Shows
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP175: Can You Have a Writing Career Without Amazon?This week, Craig and Roland welcome Lauren Carter Reilly to the podcast—a trailblazing author who’s rewriting the rules of self-publishing by steering clear of Amazon entirely when it comes to finding readers for her Gothic horror series The Wonderful Lady B and her upcoming romantic comedy In This Fair Chase.
Lauren’s writing career has roots in her background as a classically trained actress, a background she used to captivate an audience of 142,000 TikTok followers with witty, shocking, and engaging video shorts that featured many of the characters she’d later go on to write about in...2025-05-2253 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP175: Can You Have a Writing Career Without Amazon?This week, Craig and Roland welcome Lauren Carter Reilly to the podcast—a trailblazing author who’s rewriting the rules of self-publishing by steering clear of Amazon entirely when it comes to finding readers for her Gothic horror series The Wonderful Lady B and her upcoming romantic comedy In This Fair Chase.
Lauren’s writing career has roots in her background as a classically trained actress, a background she used to captivate an audience of 142,000 TikTok followers with witty, shocking, and engaging video shorts that featured many of the characters she’d later go on to write about in...2025-05-2253 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP173: The Power of Ambiguity in Science FictionOn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the idea of writing with intentional ambiguity, a technique that involves leaving certain details unsaid to encourage deeper reader engagement. By strategically withholding information, authors allow readers to draw their own conclusions, imagine unwritten backstories, and interpret character motivations in different ways. Swedish author Karl Hörnell joins Craig and Roland to discuss how this approach can preserve narrative momentum and create a more immersive experience. While ambiguity has value across genres, it is especially powerful in science fiction, where over-explaining can quickly date a story or limit the rea...2025-05-0844 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP173: The Power of Ambiguity in Science FictionOn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the idea of writing with intentional ambiguity, a technique that involves leaving certain details unsaid to encourage deeper reader engagement. By strategically withholding information, authors allow readers to draw their own conclusions, imagine unwritten backstories, and interpret character motivations in different ways. Swedish author Karl Hörnell joins Craig and Roland to discuss how this approach can preserve narrative momentum and create a more immersive experience. While ambiguity has value across genres, it is especially powerful in science fiction, where over-explaining can quickly date a story or limit the rea...2025-05-0844 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP170: Crafting Hooks and Cliffhangers That Keep Pages TurningIn today’s episode of Fully Booked, we’re exploring how to build momentum in your fiction and make sure readers have a hard time putting your book down. Author and workshop leader Natasha Blandford, who writes as N.L. Blandford, joins Craig and Roland to discuss how to write compelling hooks and cliffhangers that keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. Drawing on her experience writing dark psychological thrillers and leading community workshops, Blandford shares her techniques on how to open strong, end stronger, and maintain narrative tension throughout your story.
As Natasha expl...2025-04-1751 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP170: Crafting Hooks and Cliffhangers That Keep Pages TurningIn today’s episode of Fully Booked, we’re exploring how to build momentum in your fiction and make sure readers have a hard time putting your book down. Author and workshop leader Natasha Blandford, who writes as N.L. Blandford, joins Craig and Roland to discuss how to write compelling hooks and cliffhangers that keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. Drawing on her experience writing dark psychological thrillers and leading community workshops, Blandford shares her techniques on how to open strong, end stronger, and maintain narrative tension throughout your story.
As Natasha expl...2025-04-1751 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP163: The Power of Firsthand Research in WritingFrom visiting unfamiliar locations to speaking directly with locals, nothing beats experiencing key elements of your story firsthand. When possible, this kind of immersive research can make the difference between a good book and one that truly transports readers. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with award-winning author Dr. Randy Overbeck to explore how direct, on-the-ground research enhances storytelling. Overbeck, a former educator turned award-winning mystery author, shares how traveling to real settings, consulting experts, and even participating in activities like sailing or dune buggy rides has helped him craft compelling, authentic narratives....2025-02-2745 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP163: The Power of Firsthand Research in WritingFrom visiting unfamiliar locations to speaking directly with locals, nothing beats experiencing key elements of your story firsthand. When possible, this kind of immersive research can make the difference between a good book and one that truly transports readers. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with award-winning author Dr. Randy Overbeck to explore how direct, on-the-ground research enhances storytelling. Overbeck, a former educator turned award-winning mystery author, shares how traveling to real settings, consulting experts, and even participating in activities like sailing or dune buggy rides has helped him craft compelling, authentic narratives....2025-02-2745 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP159: Asking "What if...?" to Develop Creative Concepts for your NovelOn this week's episode, Craig and Roland are joined by thriller author John Bukowski, who asks the provocative question: “What if…?”
John argues that posing the question of “What if…?” is one of the best ways to come up with ideas and concepts guaranteed to hook new readers. It’s the question which inspired the first of his novels, the provocative Project Suicide, and it was the compelling answer he came up with which led to the book being snatched up by an eager publisher.
Whether it’s introducing conflicting new characters, shattering the status quo with unexpect...2025-01-3045 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP159: Asking "What if...?" to Develop Creative Concepts for your NovelOn this week's episode, Craig and Roland are joined by thriller author John Bukowski, who asks the provocative question: “What if…?”
John argues that posing the question of “What if…?” is one of the best ways to come up with ideas and concepts guaranteed to hook new readers. It’s the question which inspired the first of his novels, the provocative Project Suicide, and it was the compelling answer he came up with which led to the book being snatched up by an eager publisher.
Whether it’s introducing conflicting new characters, shattering the status quo with unexpect...2025-01-3045 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP158: How and Why You Should Submit Your Books for an AwardIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by author and journalist Renee Garrison, the former president of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association and a passionate advocate for entering your books into some of the many award competitions held across America each year. Renee argues that winning or being nominated for a book award can provide invaluable credibility to your writing, inspire many new readers to take a chance on your work, and deliver powerful free publicity that can help your books stand out among the millions of new titles being published each ye...2025-01-2349 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP158: How and Why You Should Submit Your Books for an AwardIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by author and journalist Renee Garrison, the former president of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association and a passionate advocate for entering your books into some of the many award competitions held across America each year. Renee argues that winning or being nominated for a book award can provide invaluable credibility to your writing, inspire many new readers to take a chance on your work, and deliver powerful free publicity that can help your books stand out among the millions of new titles being published each ye...2025-01-2349 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP154: Grow Your Success with the Self-Pub Growth HubIn this week's episode, Craig and Roland unveil all the details about Hidden Gems' newest initiative, the Self-Pub Growth Hub. Launching in January 2025, this innovative service is designed to support authors on their self-publishing journey through regular video meetings focused on key topics. They explain how the program works, outline the three specialized groups available—Advertising & Marketing, General Self-Publishing Tips, and AI for Authors—and share everything you need to know about these dynamic and collaborative sessions.
Being an independent author can often feel isolating, as Craig and Roland both know, having often emphasized how much their own...2024-12-2650 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP154: Grow Your Success with the Self-Pub Growth HubIn this week's episode, Craig and Roland unveil all the details about Hidden Gems' newest initiative, the Self-Pub Growth Hub. Launching in January 2025, this innovative service is designed to support authors on their self-publishing journey through regular video meetings focused on key topics. They explain how the program works, outline the three specialized groups available—Advertising & Marketing, General Self-Publishing Tips, and AI for Authors—and share everything you need to know about these dynamic and collaborative sessions.
Being an independent author can often feel isolating, as Craig and Roland both know, having often emphasized how much their own...2024-12-2650 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP153: Niche Non-Fiction: Writing for the Few to Reach the ManyOn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by writer and filmmaker Mark Edlitz, whose career as a television and film writer led him to write a series of books about movies and superheroes that have attracted international attention.
Mark discusses his path from filmmaking to the written word, including making the shift from traditional publishing to self-publishing. He also outlines the unique challenges presented when writing non-fiction books about intellectual property and popular franchises, but balances that by exploring the ways pop culture writing can connect authors with a unique audience of...2024-12-1947 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP153: Niche Non-Fiction: Writing for the Few to Reach the ManyOn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by writer and filmmaker Mark Edlitz, whose career as a television and film writer led him to write a series of books about movies and superheroes that have attracted international attention.
Mark discusses his path from filmmaking to the written word, including making the shift from traditional publishing to self-publishing. He also outlines the unique challenges presented when writing non-fiction books about intellectual property and popular franchises, but balances that by exploring the ways pop culture writing can connect authors with a unique audience of...2024-12-1947 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP150: The Power of Mentorship: Transforming Book Sales with AdsOver the past few months, Craig and Roland have been mentoring author Michelle Hazen to improve the sales of one of her rockstar romance series of novels. Despite not releasing any new books in the series, Michelle achieved a tenfold increase in sales by the end of the mentorship. Through the mentorship, she made data-driven changes to her advertising strategy and Amazon product pages to help reach new readers—such as optimizing her covers, writing new blurbs, and adding A+ content. Through her journey she also gained a greater mastery over the intricacies of Facebook advertising and how to ma...2024-11-2858 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP150: The Power of Mentorship: Transforming Book Sales with AdsOver the past few months, Craig and Roland have been mentoring author Michelle Hazen to improve the sales of one of her rockstar romance series of novels. Despite not releasing any new books in the series, Michelle achieved a tenfold increase in sales by the end of the mentorship. Through the mentorship, she made data-driven changes to her advertising strategy and Amazon product pages to help reach new readers—such as optimizing her covers, writing new blurbs, and adding A+ content. Through her journey she also gained a greater mastery over the intricacies of Facebook advertising and how to ma...2024-11-2858 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP149: The Do's and Don'ts of Creating AudiobooksAudiobooks are more than just a narrated version of a book—they are a performance brought to life through a complex mix of technical expertise and creative artistry. In this week’s episode, Craig and Roland are joined by author, artist, and activist Franke James, who shares her firsthand experience of transforming her award-winning book into an audiobook that has gone on to win numerous accolades of its own.
From casting professional voice actors to tackling the challenges of studio recording, Franke details out everything she did right—and wrong—throughout the process. Whether it’s overcoming unexpected...2024-11-2144 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP149: The Do's and Don'ts of Creating AudiobooksAudiobooks are more than just a narrated version of a book—they are a performance brought to life through a complex mix of technical expertise and creative artistry. In this week’s episode, Craig and Roland are joined by author, artist, and activist Franke James, who shares her firsthand experience of transforming her award-winning book into an audiobook that has gone on to win numerous accolades of its own.
From casting professional voice actors to tackling the challenges of studio recording, Franke details out everything she did right—and wrong—throughout the process. Whether it’s overcoming unexpected...2024-11-2144 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP146: Why Should Authors Approach Self-Publishing as a Business?In this week’s episode, Craig and Roland take on a topic essential for any indie author aiming for success: the importance of treating self-publishing as a business. To help with this discussion, they’re joined by romance author and podcaster Gigi Meier, who shares her insights on balancing the creative and business demands of self-publishing. Together, they discuss why authors need more than just storytelling skills to succeed—they also need a strategic mindset, effective marketing, and a solid plan to reach and retain readers.
Gigi highlights the importance of reader engagement, branding, and thoughtful time manage...2024-10-3145 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP146: Why Should Authors Approach Self-Publishing as a Business?In this week’s episode, Craig and Roland take on a topic essential for any indie author aiming for success: the importance of treating self-publishing as a business. To help with this discussion, they’re joined by romance author and podcaster Gigi Meier, who shares her insights on balancing the creative and business demands of self-publishing. Together, they discuss why authors need more than just storytelling skills to succeed—they also need a strategic mindset, effective marketing, and a solid plan to reach and retain readers.
Gigi highlights the importance of reader engagement, branding, and thoughtful time manage...2024-10-3145 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP145: Has Self-Publishing Gone Mainstream?Inspired by a recent move from Taylor Swift to snub traditional publishers for her forthcoming Eras Tour book, hosts Craig and Roland discuss whether or not self-publishing has gone mainstream. Swift isn't the only high-profile figure to embrace self-publishing, and with each big name that moves away from the big 5, the power dynamic increasingly shifts to self-publishing. Retailers are becoming more open to selling self-published books, Kickstarter campaigns are finding greater success, and new distribution channels and marketing tools are starting to service the community as a whole.
While big stars like Swift have built-in fan bases...2024-10-2442 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP145: Has Self-Publishing Gone Mainstream?Inspired by a recent move from Taylor Swift to snub traditional publishers for her forthcoming Eras Tour book, hosts Craig and Roland discuss whether or not self-publishing has gone mainstream. Swift isn't the only high-profile figure to embrace self-publishing, and with each big name that moves away from the big 5, the power dynamic increasingly shifts to self-publishing. Retailers are becoming more open to selling self-published books, Kickstarter campaigns are finding greater success, and new distribution channels and marketing tools are starting to service the community as a whole.
While big stars like Swift have built-in fan bases...2024-10-2442 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP142: What Are The Essential Elements of a Spooky Story?With Halloween just around the corner, there's no better time to explore the art of crafting the perfect spooky story. To help with that, Craig and Roland sit down with Beth Castrodale, an experienced author who specializes in writing eerie and atmospheric novels. According to Beth, creating a truly haunting tale comes down to managing the delicate balance between psychological tension, unsettling settings, and building empathy for your characters—even the villains!
Adding that spine-tingling feeling to your horrors requires learning how to pace your stories properly and understanding how small, subtle details can amplify suspense. From cr...2024-10-0351 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP142: What Are The Essential Elements of a Spooky Story?With Halloween just around the corner, there's no better time to explore the art of crafting the perfect spooky story. To help with that, Craig and Roland sit down with Beth Castrodale, an experienced author who specializes in writing eerie and atmospheric novels. According to Beth, creating a truly haunting tale comes down to managing the delicate balance between psychological tension, unsettling settings, and building empathy for your characters—even the villains!
Adding that spine-tingling feeling to your horrors requires learning how to pace your stories properly and understanding how small, subtle details can amplify suspense. From cr...2024-10-0351 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP141: A Publishing Powerhouse Roundtable about AI writing and more...Once in a while, hosts Craig and Roland comb through the latest happenings in the ever-evolving world of self-publishing. In this episode, they’re joined by author, self-publishing expert, and well-known YouTube star Dale L. Roberts for a roundtable discussion. Dale, always on top of the hottest trends affecting authors, brings fresh insights to the conversation, leading to a lively discussion on the rise of AI in publishing, maximizing engagement through targeted content creation, and recent issues surrounding KDP blocking books.
The episode doesn’t shy away from big questions, such as how AI is reshaping the writ...2024-09-2649 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP141: A Publishing Powerhouse Roundtable about AI writing and more...Once in a while, hosts Craig and Roland comb through the latest happenings in the ever-evolving world of self-publishing. In this episode, they’re joined by author, self-publishing expert, and well-known YouTube star Dale L. Roberts for a roundtable discussion. Dale, always on top of the hottest trends affecting authors, brings fresh insights to the conversation, leading to a lively discussion on the rise of AI in publishing, maximizing engagement through targeted content creation, and recent issues surrounding KDP blocking books.
The episode doesn’t shy away from big questions, such as how AI is reshaping the writ...2024-09-2649 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP140: How To REALLY Get Inside Your Character’s HeadWell-written stories are driven by the choices characters make, and understanding why the characters made those choices is crucial if you want them to seem believable and authentic. That’s where psychology can come in.
In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, journalist and High Fantasy author Steffanie Costigan joins Craig and Roland to discuss how she uses elements from the classic Myers-Briggs Type Indicator when she develops her characters, because she believes it offers a powerful guide into how each of them might think, act, and interact with each other.
Inspired by th...2024-09-1950 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP140: How To REALLY Get Inside Your Character’s HeadWell-written stories are driven by the choices characters make, and understanding why the characters made those choices is crucial if you want them to seem believable and authentic. That’s where psychology can come in.
In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, journalist and High Fantasy author Steffanie Costigan joins Craig and Roland to discuss how she uses elements from the classic Myers-Briggs Type Indicator when she develops her characters, because she believes it offers a powerful guide into how each of them might think, act, and interact with each other.
Inspired by th...2024-09-1950 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP139: The Reality of Selling Your Books DirectlyYou might have heard influential figures in self-publishing declare that Direct Sales are “the next big trend” - but is selling your ebooks directly to your readers really a better option than using a tried-and-tested platform like Amazon?
Today, Craig and Roland sit down to discuss exactly that, using Roland’s months of experience selling his books directly to provide a real-life example. They discuss the challenges of setting up an effective sales funnel, how much technical knowledge you’ll require, the difficulty of turning a profit, and they weigh the pros and cons against more traditional self-publ...2024-09-1256 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP139: The Reality of Selling Your Books DirectlyYou might have heard influential figures in self-publishing declare that Direct Sales are “the next big trend” - but is selling your ebooks directly to your readers really a better option than using a tried-and-tested platform like Amazon?
Today, Craig and Roland sit down to discuss exactly that, using Roland’s months of experience selling his books directly to provide a real-life example. They discuss the challenges of setting up an effective sales funnel, how much technical knowledge you’ll require, the difficulty of turning a profit, and they weigh the pros and cons against more traditional self-publ...2024-09-1256 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP138: Kink Meets Crowdfunding: Navigating Publishing as a Controversial AuthorIt’s tough enough to find a traditional publisher for your first book, but even tougher when that book is about a controversial topic. Yet, when today’s guest Ariel Anderssen decided to publish a memoir about her career as a submissive BDSM model, she topped from the bottom and refused to take “no” for an answer. The result of those efforts, her book “Playing to Lose,” is available now.
Ariel’s unique publishing journey is the subject of today’s discussion. She shares with Craig and Roland the challenges of finding a publisher when one of the core topics o...2024-09-0551 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP138: Kink Meets Crowdfunding: Navigating Publishing as a Controversial AuthorIt’s tough enough to find a traditional publisher for your first book, but even tougher when that book is about a controversial topic. Yet, when today’s guest Ariel Anderssen decided to publish a memoir about her career as a submissive BDSM model, she topped from the bottom and refused to take “no” for an answer. The result of those efforts, her book “Playing to Lose,” is available now.
Ariel’s unique publishing journey is the subject of today’s discussion. She shares with Craig and Roland the challenges of finding a publisher when one of the core topics o...2024-09-0551 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP137: What is a Zero Draft and Why Do You Need One?In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are exploring the concept of the "zero draft," a powerful tool for writers at any stage of their manuscript. Guest Cara Stevens, an experienced editor, book coach, and writer, explains how the zero draft differs from other drafts and why it's an essential part of the writing process. Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, the zero draft helps you clarify your story, providing a scaffold that supports the development of your narrative without the pressure of crafting a perfect first draft.
Cara shares practical insights on how...2024-08-2946 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP137: What is a Zero Draft and Why Do You Need One?In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are exploring the concept of the "zero draft," a powerful tool for writers at any stage of their manuscript. Guest Cara Stevens, an experienced editor, book coach, and writer, explains how the zero draft differs from other drafts and why it's an essential part of the writing process. Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, the zero draft helps you clarify your story, providing a scaffold that supports the development of your narrative without the pressure of crafting a perfect first draft.
Cara shares practical insights on how...2024-08-2946 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP136: From Blank Page to Pilot: Taking The Initiative to Sell Your StoriesIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Zack Morrison for a hard look at the challenges of breaking into the television industry and the unconventional path he's taken in trying to sell his own comedy pilot. Despite his impressive credentials, including work on shows like SNL and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Zack reveals that in today’s market, even the most talented writers need more than just a great script to succeed. He discusses the importance of initiative and creativity in transforming an idea from paper to screen, an...2024-08-2251 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP136: From Blank Page to Pilot: Taking The Initiative to Sell Your StoriesIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Zack Morrison for a hard look at the challenges of breaking into the television industry and the unconventional path he's taken in trying to sell his own comedy pilot. Despite his impressive credentials, including work on shows like SNL and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Zack reveals that in today’s market, even the most talented writers need more than just a great script to succeed. He discusses the importance of initiative and creativity in transforming an idea from paper to screen, an...2024-08-2251 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP135: Five Things You Need to be a Successful AuthorEven though he didn’t start publishing until he was in his sixties, travel writer Emil Rem has always set his own definition of success when it comes to his writing - and in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, he sits down with Craig and Roland to discuss the five essential attributes he believes are critical for writers hoping to share his satisfaction at engaging with readers and sharing his stories with the world.
Using examples drawn from his own globe-trotting history, Emil outlines core concepts like relentless self-belief, unwavering tenacity in your work ethic, find...2024-08-1531 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP135: Five Things You Need to be a Successful AuthorEven though he didn’t start publishing until he was in his sixties, travel writer Emil Rem has always set his own definition of success when it comes to his writing - and in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, he sits down with Craig and Roland to discuss the five essential attributes he believes are critical for writers hoping to share his satisfaction at engaging with readers and sharing his stories with the world.
Using examples drawn from his own globe-trotting history, Emil outlines core concepts like relentless self-belief, unwavering tenacity in your work ethic, find...2024-08-1531 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP134: What Can The Monomyth Teach Us About Structuring Our Stories?What turns a description into a story? For most writers, the answer is structure - the timeless, immutable formula of storytelling that originated when our ancestors told tales around the campfire, yet continues today in Hollywood blockbusters and best-selling books.
Entertainment journalist and comic book writer Christian Angeles knows all about story structure. In fact, he’s even started a company called Monomythic which aims to help preserve the foundational elements of storytelling even as artists and creators explore telling their tales through new mediums and technologies.
In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Chri...2024-08-0843 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP134: What Can The Monomyth Teach Us About Structuring Our Stories?What turns a description into a story? For most writers, the answer is structure - the timeless, immutable formula of storytelling that originated when our ancestors told tales around the campfire, yet continues today in Hollywood blockbusters and best-selling books.
Entertainment journalist and comic book writer Christian Angeles knows all about story structure. In fact, he’s even started a company called Monomythic which aims to help preserve the foundational elements of storytelling even as artists and creators explore telling their tales through new mediums and technologies.
In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Chri...2024-08-0843 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP133: The Versatile Author: Crafting Stories for Every PlatformIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland examine the dynamic world of storytelling with author and screenwriter Sheri Langer. Renowned for her versatility across various mediums, Sheri shares her experience in crafting stories not only as novels and screenplays but also as TV pilots, audiobooks, and more. She discusses the unique challenges and considerations of making a story successful across these different formats, highlighting the importance of staying true to the original creative vision while meeting the demands of each medium.
Sheri reflects on how her childhood fascination with TV and movies shaped her...2024-08-0148 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP133: The Versatile Author: Crafting Stories for Every PlatformIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland examine the dynamic world of storytelling with author and screenwriter Sheri Langer. Renowned for her versatility across various mediums, Sheri shares her experience in crafting stories not only as novels and screenplays but also as TV pilots, audiobooks, and more. She discusses the unique challenges and considerations of making a story successful across these different formats, highlighting the importance of staying true to the original creative vision while meeting the demands of each medium.
Sheri reflects on how her childhood fascination with TV and movies shaped her...2024-08-0148 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP132: When Publishing Meets ActivismIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore how publishing can provide an author with more than just readers and royalties. Special guest Ali Horriyat joins them to talk about Compassiviste, a groundbreaking non-profit organization he created that’s dedicated to driving social change by providing a platform for authors, artists, and other creative activists to share their work.
Ali’s own story is pretty remarkable. After a highly successful career in finance, Ali left it all behind to focus on bringing more compassion into the world, combining activism and the arts to inspire mean...2024-07-2555 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP132: When Publishing Meets ActivismIn this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore how publishing can provide an author with more than just readers and royalties. Special guest Ali Horriyat joins them to talk about Compassiviste, a groundbreaking non-profit organization he created that’s dedicated to driving social change by providing a platform for authors, artists, and other creative activists to share their work.
Ali’s own story is pretty remarkable. After a highly successful career in finance, Ali left it all behind to focus on bringing more compassion into the world, combining activism and the arts to inspire mean...2024-07-2555 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP131: Is Publisher Rocket 2.0 a Game-Changer for Amazon Ads?In today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by returning guest Dave Chesson from Kindlepreneur to discuss the latest update to one of the most powerful tools for self-published authors: Publisher Rocket. The recently released Version 2.0 of this tool is designed to revolutionize your Amazon advertising strategy by optimizing your book's relevancy and helping you properly categorize it.
Dave explains how Publisher Rocket's new Amazon ads functionality allows authors to see their book through Amazon's eyes. With this enhanced visibility, the tool provides invaluable insights into the keywords, phrases, and categories that Amazon associates...2024-07-1850 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP131: Is Publisher Rocket 2.0 a Game-Changer for Amazon Ads?In today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by returning guest Dave Chesson from Kindlepreneur to discuss the latest update to one of the most powerful tools for self-published authors: Publisher Rocket. The recently released Version 2.0 of this tool is designed to revolutionize your Amazon advertising strategy by optimizing your book's relevancy and helping you properly categorize it.
Dave explains how Publisher Rocket's new Amazon ads functionality allows authors to see their book through Amazon's eyes. With this enhanced visibility, the tool provides invaluable insights into the keywords, phrases, and categories that Amazon associates...2024-07-1850 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP128: How to Add Authenticity to your Romance StoriesIn today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are discussing the different ways that authors can infuse genuine romance and emotional realism into their stories. Both hosts are romance novelists themselves, but are lucky enough to be joined by Caroline McIntosh for this episode - who is not just an accomplished romance author, but also a writing coach who excels at helping other authors bring compelling and heartfelt relationships alive on the pages of their stories.
Caroline shares her journey from writing YA and fantasy to discovering her passion for romance novels. She emphasizes the importance...2024-06-2741 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP128: How to Add Authenticity to your Romance StoriesIn today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are discussing the different ways that authors can infuse genuine romance and emotional realism into their stories. Both hosts are romance novelists themselves, but are lucky enough to be joined by Caroline McIntosh for this episode - who is not just an accomplished romance author, but also a writing coach who excels at helping other authors bring compelling and heartfelt relationships alive on the pages of their stories.
Caroline shares her journey from writing YA and fantasy to discovering her passion for romance novels. She emphasizes the importance...2024-06-2741 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP127: Can Poetry Still Make an Impact in 2024?It’s rhyme-time in this week's episode of Fully Booked, as Craig and Roland explore the enduring power of poetry even in today's fast-paced digital world. Their guide through the evocative world of rhythm and flow is Viral Gor, spoken word performer and author of "Poetry is Motion: Mind, Body, and Soul."
Virus the Poet shares his insights on how poetry remains a vital form of expression and connection in the modern age, even as social media and technology increasingly dominate our lives. He argues that poetry continues to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions in our rap...2024-06-2049 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP127: Can Poetry Still Make an Impact in 2024?It’s rhyme-time in this week's episode of Fully Booked, as Craig and Roland explore the enduring power of poetry even in today's fast-paced digital world. Their guide through the evocative world of rhythm and flow is Viral Gor, spoken word performer and author of "Poetry is Motion: Mind, Body, and Soul."
Virus the Poet shares his insights on how poetry remains a vital form of expression and connection in the modern age, even as social media and technology increasingly dominate our lives. He argues that poetry continues to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions in our rap...2024-06-2049 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP124: How Can Authors Define Their Target Market?In this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into a crucial, but often overlooked aspect of author success: defining your target market. Joined by seasoned publisher and author Ann Aubitz, they explore the significance of understanding who your readers are, why it's essential to know your audience before you even start writing, and how this knowledge can shape both your writing and marketing process.
Much like advertisers invest heavily in understanding their target market, authors need to be keenly aware of who they are writing for so that they can adjust their marketing strategies...2024-05-3047 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP124: How Can Authors Define Their Target Market?In this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into a crucial, but often overlooked aspect of author success: defining your target market. Joined by seasoned publisher and author Ann Aubitz, they explore the significance of understanding who your readers are, why it's essential to know your audience before you even start writing, and how this knowledge can shape both your writing and marketing process.
Much like advertisers invest heavily in understanding their target market, authors need to be keenly aware of who they are writing for so that they can adjust their marketing strategies...2024-05-3047 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP122: Is Mindset an Author's Most Valuable Asset?What’s a self-published author’s most valuable asset? Their writing experience? Their marketing expertise? Their ability to create vivid and engaging characters? All of those attributes are undeniably important - but former Air Force fighter pilot and USA Today bestselling author Steve Pieper argues that the most important asset an author has at their disposal comes from within - their mindset.
It’s mindset that has set Steve up as a pioneer in direct sales of his self-published books, and seen him lead dozens of other authors to similar success. He argues that mindset values such as gri...2024-05-1650 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP122: Is Mindset an Author's Most Valuable Asset?What’s a self-published author’s most valuable asset? Their writing experience? Their marketing expertise? Their ability to create vivid and engaging characters? All of those attributes are undeniably important - but former Air Force fighter pilot and USA Today bestselling author Steve Pieper argues that the most important asset an author has at their disposal comes from within - their mindset.
It’s mindset that has set Steve up as a pioneer in direct sales of his self-published books, and seen him lead dozens of other authors to similar success. He argues that mindset values such as gri...2024-05-1650 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP113: Where Do Writing and AI Intersect?On this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland welcome Jennifer Lewy to the podcast. Jennifer, a seasoned author with considerable AI experience, shares her insights and experiences on the many innovative ways authors can take advantage of Artificial Intelligence tools in their self-publishing career, while at the same time staying aware of the potential pitfalls and problems this new technology might pose in the future.
Drawing on her extensive background in the tech industry, Jennifer provides a distinctive perspective on the role of AI in the writing and publishing process, with first-hand knowledge on a...2024-03-1447 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP113: Where Do Writing and AI Intersect?On this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland welcome Jennifer Lewy to the podcast. Jennifer, a seasoned author with considerable AI experience, shares her insights and experiences on the many innovative ways authors can take advantage of Artificial Intelligence tools in their self-publishing career, while at the same time staying aware of the potential pitfalls and problems this new technology might pose in the future.
Drawing on her extensive background in the tech industry, Jennifer provides a distinctive perspective on the role of AI in the writing and publishing process, with first-hand knowledge on a...2024-03-1447 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP112: Podcast Launchpad: Propelling Your Book into the SpotlightWhile many people complain that podcasting has become an oversaturated industry, there are millions of daily listeners who’d say something different. Podcasting still offers a powerful platform for those with specific and niche interests to build an audience, and getting featured on those podcasts is a wonderful opportunity for authors to reach new readers.
But how does one get started making guest appearances on podcasts? That’s a question that Craig and Roland posed to this week’s guest, “THE Podcast Matchmaker” Michelle Glogovac.
Michelle specializes in connecting authors with podcasts, and in this week’s epi...2024-03-0743 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP112: Podcast Launchpad: Propelling Your Book into the SpotlightWhile many people complain that podcasting has become an oversaturated industry, there are millions of daily listeners who’d say something different. Podcasting still offers a powerful platform for those with specific and niche interests to build an audience, and getting featured on those podcasts is a wonderful opportunity for authors to reach new readers.
But how does one get started making guest appearances on podcasts? That’s a question that Craig and Roland posed to this week’s guest, “THE Podcast Matchmaker” Michelle Glogovac.
Michelle specializes in connecting authors with podcasts, and in this week’s epi...2024-03-0743 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP111: Building Believable Science Fiction UniversesThe term “Space Lawyer” might sound like something out of science fiction, but that’s the real life career of attorney Laura Montgomery, whose practice “Ground Based Space Matters” specializes in regulatory space law and Outer Space Treaties.
All of which provides ample inspiration for Laura’s other specialization - writing and self-publishing science fiction! Her knowledge of space, and the laws that govern it (or lack of them,) have enabled her to create incredible fictional universes rooted in believable science, set both in the near future and eons ahead of us.
In this week’s episode of F...2024-02-2948 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP111: Building Believable Science Fiction UniversesThe term “Space Lawyer” might sound like something out of science fiction, but that’s the real life career of attorney Laura Montgomery, whose practice “Ground Based Space Matters” specializes in regulatory space law and Outer Space Treaties.
All of which provides ample inspiration for Laura’s other specialization - writing and self-publishing science fiction! Her knowledge of space, and the laws that govern it (or lack of them,) have enabled her to create incredible fictional universes rooted in believable science, set both in the near future and eons ahead of us.
In this week’s episode of F...2024-02-2948 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP110: How Can Authors Best Represent Disability in Fiction?On today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore the portrayal of disabilities in literature, with a focus on the often misunderstood realm of invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities refer to conditions that aren't obvious when simply looking at a person, yet still deeply affect the lives of individuals that have them. To help them navigate these tricky waters, they’re joined by author Michael Coolwood, who shares his personal journey of writing with and about his own disabilities.
Michael explains the intricate balance authors must strike between authenticity and the expectations of a market that may no...2024-02-2251 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP110: How Can Authors Best Represent Disability in Fiction?On today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore the portrayal of disabilities in literature, with a focus on the often misunderstood realm of invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities refer to conditions that aren't obvious when simply looking at a person, yet still deeply affect the lives of individuals that have them. To help them navigate these tricky waters, they’re joined by author Michael Coolwood, who shares his personal journey of writing with and about his own disabilities.
Michael explains the intricate balance authors must strike between authenticity and the expectations of a market that may no...2024-02-2251 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP109: Kickstarting the Creative ProcessIn today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by indie filmmaker and writer Andrew Schrader to explore the nuances of igniting and sustaining the creative spark. The source of creative inspiration is as individual to every writer as a fingerprint, and leveraging that inspiration often takes a variety of diverse techniques, habits, and intuitive actions that are unique to every author. Andrew explains how he employs an array of motivational tactics and personal rituals to fan the flames of his own creativity, and helps outline how to get started using many of these techniques. From accessing...2024-02-1543 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP109: Kickstarting the Creative ProcessIn today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by indie filmmaker and writer Andrew Schrader to explore the nuances of igniting and sustaining the creative spark. The source of creative inspiration is as individual to every writer as a fingerprint, and leveraging that inspiration often takes a variety of diverse techniques, habits, and intuitive actions that are unique to every author. Andrew explains how he employs an array of motivational tactics and personal rituals to fan the flames of his own creativity, and helps outline how to get started using many of these techniques. From accessing...2024-02-1543 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP108: The Writer's Roadmap: Using the 3-Act Structure to Drive Your Stories ForwardIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, hosts Craig and Roland delve into the world of story structure with Mel Mattison, author of gripping financial thrillers that he builds using one of the most resilient story frameworks of modern literature - the three-act structure.
Mel leads the discussion through the intricate art of crafting compelling narratives using this structure, dissecting the nuances of plot development, character arcs, and pacing within the context of self-publishing. From laying the groundwork in the setup phase to delivering satisfying resolutions in the final act, this episode offers a comprehensive roadmap fo...2024-02-0847 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP108: The Writer's Roadmap: Using the 3-Act Structure to Drive Your Stories ForwardIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, hosts Craig and Roland delve into the world of story structure with Mel Mattison, author of gripping financial thrillers that he builds using one of the most resilient story frameworks of modern literature - the three-act structure.
Mel leads the discussion through the intricate art of crafting compelling narratives using this structure, dissecting the nuances of plot development, character arcs, and pacing within the context of self-publishing. From laying the groundwork in the setup phase to delivering satisfying resolutions in the final act, this episode offers a comprehensive roadmap fo...2024-02-0847 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP106: Polish Your Prose: The Journey from Draft to MasterpieceIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland delve into the detailed process of book editing and revision with special guest S.G. Blaise, a seasoned author with five novels and a decade of storytelling experience behind her.
Blaise helps lead the discussion through some of the essential steps that transform a rough draft into a literary masterpiece, including gathering feedback from beta readers, iterating through revisions and rewrites, and selecting an editor who understands both your genre and your personal writing style.
If the first draft is step one of your pub...2024-01-2544 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP106: Polish Your Prose: The Journey from Draft to MasterpieceIn this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland delve into the detailed process of book editing and revision with special guest S.G. Blaise, a seasoned author with five novels and a decade of storytelling experience behind her.
Blaise helps lead the discussion through some of the essential steps that transform a rough draft into a literary masterpiece, including gathering feedback from beta readers, iterating through revisions and rewrites, and selecting an editor who understands both your genre and your personal writing style.
If the first draft is step one of your pub...2024-01-2544 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP104: The Story and Services of Hidden GemsIn today's special episode of Fully Booked, co-hosts Craig and Roland take a moment to step back and reflect on the journey of HiddenGemsBooks, a platform that offers a variety of services and resources for aspiring and established authors alike. They explore everything from the weekly author podcasts and blogs to the suite of practical tools and services designed to assist authors on their publishing journey from manuscript to market.
Craig and Roland share insights from their own writing paths, shedding light on the passions that drive their work before delving into the array of services and...2024-01-1143 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP104: The Story and Services of Hidden GemsIn today's special episode of Fully Booked, co-hosts Craig and Roland take a moment to step back and reflect on the journey of HiddenGemsBooks, a platform that offers a variety of services and resources for aspiring and established authors alike. They explore everything from the weekly author podcasts and blogs to the suite of practical tools and services designed to assist authors on their publishing journey from manuscript to market.
Craig and Roland share insights from their own writing paths, shedding light on the passions that drive their work before delving into the array of services and...2024-01-1143 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP95: How Review Journals Can Boost Your Publishing CareerEvery self-published author knows how important reviews are - but there are different types of reviews than just those left by readers. Editorial reviews and review journals are a legacy of traditional publishing, but still incredibly valuable - even to self-published writers. In fact, review journals are unsung heroes in helping authors expand their reach beyond just publishing in the digital realm. In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland have invited back a previous guest to help dive deep into the world of review journals such as Booklist, Library Journal, and the School Library Journal - all...2023-11-0947 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP95: How Review Journals Can Boost Your Publishing CareerEvery self-published author knows how important reviews are - but there are different types of reviews than just those left by readers. Editorial reviews and review journals are a legacy of traditional publishing, but still incredibly valuable - even to self-published writers. In fact, review journals are unsung heroes in helping authors expand their reach beyond just publishing in the digital realm. In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland have invited back a previous guest to help dive deep into the world of review journals such as Booklist, Library Journal, and the School Library Journal - all...2023-11-0947 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP93: Write or Wrong: The ethics of AI-Generated Text and Art for AuthorsAs generative AI advances at a breakneck pace, it poses pressing questions and concerns for both authors and artists. With a variety of tools and services available that can generate cover images, advertisements, and even entire written works, the legality of their use is being questioned by several lawsuits.
Join us in this episode of Fully Booked, in which Craig, Roland, and Hidden Gems designer Nate Allison attempt to offer a fair and balanced perspective on these critical issues through discussion and debate. While it might be years before the legal landscape around AI-generated content is finally...2023-10-2649 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP93: Write or Wrong: The ethics of AI-Generated Text and Art for AuthorsAs generative AI advances at a breakneck pace, it poses pressing questions and concerns for both authors and artists. With a variety of tools and services available that can generate cover images, advertisements, and even entire written works, the legality of their use is being questioned by several lawsuits.
Join us in this episode of Fully Booked, in which Craig, Roland, and Hidden Gems designer Nate Allison attempt to offer a fair and balanced perspective on these critical issues through discussion and debate. While it might be years before the legal landscape around AI-generated content is finally...2023-10-2649 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP92: Licence to Thrill: How To Structure Satisfying Thrillers and MysteriesFrom the intriguing mysteries of Agatha Christie to the heart-pounding thrills of Lee Child's novels, there's no doubt that readers have an insatiable appetite for well-structured, satisfying page-turners. But have you ever wondered what it takes to craft one? That’s the question Craig and Roland pose to this week's guest, award-winning author of over 40 thriller and mystery novels, Raymond Benson.
While Raymond is most renowned for his officially-licensed James Bond continuation novels, he has also earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting beautifully-crafted stories that are not just satisfying but utterly addictive. In today's episode, Raymond shares hi...2023-10-1949 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP92: Licence to Thrill: How To Structure Satisfying Thrillers and MysteriesFrom the intriguing mysteries of Agatha Christie to the heart-pounding thrills of Lee Child's novels, there's no doubt that readers have an insatiable appetite for well-structured, satisfying page-turners. But have you ever wondered what it takes to craft one? That’s the question Craig and Roland pose to this week's guest, award-winning author of over 40 thriller and mystery novels, Raymond Benson.
While Raymond is most renowned for his officially-licensed James Bond continuation novels, he has also earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting beautifully-crafted stories that are not just satisfying but utterly addictive. In today's episode, Raymond shares hi...2023-10-1949 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP91: The Second Life of Your Book: The Dos and Don’ts of Self-RepublishingTraditional and independent publishers are continuing to struggle. As a result, more and more previously-published authors are deciding to try self-publishing when they regain the rights to books that had previously been traditionally published.
While this offers authors an opportunity to breathe new life into their old books, it’s not necessarily the most straightforward process to self-publish a book that already exists on Amazon. Many authors have concerns about whether or not they can access previous reviews, how multiple editions of the same book might show up on Amazon, and whether issues will arise with copyright.
...2023-10-1247 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP91: The Second Life of Your Book: The Dos and Don’ts of Self-RepublishingTraditional and independent publishers are continuing to struggle. As a result, more and more previously-published authors are deciding to try self-publishing when they regain the rights to books that had previously been traditionally published.
While this offers authors an opportunity to breathe new life into their old books, it’s not necessarily the most straightforward process to self-publish a book that already exists on Amazon. Many authors have concerns about whether or not they can access previous reviews, how multiple editions of the same book might show up on Amazon, and whether issues will arise with copyright.
...2023-10-1247 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP89: How to Succeed as a Neurodivergent AuthorWhen it comes to life's challenges, there are those that choose to evade them, and those that confront them head on. Today's guest, Andrew McDowell, undoubtedly belongs to the latter category.
Diagnosed at a young age with Asperger's syndrome, Andrew faced significant hurdles in fundamental aspects of writing, from language and reading to deciphering emotional cues. But instead of letting his diagnosis stand in the way of his dream of becoming an author, he turned his focus towards transforming his unique challenges into strengths. With no well-trodden road to follow, Andrew's journey is nothing short of...2023-09-2847 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP88: Can Busy Authors Still Prioritize Their Writing?In the whirlwind of our busy lives, finding time to write can be a Herculean task. Take today's guest, for example. Aside from navigating the regular chaos of life, Nzondi (aka Ace Antonio Hall) has penned four books, has an alt-rock single playing on the radio, and he's working on writing and recording a full album. He's living proof that commitment and treating your craft like a job can help you unearth those precious pockets of creative time.
In this episode, Nzondi shares his secrets for maintaining productivity, from his inspired approach to conquering writer's bl...2023-09-2146 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP87: Should Authors Sell Direct to Their Readers?“Are you ready to get off the Amazon Hamster Wheel?” That’s a question posed by USA Today best-selling author Steve Pieper in this week’s episode of Fully Booked. A former US Air Force fighter pilot, Steve now self-publishes thrillers under the pen name Lars Emmerich. After growing frustrated with the limitations of selling his self-published books on Amazon, Steve leveraged his experience in corporate ecommerce to become a pioneer amid the increasing number of authors who are experimenting with selling their eBooks directly to readers through platforms like Shopify.
While Steve warns Craig and Roland that cre...2023-09-1456 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP87: Should Authors Sell Direct to Their Readers?“Are you ready to get off the Amazon Hamster Wheel?” That’s a question posed by USA Today best-selling author Steve Pieper in this week’s episode of Fully Booked. A former US Air Force fighter pilot, Steve now self-publishes thrillers under the pen name Lars Emmerich. After growing frustrated with the limitations of selling his self-published books on Amazon, Steve leveraged his experience in corporate ecommerce to become a pioneer amid the increasing number of authors who are experimenting with selling their eBooks directly to readers through platforms like Shopify.
While Steve warns Craig and Roland that cre...2023-09-1456 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP86: Do Writers Need a Podcast?There are benefits to being a guest on an existing podcast, but many writers find themselves wondering if they should launch and host one themselves. To help answer that question, Craig and Roland invited veteran podcaster Freddy Cruz to share his wisdom on the Fully Booked podcast.
Freddy is not only an author himself, but also a seasoned radio broadcaster with over twenty-five years of experience. As technology developed, Freddy transitioned into the world of podcasting and now runs his own agency dedicated to helping other people produce their own podcasts. Freddy is a staunch advocate for...2023-09-0749 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP86: Do Writers Need a Podcast?There are benefits to being a guest on an existing podcast, but many writers find themselves wondering if they should launch and host one themselves. To help answer that question, Craig and Roland invited veteran podcaster Freddy Cruz to share his wisdom on the Fully Booked podcast.
Freddy is not only an author himself, but also a seasoned radio broadcaster with over twenty-five years of experience. As technology developed, Freddy transitioned into the world of podcasting and now runs his own agency dedicated to helping other people produce their own podcasts. Freddy is a staunch advocate for...2023-09-0749 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP85: How to Write as a Duo (Without Killing Each Other!)Writing is normally a solitary pursuit, but if you can find the right partner, it's possible to write as a duo. That's exactly what today's guests have done. Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl have written 8 books together since meeting over 20 years ago and becoming best friends. Despite living hours apart, they schedule regular planning sessions together, both virtually and in person, but do their writing separately.
Together, Meg and Kelly discuss the challenges and benefits to writing as a duo, and provide tips for other authors that want to try and make something like this work. If...2023-08-3148 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP84: How to Grow Your Social Media FollowingSuccess on social media can be a career-changer for some authors, but many writers don't know where to even begin using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote their work. That's why Craig and Roland were excited to welcome Caleb Daniels to this week's episode of Fully Booked.
When not working on his own upcoming non-fiction book about the Guns of James Bond, or managing his 21k followers on Instagram, Caleb works professionally as a digital marketer - and in this episode, he explains how combining your passion and authenticity with the methodical process of "social media...2023-08-2453 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP84: How to Grow Your Social Media FollowingSuccess on social media can be a career-changer for some authors, but many writers don't know where to even begin using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote their work. That's why Craig and Roland were excited to welcome Caleb Daniels to this week's episode of Fully Booked.
When not working on his own upcoming non-fiction book about the Guns of James Bond, or managing his 21k followers on Instagram, Caleb works professionally as a digital marketer - and in this episode, he explains how combining your passion and authenticity with the methodical process of "social media...2023-08-2453 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP83: Finding Inspiration at a Writing RetreatIn today's episode of Fully Booked, we're diving deep into the world of writing retreats with special guest Lisa Shaughnessy. Over the last few years, Lisa has spent her time building out a live searchable directory of these retreats, interviewing hosts and getting the details on all of the most creative and unique environments available.
Lisa strongly believes in the transformative benefits of writing retreats, whether it's from the serenity of solo writing time or through the invigorating spark of collective creativity brought about by spending time with other writers. With so many different settings and venues, t...2023-08-1744 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP83: Finding Inspiration at a Writing RetreatIn today's episode of Fully Booked, we're diving deep into the world of writing retreats with special guest Lisa Shaughnessy. Over the last few years, Lisa has spent her time building out a live searchable directory of these retreats, interviewing hosts and getting the details on all of the most creative and unique environments available.
Lisa strongly believes in the transformative benefits of writing retreats, whether it's from the serenity of solo writing time or through the invigorating spark of collective creativity brought about by spending time with other writers. With so many different settings and venues, t...2023-08-1744 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP82: Seven Steps to Audiobook SuccessThis week, Fully Booked is diving back into the world of audiobook creation with actress and bestselling author, Jennifer Lieberman.
Many authors choose to hire others to create or narrate their audiobooks, but it is possible to do everything yourself - which is the path that Jennifer chose to follow. It wasn't easy, however. Jennifer had to throw out her entire first recording attempt due to a variety of mistakes and the steep learning curve involved, but the process wasn't a complete waste of time.
Eventually, Jennifer's experience provided her with the knowledge to write and...2023-08-1049 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP81: Unraveling Genre Boundaries: Lessons from a Misfit RomanceIn today's episode of Fully Booked, bestselling romance author Leah Busboom shares the intriguing results of a recent writing experiment. Last year, Leah took a chance and penned a novel that defied common tropes and deviated drastically from her usual type of romance. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of her worst-selling books.
Join us as Leah candidly recounts her daring journey, and how she discovered that simply having proven talent and a devoted fan base doesn't necessarily mean you can throw out genre expectations and norms that readers have come to expect. It's a cautionary...2023-08-0347 min
Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP80: The Collaborative Process of Working With IllustratorsIn this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore the challenges of creating illustrated books with award winning children’s author Terrel - one half of the mother/daughter partnership behind the enchanting children's series "Once Upon a Dance."
Terrel brings her stories to life through the collaboration with illustrators from all corners of the globe, guiding them as they craft mesmerizing covers and interior designs for her movement-inspired tales. From the inception of the series to the challenges of finding the perfect illustrators to work with, Terrel takes us through the entire process of me...2023-07-2745 minFully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author PodcastFully Booked EP80: The Collaborative Process of Working With IllustratorsIn this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore the challenges of creating illustrated books with award winning children’s author Terrel - one half of the mother/daughter partnership behind the enchanting children's series "Once Upon a Dance."
Terrel brings her stories to life through the collaboration with illustrators from all corners of the globe, guiding them as they craft mesmerizing covers and interior designs for her movement-inspired tales. From the inception of the series to the challenges of finding the perfect illustrators to work with, Terrel takes us through the entire process of me...2023-07-2745 min
1 Minute Writing TipEpisode #49 - Interview with Craig Tuch - Bestselling Author and Founder of HiddenGemsBooks.comCraig Tuch is the founder of HiddenGemsBooks.com, an author services company that offers ARC reviews, beta reads, blurb writing, and a whole bunch of other services and tools. They even have a weekly author blog and podcast of their own called Fully Booked designed to provide valuable content to the writing community. And, for those authors that need more in-depth and specific help, Craig holds one-on-one consult calls as needed that can help you along on your self-publishing journey. Connect with Craig and Learn More:https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/---T...2023-03-0823 min
On Good Authority: Publishing the Book that Will Build Your BusinessThe Secret to Getting Amazon Reviews for Your Book with Craig TuchCraig Tuch is doing God's work. At least when it comes to the author who really wants Amazon reviews. See, Tuch started a company called Hidden Gems that, among other author services, provides a way for authors to gather reader reviews for their books. As anyone who has managed an Advanced Reader Team can attest, getting people to follow through on actually writing the reviews they've promised is no simple feat. Hidden Gems to the rescue—with very reasonable prices to boot! In this interview, Tuch broke down...2022-08-3136 min
After The WhistleEpisode 13: “Un-Tuch It!” with Alex TuchIN THIS EPISODE:Former NHLers, Andrew Peters & Craig Rivet, bring their former nationally ranked hockey show to their new platform as After the Whistle. This episode features special guest, the new Buffalo Sabres hockey player Alex Tuch.After The Whistle is a hockey podcast for the true hockey fan. Hosts Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet bring their over 1000 combined NHL games behind the mic to bring you their unique take on the game. From former and current stars to hockey executives and insiders, After the Whistle will put a smile on your...2021-11-2059 min
Write Hot PodcastBook Promotion with Hidden Gems Founder Craig TuchCraig Tuch has always been a writer at heart, but only started thinking about it as a career once he got into his late 30s. After spending years within the writing community and leaving a well paying desk job to work full time on his craft, he started to identify some of the difficulties that self-published and independent authors had in promoting, marketing and improving their books. He started Hidden Gems as a way to help that community, and provide services to authors that let them spend more time writing books and less time worrying about all of the other...2019-12-1936 min
The Self Publishing ShowThe Advanced Reader Powerhouse - with Craig TuchGetting advance reviews from a team of readers should be a key part of your book marketing strategy. Craig Tuch of Hidden Gems explains why and how ARC teams are great news for authors and readers.2018-12-0753 min