bingeing is the new norm. In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell discusses what makes a book binge-worthy and shares some of her favorite binges. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 02, 2020•7 min

Top Three Fantasy Rescue Crews

You've been kidnapped. Your only hope for escape is to call on the crew from one fantasy novel. In this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell discusses her top three picks for who would come to her aid, and one famous fantasy team she would rather stay far away. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Dec 26, 2019•6 min

Harry Potter and the Inspired Author

Acting and writing are two forms of storytelling and the two passions that have driven Megan O'Russell's life. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child combines a fantasy series with Broadway magic in an inspiring way. In this spoiler free episode, Megan chats about how Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling have changed her life yet again. Love theatre? Still waiting on your Hogwarts acceptance letter? Don't miss this episode of A Book and a Dream. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganoruss...

Dec 19, 2019•10 min

Welcome to A Book and A Dream!

Do you love books? Are you in the mood for a laugh? Join Megan O'Russell's journey as she dives further into the epic adventure of being an author, explores her love and obsession of all things book-related, and finds the humor in writing roadblocks. With fifteen books across five series, Megan has taken the Indie Book world by storm. Her journey from traditional publishing to prolific Indie author has been filled with laughter and more than a few tears. Whether you're an avid reader or a fellow...

Dec 09, 2019•22 min

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