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Romance can be wildly escapist and still be honest about how sex actually works, and that tension is where this conversation gets really good.  I’m joined by romance author Christina Braver, a former social worker and healthcare tech professional who now writes full-time from the Pacific Northwest, and she brings both heart and clarity to a topic that’s usually reduced to tropes and assumptions.  She’s frank about the pressure of a flooded romance market, the reality of losing money some years, and why she keeps writing anyway.  We get specific about what sex-positive romance and realistic sex representation can look like on the page. Christina also talks about writing storylines that reflect real health experiences, including endometriosis, hysterectomy recovery, and menopause related libido changes.  If you’ve ever felt like romance novels taught you a “script” that doesn’t match real life, this is a refreshing reset.  Subscribe for more honest conversations about writing and publishing, share this with a romance reader who loves depth, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

A promise made to a mom at graduation turned into a time capsule of war, grief, humor, and survival. I sat down with author Don Eggspuehler, a former US Marine Corps pilot and Vietnam veteran, to talk about Letters to Mom, a book built from real letters he mailed home week after week, long before email, texts, or video calls existed.  Those pages weren’t written with hindsight or a public audience in mind, which is exactly why they land with such force today.  Doug walked us through flying combat missions out of Nam Phong, Thailand, living in jungle tents, and heading into Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.  He shared what it felt like to run night missions into North Vietnam under total radio silence, and why fear often shows up after the mission, not during it.  We also talked about what happened after he came home: losing friends, feeling bitter, feeling unwelcome, and carrying survivor’s guilt for years, plus the unexpected relief that came from rereading his own words decades later.  If this conversation moves you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow book lover. What’s one letter, journal, or memory you wish you could preserve before time reshapes it? Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

A lot of people dream about “extra income,” but they get stuck on one question: what do I actually buy, and where do I sell it?  I’m joined by Aaron LaPedis, award-winning author of The Garage Sale Millionaire and How To Become A Garage Sale Millionaire, to break reselling down into simple moves you can repeat, even if you’re starting with almost no money.  Aaron explained why eBay is built for selling (especially when you use completed listings to price realistically) and why Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor can be gold for buying when sellers need items gone.  We also talked about what tends to flip well, from collectibles and comic books to “brand new in box” finds, plus why packaging can make or break a price.  If you’ve ever wondered whether estate sales are worth it, he shares how to handle the crowds and how serious buyers get an edge.  We also swapped notes on AI for resellers: using ChatGPT to write listings faster, using photo search to identify mystery items, and using barcode scanning apps like BookScouter to avoid bad buys.  Along the way, Aaron made a strong case for valuing your time like a business owner, not a bargain hunter, and he opens up about the bigger picture: hustle, health, family, and what “success” actually costs.  Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Great writing doesn't sell books. Most writers find that out too late. My guest this week is Terry Whalin — editor, former literary agent, acquisitions editor, and author of more than 60 books. He's sat on both sides of the desk, and he's blunt about what new authors get wrong. We start with the myth that a book makes money. Terry's case: most authors need a bigger definition of success — authority, speaking gigs, career leverage — because the royalties are usually modest. Then we get practical about platform. Why social media alone is a bad bet, why your newsletter and website are the only channels you actually own, and why five years of consistency beats one big launch. We also take on self-publishing versus traditional without the usual shouting. Terry walks through the distribution reality — what it really takes to get into bookstores, not just Amazon — and why the marketing lands on you either way. You'll hear what makes an acquisitions editor stop reading on page one, why a proposal is a business plan, and where AI helps with research versus where it walks you straight into plagiarism and copyright trouble. If this one's useful, send it to a writer friend and leave a review. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

How do you turn a life-changing experience into a memoir readers can't put down? In this episode, author Melinda Lee Schmidt shares the story behind The Rebel Hugger and how a simple idea—asking strangers for permission to hug them—became a powerful memoir about connection, boundaries, belonging, and self-worth. Melinda takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal journey into a compelling story. We also discuss the realities of self-publishing, working with a book coach, navigating Amazon KDP, and the book marketing strategies that have helped her reach readers—from podcast interviews and newsletters to the surprisingly effective practice of simply telling people about her book. Whether you're writing a memoir, considering self-publishing, or looking for practical book marketing advice, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable insights. In this episode, you'll learn: How to turn personal experiences into a compelling memoirWhy vulnerability is essential in memoir writingThe biggest lessons Melinda learned from self-publishingHow working with a book coach improved her bookBook marketing strategies that actually work for indie authorsIf you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow writer or aspiring author. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

“Bestseller” has become one of the easiest words to fake in publishing, and it’s costing authors money and readers' trust.  I sit down with publishing expert Michele DeFilippo, who brings decades of real-world experience helping authors produce high-quality books without giving away control, rights, or royalties. We talk about why self-publishing no longer carries the old vanity-press stigma, and why the power has shifted now that Amazon and print-on-demand make global book distribution accessible.  Michelle breaks down the difference between needing a publisher and needing professional publishing services, plus the red flags of hybrid publishing companies that charge authors upfront and still take a cut of sales. We also get practical about what “professional” actually looks like: editing, cover design, book typesetting, ebook formatting, and the kind of investment it can take to make your book compete with traditional releases. We also dug into author scams, including how “bestseller” schemes game Amazon’s algorithm, what a real bestseller metric looks like, and why distribution tools like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark still don’t do your marketing for you. If you’re planning to self-publish, want to avoid costly traps, or simply want your book to look unmistakably legit, hit play, subscribe, share with a writer friend, and leave a review so more authors can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Thirty seconds sounds too small to matter until you notice how many you throw away each day. I sit down with Dr. Gerald Robison, a pastor and longtime Bible teacher turned prolific author, to talk about the mindset behind his book 30 Seconds That Can Change Your Life—and the moment that made him take time seriously.  Facing tongue cancer and the possibility that his time was short, he stopped chasing only big goals and began reclaiming the small gaps most writers waste. We dig into the "unused moments"—waiting in the car, standing in line, the transitions where you'd normally reach for your phone—and how those windows can become real writing time.  Gerald shares micro-habits that make a page-a-day feel doable, and we wrestle with the burnout question every author faces: when does productivity serve the work, and when do you need rest, quiet, and reflection to actually write well? Then we turn to the writing life and the business behind it. Gerald walks me through traditional, independent, and hybrid publishing—the marketing realities and the book-rights pitfalls authors often miss until it's too late. If you care about protecting your writing time, building sustainable creative habits, and understanding how books really get made, you'll leave with ideas you can use today. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Marijuana is getting easier to buy, easier to brand, and easier to shrug off. That's exactly why I wanted a grounded conversation with Dr. Raymond Wiggins, a licensed physician with decades on the front lines and author of Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana. For him, cannabis isn't abstract.  He shares personal family losses and a disturbing case of sudden psychosis after early use that changed a young life overnight. We also dig into the clinical side: what he's observed around anesthesia and recovery, from harder-to-sedate patients to higher medication needs, and the uncomfortable question of what regular THC exposure might be doing beneath the surface. From there, we take on legalization, the profit motive he believes is driving it, and why he argues "medical marijuana" still carries real mental health and addiction risks. We get into today's ultra-high THC products—concentrates, edibles, and why delayed dosing can spiral into an ER visit. We close on psychedelics and microdosing, where Wiggins urges caution and points to how early-stage science gets oversold in the wellness world. If you care about public health, parenting, or making informed choices in a fast-changing cannabis landscape, you'll leave with specific claims to research, questions to ask, and resources to explore. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

In this episode, I sat down with John DeDakis, a journalist with 45 years in the newsroom and 25 years at CNN, to get  honest about the upsides and downsides of artificial intelligence in writing, publishing, and education, and where he draws the line.  John walked me through his pivot from journalism to mystery and suspense fiction, including what reporters have to unlearn when they move from “just the facts” to character emotion, interiority, and voice. We talked about persistence through rejection, why small independent publishers can be a great home, and how self-publishing changes the workload by making marketing and management your responsibility.  If you want grounded advice on writing craft, author marketing, and the future of AI for writers, listen through and take notes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

In this episode, I'm joined by Alisa Kriegel, a Manhattan psychologist with a thriving private practice and the author of From Sexless Marriage to Sex Goddess.  Together, we unpack what researchers actually mean by “sexless marriage," why shame and lack of communication keep couples stuck, and how complicated the real causes can be.  Alisa shares personal, unfiltered insights on sexual pain, birth control effects, learning your own body later in life, and the difference between friendship chemistry and sexual chemistry. We also shift into the writing and publishing side: how Alisa drafted early pages in her iPhone Notes app on subway rides, why content editing mattered, and how she made careful choices around privacy, names, and not turning her ex into a villain.  If you care about relationships, women’s pleasure, sex education for adults, couples therapy, or the craft of writing a memoir that tells the truth without causing unnecessary harm, there’s a lot here to sit with. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Jessica Danel built a thriving preschool business, scaling from a home daycare to a 140-student facility. But when the 2008 recession hit at the same time her newborn faced serious medical challenges, she was forced to make difficult decisions that changed her life and business. In this episode, Jessica shares the lessons she learned from growing, selling, and rebuilding—and how those experiences inspired her memoir, Bucket List from a Redneck Girl. We discuss her writing process, self-editing tools, hybrid publishing journey, audiobook creation, and practical book marketing strategies, including podcasting, short-form video, and AI-powered content creation. Whether you're writing a memoir, building a business, or balancing both, this conversation is packed with hard-earned insights and actionable advice. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Quitting a stable job to write full-time sounds bold, until you hear what it actually takes.  Author Carla Vergot, a former special education teacher and the voice behind the Lily Barlow series, joins us to talk about the moment a planned sabbatical became a life pivot, including her husband's cancer diagnosis, which arrived just as she left teaching. She shares how writing became both an escape and a survival tool, and why that pressure pushed her stories to be lighter, funnier, and more hopeful. We also get practical about building a sustainable author career: growing a Facebook reader group that feels like a community rather than a sales feed, booking bookstore signings, experimenting with TikTok, booking podcasts through PodMatch, and navigating publisher changes with Morgan James.  If you care about the real writing life—doubt, momentum, and craft—this one's for you.  Subscribe, share it with a writer friend, and leave a review. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

In this episode I sit down with author and speaker Douglas Schmidt to discuss his upcoming book, The Power of Self-Leadership: The Path to Unleash Your Talents, Strengths, and Superpowers. We talk about the connection between learning and leadership, why habits matter more than motivation, and how small daily decisions can shape your future. Douglas shares insights from books like Atomic Habits and Learning How to Learn, explains the neuroscience behind procrastination, and reveals why he believes “learning is a superpower.” We also dive into his publishing journey, building writing habits, using tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly, and the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors and lifelong learners. If you’re a writer, reader, creator, or anyone trying to grow personally and professionally, this conversation is packed with practical insights and encouragement. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

A head-on crash took author Laura Van Wormer out of the writing life she knew and forced her to rebuild from scratch, including her voice.  What she did, though, was that she didn’t just return to storytelling; she invented a new lane for herself through a serialized fiction podcast.  Laura, a best-selling novelist and former Doubleday editor, joined me to explain how The Class of 74 became a narrative “soap opera” told week by week, complete with cliffhangers, research, and a listening experience that feels intensely personal. Laura broke down how she grew her audience through word of mouth, why she created a Patreon community (the Detention Club), and what actually makes membership feel worth it: behind-the-scenes notes, period research, bonus media, ad-free listening, and live Q&A.  Laura went on to explain how consolidation changed traditional publishing, why backlist rights are so valuable, and what that means for authors weighing self-publishing vs getting an agent.  If you’re an author looking for book marketing ideas, audience growth strategies, or a clearer view of modern publishing, this conversation will give you both perspective and next steps. Subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review so more book lovers can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.

Thirty-one children's books. Written in a creative sprint. Published within months. When Kelly Anne Manuel tells that story, the most surprising part isn't the speed; it's the clarity of purpose behind it.  Her mission is to give kids a steady stream of comfort, confidence, and language that feels fun to live in. In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Anne Manuel, a children's book author whose modern nursery rhymes often arrive uninvited.  She "hears" them while walking the dog, drifting off to sleep, or moving through a hard moment. We dig into how she flips familiar phrases to help children see the world differently, and how her stories stretch from playful early learning to bigger themes like endings, loss, and personal boundaries. If you care about early childhood development, literacy, or positive self-talk, you'll hear how entertainment and emotional support can share the same page. What we cover: The creative process behind writing 31 books in a single sprintWhy she chose hybrid publishing with Balboa Press over traditional or self-publishing routesHow to write synopses that actually land with parents, teachers, and librariansBuilding an author platform through audiobooks, digital libraries, video read-alouds, and focused PRQuieting the inner critic long enough to createWhy momentum often comes from saying yes to the next right opportunityKelly shares what's worked, what's still unfolding, and the mindset that keeps her writing. Who this episode is for: Children's book authors, writers weighing self-publishing vs. hybrid publishing, and anyone trying to silence their inner critic long enough to put words on the page. You'll walk away with practical ideas — and a mindset reset. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER The Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing, publishing, and the business of books. Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? — 11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a 7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours. Subscribe here.