Shows
Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David SpadeBrett GoldsteinAmerican vs. British humor, the effect of Ted Lasso, and SNL in England with Brett Goldstein. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices2025-04-231h 05
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 12: Craft Tools for Writers - Angela Ackerman, The Emotion ThesaurusAngela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi met in an online critique group. They were both writing children's books and were looking for support and feedback from other writers.
They soon discovered they had a knack for building lists of ways writers could show emotion, display the positive attributes and character flaws. The put these lists on a website and from there the first book - The Emotion Thesaurus - was born.
Angela and Becca have more than 1.2 million copies of their 10 thesauruses. They are a leading self-published resource for writers around the world.
Visit...2024-11-1250 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 11: The Bookshop Business - Erin Whaling, Spisherbocker BooksErin Whaling had worked on a business plan many years ago as part of a photography course. Her intention was one day to start a business that was community-focused and allowed her some creative freedom. She parked the business plan and the dream when she took a corporate position.
In the middle of the pandemic, Erin was laid off. As she was cleaning folders on her computer, she found the business plan and decided to tweak it for a bookstore.
Her dream never died, it just re-routed, and now Erin owns a lovely bookstore in Diamond Valley, AB.2024-10-2237 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 10: Learning as you go - Laurie Carmichael, A Complicated GoodbyeWhen Laurie Carmichael retired from nursing, she already knew she was going to focus on writing. She took courses then wrote her first book. Every step of her journey - from drafting to publication - has been an opportunity to learn something new.
In this episode, Laurie shares her story, her discoveries and her fears.
Visit Laurie's website
Shop the Writers Helping Writers Bookstore
Learn more about Rowan House
Get EDucated
Subscribe to my newsletter2024-10-0137 min
What Were You Thinking?Season Four continues!I recorded this in the fly because I couldn't wait ti get back to my office to tell you that the podcast will resume in October! I took a much needed break to focus on the release of my second middle grade novel and to wrap up revisions for my upcoming women's fiction. Thank you for sticking around! I've got great plans for the rest of the year.
xo
Dana2024-09-2201 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 9: Sticking with your skill set - Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met SunshineIf you've been paying attention, you've seen copies of When Grumpy Met Sunshine online, in bookstores, and even grocery stores. But Charlotte Stein is not an overnight success: she's been writing and publishing for 15 years.
Visit Charlotte's website.2024-04-3043 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 8: Bringing together many stories - The Many Mothers AnthologyWhen a group of creatives come together with purpose, magic does indeed happen. The Many Mothers, Seven Skies Anthology was first birthed as a play with a series of vignettes, musical performance and actors. The production evoked so much emotion in viewers and the creators, so the decision was made to reproduce the performances and stories in writing.2024-04-1654 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Epsiode 7: The lyrics of Novels-in-Verse - Megan E Freeman, AloneWhen Megan Freeman first started to write Alone, it was a typical middle grade novel. Despite some good feedback, the book never found its wings. She left it...ahem...alone for a while, and it wasn't until she took a workshop about novels-in-verse that the shape of what Alone could be took form. And then it took off. 2024-04-0247 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 6: Managing the Big Debut - Vanessa Chan, The Storm We MadeWhen Vanessa Chan left her job at Facebook to get her MFA, she had no idea how to write a novel. From a throwaway homework assignment, the first stirrings of the novel she would write emerged. The Storm We Made went to auction, with 11 houses vying for the debut novel. It's not the typical journey, but it makes for a great conversation.2024-03-1946 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 5: Finding the Right Words with Award-Winning Literary Translator Susan OuriouI had no idea how complicated translation a novel cou;d be. A ward-winning translator Susan Ouriou set me straight. It takes a level of dedication, experience and knowledge to esentially re-write a book from a langugage you;ve learned inot your mother tongue. Susan Ouriou does it so well, she has earned the Governor General's Award and was appointed a Chevalier in France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Find Susan and her work at any of the following websites:
https://www.attlc-ltac.org/en/translator/susan-ouriou-en/
https://wordswithoutborders.org/contributors/view...2024-03-0547 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 4: From editor to accomplished writer - Barbara Joan Scott, The Taste of HungerI already know The Taste of Hunger will fall into my top 10 books for 2024. I cheered for despicable characters, I wanted the best for all of them, like they were real people in my life. It's a magnificent read.
BIO: Barbara Joan Scott has been in love with words her whole life, whether as a reader, writer, instructor of English Literature and Creative Writing, freelance editor, or musician with a special affinity for lyrics. Her first book, The Quick, won the Writers' Guild of Alberta Howard O'Hagan for Best Collection of Short Fiction, and the City of Calg...2024-02-2050 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 3: Finding your way through practice - Robin Van Eck, RoughVisit Robin's website.
Learn more and check out the ciourses and workshops offered by the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society.2024-02-0650 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 2: A wild career path - Karma Brown, What Wild Women DoIf you take a bird's eye view of Karma Brown's writing career, it does look a bit wild. First a journalist, then a magazine writer, and now a novelist whose books cross many genres.
Learn more about Karma.
Check out the adventures on Outward Bound Canada.
2024-01-2341 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 4, Episode 1: Writing the coolest puberty book - Gina Loveless, Puberty is Gross, but also Really AwesomeVisit Gina's website.2024-01-0947 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 22: Healing through poetry - Jamie Louise Madigan, Lipstick Stains & Coffee CupsTo learn more and order the book, visit https://www.jamielouisemadigan.com/.2024-01-0248 minWhat Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 23: WWYT Host Dana Goldstein on This Is Not Your Average Book ClubIt's the close of another season of What Were You Thinking. This year, I'm ending with my interview with Karen Sokoloff, who runs TINYABC - This Is Not Your Average Book Club. She had me join the book club for an hour of chat, laughter and Q&A.
You can listen to Karen's episode on this podcast here.2023-12-121h 14
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 21: Being the voice for the independents - Andrew Snook, Canadian Independent PublishersAndrew Snook is never not busy, but this is by choice, not circumstance. As a freelance writer and editor, owner of Snookbooks Publishing, and publisher of the newly launched Canadian Independent Publishers magazine and website, he has made writing and all its modalities a fullt-time gig.2023-11-1449 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 20: Killing it with novellas - Brian Asman, Man Fuck This HouseVisit Brian's website.
2023-10-3144 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Epsiode 19: The Dark Side of Yoga - Joelle Tamraz, The Secret PracticeAs I started reading Joelle's memoir, I realized I knew very little about yoga, other than the few failed attempts I made in classes. Joelle's experience is anything but typical. In her memoir, The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga, Joelle shares her story about how her search for inner expansion led her down a dark path.
Learn more about Joelle and. order the book on her website.2023-10-1744 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 18: Selling Short (Stories) - Kate Doyle, I Meant it OnceSelling a collection of short stories is hard, but for a debut author to be able to it is astonishing. Kate Doyle managed to to exactly that with her debut, I Meant it Once.2023-10-0343 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 17: The challenging world of Picture Books - Pauline Thompson, Hooray for DNAI'm a bit of a science geek, so I was keenly interested in Pauline's debut book about DNA. It's a fun picture about the core of who we are, scientifically speaking.2023-09-1940 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 16: Making the right call - Heather Marshall, Looking for JaneVisit Heather's website.
2023-09-0548 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 15: Teaching kids through middle grade novels - Colleen Nelson, The Umbrella HouseColleen Nelson is the author of 18 books, primarily young adult and middle grade (with one non-fiction in the bunch). Her books have earned many accolades and awards, the latest being The Forest of Reading's Silver Birch Award (2023, for The Undercover Book List). In this episode we chat about writing for middle grade, her process, and getting the right ending.
Watch the Forest of Reading announcement here: https://twitter.com/i/status/16592138386365317122023-07-2544 min
The Picky BookwormDana GoldsteinDana Goldstein joins me on The Picky Bookworm to talk books, life and everything in between! We have so much fun talking about our respective podcasts, and I'm sure you'll have a blast too! I'm working on getting show notes posted, so please be patient. Until Next Time, Friends!2023-07-231h 02
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 14: The independent journey - Carissa Hyde, Georgia PeachCarissa Hyde gave traditional publishing her best shot, but when she realized she was heading into depression, she hired a therapist and changed her strategy. Listen in as Carissa shares her journey to publication, full of up and downs and ending with a very positive experience.
Visit Carissa's website.2023-07-1146 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 13: Making a splash with middle grade fantasy - Melissa Ruth Rotert, Sue B and the RiddersI fell in love with this book when I first read read a rough draft. Melissa and I are in a critique group together, and I was fortunate to put my eyes on this wonderful fantasy/spec fic story. In this episode, Melissa and I talk about her rocky road with an agent, getting Sue B to publication and how Melissa lets her characters run wild.
Learn more about Melissa on her website.
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Learn more about the host, Dana Goldstein.
2023-06-2738 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 12: Updates from some past guestsA short episode to update you with some news from past guests as well as some news from your host, Dana Goldstein.2023-06-1314 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 11: Breaking into Prison - Phyllis Taylor, The Prison LadyNo one thinks they'll ever go to prison, and that was certainly the case for Phyllis Taylor, author of The Prison Lady. When she was fired from her job at a law firm, Phyllis was stunned. Her 30-year career had come to a complete stop. But a friend forced her to come to an Oprah event, an action that would lead Phyllis to a new career behind bars: helping prisoners develop important life skills.2023-05-3051 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 10: From Self-published to Traditional and back again - S.M. Freedman, Blood AtonementS.M. Freedman's author journey has been anything but typical. She self-published her first book, then was approached by a publisher who wanted to publish that book. She went back to the drawing board for rewrites and revisions. After she wrote the sequel, she self-published again. Her next novels were traditionally published, but S.M. learned so many lessons - about writing, publishing, and persevering.2023-05-1652 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 9: Writing, writing all the time - Ali Bryan, CoqAli Bryan's words are everywhere: in her 5 novels, in anthologies, magazines, newspapers...pretty much anywhere the printed words can appear. She chased the dream of being a full-time writer and crossed the finish line. But just because you win one marathon, doesn't mean you'll win them all. Ali shares her writer journey candidly and with transparency in this episode.
Visit Ali's website.
Read the Day in the Life in the Calgary Guardian.2023-05-021h 13
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 8: The mother of all Book Clubs - Karen Sokoloff, TINYabcTINYabc stands for This Is Not Your average book club, and it most certainly isn't. Karen Sokoloff decided to create a paid-membership book club, a risk she wasn't entirely comfortable with, but took anyways. The result is a vibrant club that meets 4 TIMES PER MONTH, to meet authors, discuss books, and build camaraderie around the printed word.
Join the Facebook group.
Follow Karen on Instagram.2023-04-1853 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 7: Making Middle Grade Non-Fiction Fun for Everyone - Nora Nickum, SuperpodNora Nickum, author of Superpod, wasn't always interested in writing non-fiction for kids. Her day job requires a lot of non-fiction writing - she is the senior ocean policy manager at the Seattle Aquarium. But don't let that dry title fool you. Superpod is a fasctianting narrative that will make you want to jump in, get your feet wet, and help the whales in our oceans.
Listen to the orcas: www.Orcasound.net
Investigate The Whale Trail: thewhaletrail.org
Learn more about Nora: https://www.noranickum.com/
Visit my substack: danagoldstein...2023-04-0443 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 6: Living the Fantasy, From Self-published to the New York Times bestseller list - Travis Baldree, Legends & LattesIn November of 2021, Travis Baldree set out to try NANOWRIMO again. He was not new to National Novel Writing Month, but in 2021, he was focussed on finishing this time. He did, and he self-published his first novel, Legends and Lattes in February of 2022. By November, that little project was on the New York Times bestseller list. From self-published, to agented, then traditionally published, Travis' journey is really the stuff of fantasy.
Visit Travis' website.2023-03-2142 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 5 - An Unconventional Story of Grief - Chelsea Wakelyn, What Remains of Elsie JaneChelsea Wakelyn's debut novel, What Remains of Elsie Jane is not your typical story about loss. When Elsie Jane's husband Sam dies unexpectedly, Elsie does not pretend to be okay. She doesn't acquiesce to the needs of others. She completely falls apart, turning to Craigslist to find a way back to the life she once knew.
2023-03-0747 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 4: Building a long-lasting career as an author - Eric Walters, author of 130+ books for kids and teensThere is no way I could possibly land on one book to discuss with Eric Walters, since he's penned more than 130 of them. In this episode, we talk about building a career as an author, some of the keys to success and the process required to keep going.
Learn more about Creation of Hope.2023-02-211h 00
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 3: Writing Literary Fiction as Therapy - Jennifer Savran Kelly, EndpapersJennifer Savran Kelly's debut novel, Endpapers, explores the journey of a genderqueer book binder who is trying to navigate through her relationships while following the trail of a secret love note she finds tucked into the endpapers of a book. While classified as literary fiction, this book engaged me so thoroughly, I didn't even realize it was literary. A must read for 2023.
Watch Jennifer in her acting roles:
https://littlewhaleproductions.com/zombie-revolution
https://littlewhaleproductions.com/yahwehs-sea-glass
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi708025625/?ref_=vp_rv_1
Check out the Saltonstall...2023-02-0755 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 2: Finding your own way to publishing - Genalea Barker, Life AfterAre you ready to have your mind blown? Genalea Barker has three novels in the queue for publishing over the next two years. She managed to find publishers WITHOUT AN AGENT, WHILE RAISING FOUR KIDS!
A unicorn? For sure.
An extremely talented writer? Unarguably.
Follow Genalea on Twitter.
Subscribe to my newsletter on Substack.2023-01-2453 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 3, Episode 1: My Independent Author Journey - My interview with Joelle TamrazLast year, I was interviewed by Joelle Tamraz for her YouTube channel, Elevating Voices in Memoir and Fiction. It was a candid conversation about my own journey as a hybrid author (both independently published and traditionally published). Listen in as I share my experiences, the planning (or lack thereof), the ups and downs and why I chose the self-publishing route for my memoirs.
Visit my Substack page.2023-01-1035 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 23: Talking to the dead with Jennie Ogilvie, Inside My HeadJennie Ogilvie always knew there was something different about her. She has a deep connection with spirit and has catapulted to the top as Alberta's favourite medium. Her debut book, Inside my Head, is a combination of memoir and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Within its pages, readers are taken on a journey to recover from grief, move through death with ease and grace, and carve out a better life for the time they still have.
Visit Jennie's website.
Watch the pilot episode of her series.
2022-12-1342 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 22: The Holiday Recommendation EpisodeI asked past guests to share the best book they read over the past year. I have a few of my own that I added to the list, so get busy with your Goodreads list.
Links to the podcast episodes for each guest:
Clare Pooley
Marci Warhaft
Christina Kilbourne
Danna Staaf
Mary Boone
Bev Katz Rosenbaum
Connect with me on Goodreads.
2022-11-2922 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 21: Writing for different genres - Kirsten Miller, The ChangeKirsten Miller has written for Middle Grade and Young Adult, but her latest novel, The Change, pushed her out of her comfort zone and into the adult market, specifically, the older, menopausal one.2022-11-1548 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 20: Carving your own &*$#ING path - James Fell, On This Day in History, Sh!t Went DownJames Fell is the author of his own rules. He does everything writers are told not to, and it works beautifully every single time. Does he have the Midas touch? Maybe. Can he turn a dying career into syndicated fitness column? For sure. Can he make history interesting? Fuck yes.
Follow James (and buy a MF'ing book) on Substack.
Read about his recent ADHD diagnosis.
Read his most popular post on Facebook.
Learn more about your host, Dana Goldstein.
2022-11-011h 02
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 19: Finding my people - The Clopen Effect InterviewI had a fantastic and fun interview with Cass and Meredith from The Clopen Effect: A Retail Podcast. They interviewed me by phone to chat about my latest memoir, Spent: My Accidental Career in Retail. We giggled over the ridiculousness that happens in the retail world. We conspired over the tricks we use to get through the day. It was a nice opportunity for me to talk with people who are still in the retail world and who loved my book. It made them feel seen, they said.
Order your copy here.
Listen to The...2022-10-181h 16
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 18: Crushing hearts in the YA space - Jeff Zentner, In the Wild LightAsk anyone who has ever read a book by Jeff Zentner and they will tell you how the book broke them, or made their lives better, or put them on a different course. It's not just young adults who connect with his novels. Adults (myself included) really respond to his stories as well. In every book, Jeff says he ensures his characters have someone to love and someone who loves them. That is the core of every human being and it's why his books are such compelling reads. Learn more about Jeff on his website.
Learn more...2022-10-0447 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 17: Rom Com is One Size Fits All - Jenny L. Howe, The Make-Up TestJenny L Howe's debut novel is one you'll fall in love with, literally. Her main character, Allison, mirrors some of the challenges Jenny faced in her own life - professionally, but not necessarily romantically. Allison, who is, as Jenny would say, unapologetically fat, finds herself entangled with an on-again, off-again lover. Let the games begin! In this episode, we talk about her agent and publication journey, the HEA (Happily Ever After), and why we need more diverse characters in romantic comedy novels, and many other topics.
Visit Jenny's website.
Learn more about your host, Dana...2022-09-2048 min
The Clopen EffectAuthor Dana Goldstein - SpentPhone Interview! We talked with Dana Goldstein on her third memoir 'Spent - My Accidental Career in Retail'. Dana is an amazing storyteller and understands the retail world. Please click the link to buy her book or listen on audible!Dana's website: http://danagoldstein.ca/books/2022-09-091h 14
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 16: Getting dirty with Grit Lit - Kelly J Ford, Real Bad ThingsReal Bad Things will leave with some real bad dreams. At least it did for me. To say I LOVED this book is a gross misrepresentation of just how deep I fell. It was my first 5-star read of 2022 and I knew before I was halfway done that I wanted to interview the author, Kelly J Ford. We cover a lot of topics in this episode: the agent journey, GritLit/Southern Gothic/Southern Noir, LGBTQ+ genre, her process (helo, playlists!) and much more.
Visit Kelly's website.
Find more GritLit on Goodreads.
Read this fa...2022-09-0648 min
What Were You Thinking?Summer Replay Series: Season 2, Episode 8: Five Hundred Million Years in the longest Squid Game ever - Danna Staaf, Monarchs of the SeaIf this was an episode of Who Would Win: Dinosaurs or Cephalopods, the squids would come out on top. While dinosaurs fossils get all the glory, it's the cephalopod fossils who have been doing all the work of telling the story of survival. After already surviving five (5!!!) mass extinctions, the cephalopods are likely the ocean creatures that will survive the next one. They are truly the Monarchs of the Sea, rising to the top from the deepest, darkest places of the sea.
In this episode, I talk to author Danna Staff whose book examines the fossil records...2022-08-3049 min
The Morning Brew with Andrew SchultzMotivational Monday with Author Dana GoldsteinAuthor Dana Goldstein has a new book out, and the timing is perfect with the kids heading back to school. In "Spent: My Accidental Career in Retail", Dana talks about her failed career as a retail manager - but also offers up some tips for parents heading to the mall for school supplies. Dana joined us to give us a little synopsis of the new book.2022-08-3009 minThe Morning Brew with Andrew SchultzProposed National Dental Care plan; Mosquitos with Dr. Ted Jablonski; Motivational Monday with author Dana GoldsteinWe begin with a look at the proposed National Dental Care plan put forth by the Federal NDP. We discuss what such a plan would mean to Canadians, and how it would work with Brandon Doucet, a Dental Surgeon and founder of the ‘Coalition for Dental Care’. Have mosquitos put a ‘damper’ on your outdoor summer fun? We catch up with Dr. Ted Jablonski for details on an interesting new study that sheds some light on why some people are more ‘attractive’ to the pests and it has more to do with the mosquitos, than their ‘prey’...2022-08-2929 min
Offbeat & On-BrandTransforming your business and life with Dana GoldsteinDana Goldstein might be the master of pivot. Her business, Digital Shoebox, evolved from a photo, video and slide digitization company into a video production company she named ChicFlicks. As the business grew, ChicFlicks was absorbed into the Digital Shoebox banner and continued to thrive. And then, pandemic. When a full calendar of video shoots was wiped out, Dana was forced to find another source of income. She pivoted to writing, something she hadn't done since her days as a journalist more than 20 years ago.Dana believes in the power of pivoting and transforming. She says, "Accept...2022-08-2545 min
What Were You Thinking?Summer Replay Series: Season 1, Episode 13: Murder and Mayhem in the...church office? - All is Well with Katherine WalkerThis debut novel is a crazy ride. From the very first page, I was hooked, wanting to know why a priest murdered a parishioner with a candlestick. If that feels reminiscent of a game of Clue (Colonel Mustard, in the library, with a knife), you're not wrong. There are enough twists and turns and unexpected, laugh out loud moments in All is Well to give you literary whiplash.
Buy All is Well.
To learn more about the Beringia Land Mass:
https://phys.org/news/2021-05-ancient-horse-dna-reveals-gene.html
https://www.beringia.com...2022-08-1636 min
What Were You Thinking?Summer Replay Series: Season 1, Episode 6: Representing Culture - Brittney Morris, SlayBrittney Morris performed what most writers would consider an impossible feat: she wrote an entire novel in 12 days. After being inspired by the Black Panther movie, Brittney decided to write a story about a 17-year-old high schooler who developed a game played by the global black community. Brittney wanted to participate in Pitch Wars, a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine for an agent showcase.
She had 14 days to produce an entire manuscript. So she...2022-08-0224 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 15: Characters to warm your heart - Clare Pooley, Iona Iverson's Rules for CommutingBoth of Clare Pooley's novels do a fantastic job of capturing what it is to be authentically human. It's ironic, given that she wrote a blog about her alcoholism anonymously for years. She is a master at multiple character narratives; The Authenticity Project and Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting are heartwarming, with characters you hate and love and back again.
In this episode, Clare shares what led her to start the Mommy was a Secret Drinker blog, her journey to publication, managing multiple characters, and how she waled away from a complete 90,000 word manuscript.2022-07-1945 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 14: Southern charm reflected in prose - Beth Duke, It All Comes Back to YouThe love Beth Duke holds for her home state of Alabama is abundantly clear in her novels. Through It All Comes Back to You and Tapestry, she brings the south to life through her characters, their dialogue and the way they live. She charmed me through her novels and through this conversation.
She shares her experiences with book clubs, agents and the traditional publishing world and is candid about how she found INCREDIBLE success as an independent author.
Find her books on her website.
Mentions in this episode:
Learn more about...2022-07-0543 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 13: The dark side of Young Adult - Kelly DeVos, Go Hunt MeKelly DeVos is the author of 5 young adult novels. She has a remarkable gift for tapping into the fears and insecurities of teenagers, but it's the dark side of her characters that really shines. The young women who are her main characters are determined, saucy and smart- mouthed. It's hard not to see your younger self in the pages of her novels.
In this episode, we talk about strong YA characters, her journey to publication and the not always nice feedback.
Visit Kelly's website.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
STICKERS!!!!2022-06-2141 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 12: Going from public service to published author - Pat Duckworth, Menopause Mind the Gap.Pat Duckworth was caught off guard by the need to share what she knows about menopause. After time at a retreat, she discovered she did have a book in her, trying to get out. Actually, she had five books waiting to see the light of day. Over the UK, where she lives and works, Pat has become the go-to expert on managing menopause symptoms using mind/body techniques. She is also leading the way for workplace awareness, helping businesses understand how to keep menopausal women working and making accommodations for their changing needs.
Visit her website.
2022-06-0736 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 11: Baring it all in memoir - Marci Warhaft, The Good StripperWhen you first meet Marci Warhaft, you immediately recognize a woman who is confident in who she is. She is fun and outgoing. She dances on TikTok. She is never afraid to take a chance. That's the Marci I've known for a decade. But when I picked up The Good Stripper, I was stunned with what I found in those pages: a series of traumatic events, the struggle with an eating disorder, a sex life she really didn't want, and a lifestyle not commonly associated with motherhood.
The Good Stripper is so candid, I felt uncomfortable learning t...2022-05-2437 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 10: Having Fun with Chaos - Christine Kilbourne, The Limitless SkyYoung Adult author Christina Kilbourne has tackled some tough topics in her novels: suicide, homelessness, and mental health, to name a few. The Limitless Sky, a dystopian YA novel set 700 years in the future was a complete departure from what she is accustomed to writing. In this episode, we discuss her process, her challenges and and why she decided to switch gears to dystopian fiction.
Learn more about Christina on her website.
Watch the video mentioned in the podcast.
Support the podcast through Patreon.
Visit Dana Goldstein's website.
2022-05-1039 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 9: Taking the Shot - H.N. Khan, Wrong Side of the CourtH.N. Khan was going to be a lawyer, until he realized there were other choices he could make. His journey took a very different turn, exposing and connecting HN Khan to the startup and tech world. As his career as a tech writer emerged and evolved, Humayun enrolled in Humber’s writing program. That program led him to new connections in the writing world, laying the groundwork for Wrong Side of the Court.
Learn more about H.N. Khan by visiting his website.
Learn more about the host, Dana Goldstein.
Become a Pa...2022-04-2633 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 8: Five Hundred Million Years in the longest Squid Game ever - Danna Staaf, Monarchs of the SeaIf this was an episode of Who Would Win: Dinosaurs or Cephalopods, the squids would come out on top. While dinosaurs fossils get all the glory, it's the cephalopod fossils who have been doing all the work of telling the story of survival. After already surviving five (5!!!) mass extinctions, the cephalopods are likely the ocean creatures that will survive the next one. They are truly the Monarchs of the Sea, rising to the top from the deepest, darkest places of the sea.
In this episode, I talk to author Danna Staff whose book examines the fossil records...2022-04-1248 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 7: Enviromance, Rom Com and Cursed Books - Jennifer Sommersby/Eliza Gordon, Welcome to Planet LauraJennifer Sommersby started writing rom-coms (romantic comedies) under the pseudonym of Eliza Gordon as she was in the waiting game of edits/revisions/publication for a young adult novel. She has penned 8 books under that name, the latest a three-part series - Planet Lara. Welcome to Planet Lara is an enviromance - environmental romance - with excellent characters (I hated Lara for most of the book) and incidents that keep you turning pages.
In this episode, we talk about Jennifer's author journey, writing unlikeable characters and writing under a pseudonym.
Check out all the quirk that is Eliza Gordon.
Read...2022-03-2927 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2, Episode 6: Non-fiction that's hard to swallow - Mary Boone, Bugs for BreakfastMary Boone is the author of more than 60 non-fiction books for young readers. She has written about everything from boy bands, the Biebs and in her latest book, bugs.
Bugs for Breakfast is an informative, engaging book, not just for middle grade readers, but for adults as well. It will open your eyes (and you mind) to a culinary experience that is becoming less quirky trend and more global necessity.
During this interview, Mary talks about her experience as a non-fiction author, her journey to writing Bugs for Breakfast, and how to get over our...2022-03-1541 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2 Episode 5: Releasing the badass - Laura Ballerini, The Green Velvet ChairWhen first-time author and full-time business owner Laura Ballerini sat down to write some stories, she didn't anticipate the transformation that would take place inside her soul. From a very young age, Laura was introduced to art through her mother's skill with crafting, fixing, and cooking. Now, as a graphic designer, Laura realizes just how endemic art is to all our lives. In this episode, we discuss the impact of art, how she found time to fit writing into an already busy creative life and the power of story.
Visit Laura's website.
To learn more...2022-03-0129 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2 Episode 4: The worst best part of high school - Kalena Miller, The Night When No One Had SexKalena Miller's debut novel will take you back to everything that was horrible and awesome about high school. There's junk food, fighting, texting, and prom night. You know what's missing? Sex. The night that was carefully planned goes horribly wrong. You'll laugh out loud, but also feel deeply connected to the characters in The Night When No One Had Sex.
Buy the book.
Follow Kalena on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
To learn more about the host, Dana Goldstein, visit her website.2022-02-1538 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2 Episode 3: The feminist voice in print - Christina Dalcher, FemlandiaAs the author of 3 bestselling dystopian novels with strong female characters, Christina Dalcher is often painted as a feminist. There are so many more layers to this linguist-now-author. While her first novel, Vox, brought the issue of silencing women to the table, her latest, Femlandia, examines life in broken-down world, where women are building colonies and not everything is as idyllic as it appears.
SHOW NOTES:
Watch MRI and ultrasound footage of a tongue in motion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPbJLXaPnZg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql9TLUr7G782022-02-0133 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2 Episode 2: Using fiction to teach kids about death - Joanne Levy, Sorry For Your LossSorry For Your Loss is a poignant, touching and sometimes funny story about Evie, a girl whose family runs a Jewish funeral home. In this episode, Joanne and I talk about how kids can learn about hard topics through reading, what some of the challenges are when writing for middle grade and why the feedback from young readers means so much to her.
Visit Joanne's website.
Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.
Find out more about your host at danagoldstein.ca
2022-01-1832 min
What Were You Thinking?Season 2 Episode 1: Channelling the Young Adult Voice - Bev Katz Rosenbaum, I'm Good and Other LiesBev Katz Rosenbaum never intended to write a pandemic book. She had written the story about high schooler Kelsey Kendler long before lockdowns, but she was struggling with how to frame the story. When COVID-19 forced us all to remain in our homes, Bev knew this was the perfect environment for Kelsey's story to emerge and grow. It's a story of survival, failure and how one girl makes it through the wreck of a year.
In this episode, Bev shares how she was able to find her YA (Young Adult) voice, the challenges she...2022-01-0429 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 16: The Poetry Cheat Sheet - Uncommon Grounds by the Espresso Poetry CollectiveIn this unconventional (for me) episode, I chat with five o the six poets behind the Espresso Poetry Collective. Over the course of our conversation, these wonderful women school me on what it means to be a poet, how to read poetry, and where we can see poetry in our everyday lives. Where poetry once once relegated to a small section at the back of the bookstore, the art form has exploded into mainstream over the last few years (Rupi Kaur, anyone?).
The poets of the collective started as a course and finished as a close group...2021-12-2132 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 15: Playing with Food - Julie Van Rosendaal, Dirty FoodJulie Van Rosendaal has built a brilliant career as a cookbook author, food blogger, chef, and teacher. She is an icon in Calgary's food community and an ardent advocate for food access. In this episode, not only do we talk about Dirty Food (her 11th cookbook), we discuss the publishing industry, diet culture, #buttergate and food security. In an extremely bold move, Julie decided to make her 12th cookbook, Cookies I Have Loved available only through her purchase and independent bookstores. A portion of direct sales through her website —$1 per book— will directly support food-related community initiatives (school and comm...2021-12-0738 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 14: The books we can't live withoutWhether you are a reader or a writer, you have THAT ONE BOOK that changed things for you. It might be the book you read as a teen that rocked your world, or the book that made you want to become a writer - or a better writer. Maybe it's a book that gives you comfort when you need it, that is as familiar as your own face looking in the mirror.
For this special episode, which I had planned on releasing as a holiday special later in December, I asked the authors I've interviewed to share...2021-11-2316 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 13: Murder and Mayhem in the...church office? - All is Well with Katherine WalkerThis debut novel is a crazy ride. From the very first page, I was hooked, wanting to know why a priest murdered a parishioner with a candlestick. If that feels reminiscent of a game of Clue (Colonel Mustard, in the library, with a knife), you're not wrong. There are enough twists and turns and unexpected, laugh out loud moments in All is Well to give you literary whiplash.
Buy All is Well.
To learn more about the Beringia Land Mass:
https://phys.org/news/2021-05-ancient-horse-dna-reveals-gene.html
https://www.beringia.com...2021-11-0935 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 12: Tackling high fantasy - P.L. Stuart, A Drowned KingdomThere is nothing about P.L. Stuart that I found intimidating. He is friendly, kind and generous with his time. A law enforcement employee by day (and night, because shift work), he has been in some harrowing situations. His calm demeanour would diffuse any tense situation, a handy trait when it comes to managing the seven children he and wife Debbie share. He is quite the opposite of the protagonist he created in A Drowned Kingdom. Othrun is entitled, spoiled, racist, bigoted - not entirely likeable at the start. But over the course of 400+ pages, you'll feel connected to...2021-10-2630 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 11: Putting it all out there - Rebecca Eckler, Blissfully Blended BullshitRebecca Eckler has spent most of her writing career sharing her life and her opinions. She was a columnist for the Globe and Mail and the National Post, sharing stories of motherhood and her view of the world. As the executive editor for SavvyMom.ca, Rebecca writes about her parenting style, opening her up to criticism and hateful comments. Her writing style is candid and open. She is brutally honest about her own experiences and shares freely in her memoirs. As the founder of the weekly newsletter, Re:Books, Rebecca champions Canadian women authors, from the obscure to the...2021-10-1230 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 10: Being a bee custodian, Dana Church - The BeekeepersDana Church's new middle grade non-fiction, The Beekeepers, isn't just for kids. Her research is sound and the information shared within its pages is valuable for readers of any age. If you didn't know our bees were in trouble, this book will help you understand why and give you tools to do something about it. The Beekeepers changed my relationship with the chonky buzzers in my own backyard and I now watch them with interest rather than run squealing into the house.
Follow Dana on Twitter or Instagram or visit her website.
To learn about...2021-09-2838 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 9: Documenting the entrepreneurial journey - Elise Russell, Behave BoldlyIn this episode, you’re going to meet Elise Russel, author of Behave Boldly, a memoir of her entrepreneurial journey so far. The book chronicles the details of her struggles and successes as she built her company, Pony Friday. Her story is not complete however, and during the conversation Elise is candid about what it’s really like to build and run your own business.
Full disclosure here - I’ve known Elise for more than half of her entrepreneurial life. I’m proud to call her my friend and have supported her through many walks in the park...2021-09-1433 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 8: Turning reality in dystopian fiction - Waubgeshig Rice, Moon of the Crusted SnowWaubgeshing Rice, Waub to all those who know him, has been crafting stories from the age of 17. He started reporting when he was an exchange student in Germany, went to journalism school and worked for CBC Television as a reporter before his latest novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, enabled him to focus on writing full time. Anyone who remembers the blackout of 2003 will find parallels to that eastern seaboard chaos in Waub's novel. In this episode, Waub talks about his early experience as an exchange student, how his culture influences his writing, and how his grandmother is a...2021-08-3137 min
The Effect on Us - Eliane Goldstein's PodcastAppreciate what you have - an interview with Dana Szeflan BellIn this episode I am talking to Dana about her survival story. Among other horrors, she was taken away by a refugee family who starved and humiliated her. She was restrained, abused and held against her will. She eventually broke free and managed to escape. She was placed in a Russian Orthodox orphanage and was reunited with her parents one year later.2021-08-1937 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 7: Writing LGBTQ+ Fiction - Judith Clark, Under the RadarJudith Clark absolutely set out to write a novel about a gay boy living in rural Alberta. The controversy in the province over GSA's - Gay Straight Alliances - inspired her to tell the story of a high schooler who choses to keep his sexuality a secret until he graduates. Gunnar has a lot at stake: his space on the wrestling team, his friendships and his plans to stay under the radar until his final day. Life gets in the way, and Gunnar is set on a path he never intended to take so soon.
In this...2021-08-1723 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 6: Representing Culture - Brittney Morris, SlayBrittney Morris performed what most writers would consider an impossible feat: she wrote an entire novel in 12 days. After being inspired by the Black Panther movie, Brittney decided to write a story about a 17-year-old high schooler who developed a game played by the global black community. Brittney wanted to participate in Pitch Wars, a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine for an agent showcase.
She had 14 days to produce an entire manuscript. So she...2021-08-0322 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 5: Risking it all for freedom - Karen Patterson, Taking on ChinaWhen Canadian Karen Patterson moved to China, she fully intended to spend the rest of her life there. While there, she built businesses, learned the language, got married and gave birth to her daughter. She never imagined her life would be completely upturned when her husband, Chinese artist Wu Yuren, disappeared.
For years, Karen struggled to find him, and when she did, the fight to free him from the clutches of the Chinese government began. As a foreigner in a foreign land, Karen was the only one who could help. Taking on China is a riveting look...2021-07-2026 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 4: Writing the Taboo topics - Heather Levy, Walking Through NeedlesFrom the very first lines of Walking Through Needles, you'll know you're in for a ride. This debut novel, by Heather Levy, is rich with characters that will run you through the spectrum of emotion and will make you squirm. Yet still, you won't be able to stop turning the pages.
In this conversation, Heather talks about BDSM, Pitch Wars and the challenges of writing about sexual assault.
WARNINGS: We talk about some very adult topics: masturbation, assault, bondage, sadism and masochism.
Purchase Walking Through Needles.
Read the article about pain...2021-07-0629 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 3: The business of books - Tammy Plunkett, Clinical TrialTammy Plunkett started writing Clinical Trial to quell the boredom of being a stay-at-home-mom to four children. Ten years after she first completed the book, she took it out of the drawer to revisit the romantic thriller, updated it, edited it and hit publish. It was perfect timing for this ex-ICU nurse to launch a book that reads like a string of Grey's Anatomy episodes. In the midst of a pandemic, there was something medical we could get into without feeling scared or overwhelmed.
Learn more about Tammy: https://www.tammyplunkett.com/about/
For more...2021-06-2226 min
What Were You Thinking?Bonus Episode: Meet your host, Dana GoldsteinI thought it was probably a good idea to introduce myself in a solo episode. I've kept it short (the self-effacing voice in my head tells me I'm not that interesting), and I've dropped a couple of weird things most people don't know about me. I've shared why I decided to start this podcast and how I use book reviews on Goodreads.
To learn more about me, visit www.danagoldstein.ca
You can buy my books wherever books are sold, or buy them directly from my website for signed and personalized copies.
Check...2021-06-1013 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 2: Telling the hard story - Michelle Good, Five Little IndiansMichelle Good took 9 years to write Five Little Indians. As a member of the Cree nation, she had first-hand knowledge of the experiences of those who had been sent to Canada's residential schools. She wanted her novel to answer two questions: what happens when the children are released and how do they function in the world. She answers both of those with an emotional, thought provoking novel.
Buy Five Little Indians here.
Learn more about Michelle.
For more episodes, visit www.danagoldstein.ca
To inquire about being a guest, contact Dana.2021-06-0126 min
What Were You Thinking?Episode 1: Predicting a pandemic - Christina Sweeney-Baird, The End of MenWhen Christina Sweeney-Baird started writing The End of Men, she was exploring the idea of a world without men. She gave serious thought to how the world would function without men filling typically male jobs: electricians, garbage disposal and infrastructure. When she was creating this dystopian world, a pandemic seemed a reasonable way to eliminate 50 percent of the world's population. What she didn't count on, was seeing the plague in her pages come to life in the real world.
Buy The End of Men here.
For more episodes, visit www.danagoldstein.ca
To...2021-05-2924 min
Explain It to MeThe plan for more free schoolMatt is joined by New York Times education reporter Dana Goldstein to talk about what Biden's American Families Plan will do to bolster and expand public education access in this country. They talk about the plan for universal preschool, free community college, and also talk about how the administration has been involved in pandemic-related school reopening decisions behind the scenes.Resources:"Schools Are Open, but Many Families Remain Hesitant to Return" by Dana Goldstein (New York Times, May 9)The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein (Anchor; 2015)2021-05-1459 min
What Were You Thinking?Trailer: What Were You Thinking?Welcome to What Were You Thinking, a podcast about authors and their stories. We'll be meeting authors from all genres to discover the "What If..." moment that led them to start writing their books. We'll talk about their characters, their plots and how their books came to life.
FIRST EPISODE DROPS JUNE 15!2021-05-1201 min