Suzanne is another writer who was working in an entirely different field before she decided to take a chance and try her hand at something she’d always wanted to do. She shares the story of that journey with Jeniffer and Chad, and offers some good advice for aspiring writers. She’s living proof that with talent and perseverance it’s totally possible to write successful novels and do big things like breaking into the world of screenwriting—and having your script optioned for a movie!...
Sep 20, 2022•55 min•Ep. 67
Although there’s an obvious nod to Shakespeare in All’s Well, the protagonist of Awad’s latest novel was inspired by her own experience with pain and her feelings about being ignored and not taken seriously. She talks with Jeniffer about how that experience informed her latest novel, the characters she created, and how and why she chose the setting for this particular story. And of course, there’s discussion of the author’s writing process and how it all came together to create the full story....
Sep 13, 2022•48 min•Ep. 66
Eve and Rosie both get a chance to discuss their writing processes, note the similarities and differences, and realize there’s really no wrong way to write. There are also similarities between their books. They’re both about family and relationships, the settings loom large, and they both question how well we really know those close to us. If you’re a fan of peeking into the writer’s process and love details on the genesis of ideas, and how stories are shaped, you’re going to love this episode. ...
Aug 17, 2022•53 min•Ep. 65
Anastasia Zadeik is a writer, editor, and storyteller. Dedicated to helping writers bring their stories to the page, stage, and screen. She serves as Director of Operations for the San Diego Writers Festival and sits on the board of the literary non-profit So Say We All. She regularly performs in narrative non-fiction showcases, and her work has appeared in The San Diego Decameron Project, The Literary Vine Review, and Shaking the Tree: Brazen. Short. Memoir. She lives in San Diego with her husb...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 64
In this episode Jeniffer and Chad talk with Jane Friedman about how she got started doing what she does. And she does a lot! Mostly, she’s an expert on the publishing industry and a guide for helping authors understand it. You’ll learn a lot of valuable information in this one. And because this podcast is actually pretty fun, you’ll also get to hear their opinions on fonts, artistry, Amazon and where the industry is headed. Jeniffer also gets Jane to open up a bit about weird jobs and bourbon pr...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 63
On Wednesday, May 18th at 7:30pm Warwick's hosted Laura L. Engel as she discussed her new book, You'll Forget This Ever Happened: Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s. Laura L. Engel is originally hails from Biloxi, Mississippi but moved to San Diego, California over fifty years ago. In 2015 she retired from a thirty-five-year career in the corporate world with plans to quietly catch up on hobbies and travel with her husband, Gene. Within a year an unexpected miracle took: her firstborn son...
Jun 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 62
Mark talks with Jeniffer and Chad about his long history in the publishing world, his point of view as a current agent for one of the top literary agencies, and how he’s facilitating transparency in the industry. He also gives some advice to Jeniffer about her own processes and a ton of tips on everything from pitching to your hook. Read his full bio below! BIO: Mark Gottlieb is a highly ranked literary agent, both in overall deals and other individual categories. Using that same initiative and ...
May 31, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 61
Cynthia’s second novel, Good Company, had the misfortune of coming out in the midst of the pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped its success! It just delayed some interviews a bit. Like this one. In Good Company, she writes about family, marriage, and friendship and the nature of those relationships as they build over time. She tells Jeniffer about what inspired her characters, and how much of that inspiration came from her real life experiences living in both Los Angeles and New York. She also disc...
May 17, 2022•58 min•Ep. 60
Jeniffer and Chad chat with Warwick’s Director of Events, Julie Slavinsky and Book Buyer, Adrian Newell. They share insider knowledge and some fun anecdotes from their collective 45 years of experience in the industry. They uncover some long-held secrets of how books are chosen, how they end up in stores, and the role of book stores in an author's success. You’ll learn a bit of history on self-publishing, get a peek into the “Big Five” and other traditional publishing consortiums—And discover ho...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 59
Joe Ide’s latest novel is a departure from his IQ series. The Goodbye Coast puts Raymond Chandler’s classic detective protagonist, Philip Marlowe, into our modern world. Which Dennis Lehane calls,”Not so much a reimagining of Chandler’s world but a reinvigorating”. Joe’s first novel in his IQ series has been optioned for a TV series, and he tells Jeniffer about that process, and why he decided to risk writing a novel using a beloved character invented by the godfather of crime fiction. He also t...
Apr 13, 2022•51 min•Ep. 58
Wild Game details Adrienne being brought into her mother’s secret adult world at the age of fourteen, and the years that followed as she took her place as her confidant and co-conspirator. Jeniffer and Chad talk with her about what it was like to bring her story to life, the struggles she encountered while doing so, and the insights she gained along the way. When telling a story of your life, and people you love and the ways they amaze and hurt you, it’s a delicate balance. Adrienne relied on a ...
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 57
Stevie Green is an organizing and decluttering guru whose own life is a total mess, which makes her relatable. And if her character seems very real, maybe it’s because Getting Clean With Stevie Green is the first novel Swan Huntley loosely based on her own experiences in La Jolla, California. Swan and Jeniffer talk about the process of writing her third novel, from the inspiration for the characters, and the humorous tone, to choosing to tell the story from several points of view, despite her re...
Mar 15, 2022•49 min•Ep. 56
In this episode Jeniffer and Chad speak with Rick about his book, Life Lived Wild, and how it’s more than just a memoir of his adventures. Rick explains how each memory is intentionally linked to not just his experience, but to the significance of our impact on our environment. There are fun and thrilling tales exchanged and also some serious talk about what we can do to change the course of our future and care for our planet.
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 55
As you may guess from the title, the delightful children's book Lee recently wrote is about holiday magic and the ways the holidays are celebrated. As per usual, Lee has focused Red and Green and Blue and White on youth and diversity. Jeniffer talks with Lee about this lovingly crafted picture book, his inspiration, and how he puts his personal experience into his writing. Lee also reads from his book, and if you catch the original video of their conversation you can catch a glimpse of it! Websi...
Nov 23, 2021•51 min•Ep. 54
It's not surprising that Peter Heller is able to bring elements of suspense to his latest thriller novel, The Guide. After all, he's quite the adventurer himself, with a whole bevy of stories and experiences to draw from. Though The Guide is fiction, it's setting is very real, and he's often asked if the characters he creates are modeled after himself. Peter shares some of his own real-life adventures with Jeniffer, and you'll learn how and why his thriller novel set within a nature adventure ca...
Sep 21, 2021•52 min•Ep. 53
Called is a novel about fighting for what you believe in, no matter the cost. And though this particular version is fiction, it’s based very much in reality. Author, Marlena Fiol is the daughter of the John Schmidt of the book, and had previously written about her experiences in the form of memoir. But this time, it’s told from an outside perspective—there’s just a lot of material here! A Mennonite Missionary. His devoted wife. The other woman. WWII. A leper colony in the Peruvian Jungle. And th...
Jul 27, 2021•47 min•Ep. 51
Check out the San Diego Writers Festival July 17 and July 31 (2 full days) it's virtual and free on Facebook here sandiegowritersfestival.com
Jul 14, 2021•15 min
Scott Meyers is a cornucopia of knowledge of screenwriting and he helps others learn it via classes at DePaul University, his workshops, and his highly acclaimed blog on the subject, Go Into The Story. He talks with Jeniffer and Chad about how, like many other creative folks, he came to screenwriting in a round about way. It’s because of this, maybe, that he’s really good at giving practical advice for aspiring screenwriters. If you want straight forward and valuable tips and guidance, Scott Mey...
Jun 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 50
Things We Lost to the Water is Eric Nguyen’s first novel, but you would never know by reading it. It’s a multilayered, beautifully written story of the immigrant experience through the eyes of one family, all living a slightly different reality in their new home of New Orleans. And then Hurricane Katrina happens… Eric tells Jeniffer about what inspired him to write his novel, why he chose the setting he chose, and how the novel developed into the story of the three individuals and their unique p...
Jun 03, 2021•51 min•Ep. 49
Jeniffer and Chad talk with Journalist Mike Ayers about how he came up with the idea for his book, One Last Song, and how asking such a specific, and maybe slightly morbid question opened up people to telling so much about themselves. They also discuss how music is powerful, universal and definitive in our lives. And, of course you'll get to hear all of their last songs of choice.
May 18, 2021•59 min•Ep. 48
Chris describes his novel as suspense; a slow burn. But it’s much more than that. Jeniffer and Chris talk about what went into crafting his historical thriller, The Hour of the Witch. As you may have guessed, it centers around a woman who becomes a target— because she stood up for herself against an abusive husband. Chris researched and studied Puritanical society on a deep level to get real feel for life in that dark period. You’ll find out some crazy stuff, not just about the superstitions of ...
May 11, 2021•55 min•Ep. 48
Sue Monk Kidd is no stranger to controversy. From the topics of her books, to deciding she wanted to be a writer in a place and time where that was just not something women did. She tells Jeniffer about how just that act of courage inspired her to reach a little further to write feminine narratives, and about women characters that were also courageous and went against the grain. Website
Apr 20, 2021•59 min•Ep. 47
Donna Leon is the author of the Brunetti Mysteries, and in this episode she tells Jeniffer about her process, and how real life is always inspiring new ideas for her next books. Having lived globally and travelled extensively, it’s no wonder she never seems to run out of those ideas—she writes at a pace of one novel a year! With her character, Brunetti, she wanted to create a protagonist who’s flawed, yet loveable, and put him into real-life situations to see what happens. And for nearly 30 year...
Apr 13, 2021•51 min•Ep. 46
Laraine, despite her mother’s pleas to not go into show business, of course, went into show business. Which, you may have guessed, turned out pretty well for her. She shares some the highlights of her book, May You Live in Interesting Times, casually mentions her friendships with other show business stars like Richard Pryor and Weird Al, and her time at SNL. They also discuss Coachella, The Salton Sea, desert landscapes, and other things Laraine has a love for—and there’s some depression and chi...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 45
Richard Russo called Gregory Brown’s debut novel, “...a lush, almost mythic portrait of a very specific place and time…” and you’ll get a good sense of that listening to Gregory speak about The Lowering Days. He tells Jeniffer about his process and the characters in the novel and the parts they play. He also explains how he researched the local Penobscot culture to get it right, as someone who’s not Indigenous.
Mar 30, 2021•53 min•Ep. 44
Angela Bole is the CEO of the IBPA, and she tells Jeniffer and Chad a little about the history and purpose of the organization. They discuss how the Independent publishing industry has changed over the years and the upcoming virtual IBPA Publishing University. There are also some great tips on the importance of sticking to publishing conventions as an Indie author, and how education and community are the pillars of Indie publishing success. They even throw in some thoughts on desert island book ...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 43
The Illness Lesson is historical fiction that takes place in the 19th century, and was inspired by true events. Namely, a mysterious mass illness. Clare Beams talks with Jeniffer about how she managed to write about the time period without falling into the trappings of its writing conventions. She also explains why she chose the setting she did and how she managed to make it still feel modern and have modern themes. Oh, and what it feels like to have her book hailed as a masterpiece. Just enough...
Mar 16, 2021•50 min•Ep. 42
Chris Whitaker’s most recent novel, We Begin at the End , was actually conceived of very early in his writing journey. Like few other authors, Chris never imagined he’d become a writer, but a traumatic event changed that. He started writing as a form of therapy to deal with the aftermath of that event, and to tell his story and express parts of himself in a ways completely removed from the personal. He also talks with Jeniffer about his process, how he found an agent, his missteps along the way,...
Mar 09, 2021•45 min•Ep. 41
Olga Grushin wrote her first story at just seven years old, and it happens to have been a fairy tale. She discusses why she chose to write in English, though Russian is her first language, and how it shapes the way she tells stories while retaining a Russian sensibility. The Charmed Wife is her latest book and she and Jeniffer discuss why she was inspired to reimagine Cinderella as a divorcee. Olga also talks about why she started writing, how she got an agent and a publisher, her genre-bending ...
Feb 23, 2021•56 min•Ep. 40
Her memoir has been called harrowing, and her childhood was unimaginably traumatic. But today, Stephanie is a successful author, the CEO of Heritage School of Interior Design, and the founder of The Heritage Home Foundation. She tells you how through sheer will and resilience she came out on the other side, and how not taking no for an answer, plus her innate design skills landed her a book deal and a best selling book. Website Instagram...
Feb 10, 2021•42 min•Ep. 39
