Shows
Burnt Hands Perspectiveep. 15 - Food, Flavor, and Fun: Patrick Evans-Hylton Culinary Journey and Virginia's food historySend us a textJoin us on an unforgettable ride with the vibrant Patrick Evans-Hylton—the "queen of culinary" in Hampton Roads (as dubbed by KC). Patrick takes us from his roots on a charming Suffolk farm to becoming a food historian, writer, and influencer. With colorful stories and some raw humor, he shares how an encounter with Martha Stewart catapulted his culinary career, leading to 14 books and fun nights judging culinary competitions. Explore Virginia's rich culinary terrain with us, from its rockfish and oysters to its unique position as a mid-Atlantic gem in...2024-12-1355 min
The Aligned Hygienist62. Empowering Whole-Body Dentistry with Kristen EvansIn this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, Caitlin Parsons welcomes Kristen Evans, also known as “The pH RDH,” a speaker, writer, and educator in the dental field. Kristen shares her unique approach to dental hygiene that goes beyond the mouth, emphasizing the critical role of pH balance in oral and overall health. Listen as Kristen discusses her journey, her commitment to lifelong learning, and how she incorporates whole-body wellness into her patient care. Discover valuable insights into educating patients about hydration, saliva health, and using neutralizing products to combat acidity. This conversation will leave you inspired to elevate your prac...2024-11-2525 min
Renewable RidesEp 54: GM's Winning Sustainability Strategy - Our Conversation with Chief Sustainability Officer Kristen SiemenHow can sustainability drive both environmental and business success? In this episode, Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer at General Motors, shares insights on how GM is integrating sustainability into their core business strategy. Discover how GM is tackling Scope 3 emissions by not just focusing on electric vehicles, but also ensuring that the electricity powering these vehicles comes from renewable sources. Learn about GM's approach to working with suppliers and stakeholders to achieve shared sustainability goals and how the company’s culture and commitment to continuous improvement drive their long-term success.Listen in to understand how you can ap...2024-09-1036 min
Clarity to ConsciousnessEp. 11 | Clarifying Conscious Consumption with Jennifer EvansIn this episode, Kristen and guest Jennifer Evans explore the importance of conscious consumption and how it shapes our lives 🌱. They discuss how being mindful about what and how we consume can positively impact our well-being and help us lead more intentional lives. Jennifer shares her own experiences and offers practical tips on becoming more aware of our consumption habits. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to embrace mindful living and avoid the traps of unconscious overconsumption 🧘♀️✨.How to Connect with Jennifer:Websites: jenniferlillianwellness.comInstagram: @jenniferlillianwellnessConnect with Clarity to Cons...2024-07-0844 min
Murder, She ToldIntroducing: Mama Mystery with Kelly EvansIntroducing Mama Mystery with Kelly Evans. From true crime to current events, mom of 3, Kelly Evans, offers relatable and research based storytelling for when a mama just needs a minute! Whether you listen in the pickup line or with a glass of wine, you’ll always feel like you’re just chatting with your best friend!Listen to Mama Mystery on Spotify and Apple! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2023-09-1806 min
Wilder WellnessDebunking the belief that "thinner is better" with dietitian Shira EvansIn this episode we are getting straight to the facts and hard science around nutrition and high performance activity. We are debunking myths about our body and food that are all around us - sometimes even taught in school! We are joined by the brilliant Shira Evans, MS, RD, CSSD, LD an expert in Sports Nutrition, RED-S, and disordered eating. After many years working as a Sports Dietician for Division-1 universities, Shira now works with individuals in her private practice. For any athlete, outdoor enthusiast, or sports dabbler, Shira helps us spot the difference between what is a “good” athl...2023-09-1353 min
Lit ServiceHow to Start Writing a Second DraftWhat do you do once you've finished your first draft? Immediately send it to every agent and publisher you can find contact info for? Put it in a drawer? Maybe something in between. Caitlin, Aliah, and Kristen chat about how they approach a second draft.
Don't forget to check out Caitlin's newest release, He Who Breaks the Earth
2023-06-2112 minLit ServiceHow to Write a Killer EndingCaitlin, Aliah, and Kristen chat about how to approach writing a satisfying and exciting ending.
Don't miss Caitlin's new release from Simon and Schuster, He Who Breaks the Earth
2023-06-0711 minLit ServiceRaising the Action, Raising the Stakes with Margaret OwenMargaret Owen joins Caitlin, Aliah, and Kristen to chat about how to help your action to rise naturally and how to raise stakes.
Margaret is the author of The Merciful Crow, The Faithless Hawk, Little Thieves, Painted Devils which releases May 16th, and A Grimoire of Grave Fates which releases in June.
The "How Dire Is It" chart Margaret mentions can be found here.
2023-05-1016 minLit ServiceWhat Needs to be in the MiddleKristen, Caitlin, and Aliah chat about what goes into the middle of a book.
2023-04-1211 minLit ServiceHow to Stay Excited About Your WritingWe all hit moments where a shiny new project suddenly feels more like work. Aliah, Caitlin, and Kristen discuss strategies that allow the slog to become a little easier.
2023-03-2911 minLit ServiceWhat to Do with Writer’s BlockAliah, Caitlin, and Kristen discuss how to keep writing when the ideas aren't coming.
2023-03-1511 minLit ServiceWhat Needs to Be in a Beginning?Aliah, Cameron, Caitlin, and Kristen discuss what is most important at the beginning of a book and how to go about approaching it in your own stories.
Don't forget to check out our special edition books we've done for past guests!
2023-03-0114 minLit ServiceHow to Start Writing a First DraftCaitlin, Cameron, Kristen, and Aliah chat about how to begin writing and how to overcome some of the difficulties writers struggle with when starting a project.
Don't forget to check out our special editions!
2023-02-1511 minLit ServiceNovel Worthy IdeasAliah, Kristen, Caitlin, and Cameron kick of season seven with a new series on how to write a novel from start to finish beginning with how to come up with a good idea.
For updates and information on upcoming guests, subscribe to our newsletter!
To check out our special editions, go to Caitlin's store.
2023-01-1110 minLit ServiceMaking Old Stories New with Marissa MeyerMarissa Meyer joins Caitlin and Kristen to chat about how she approaches an adaptation, how to choose what to keep, what to get rid of, and where she gets inspiration for the unique new worlds and characters that go into her new story.
Her newest book, CURSED, the second in the Gilded Duology came out on November 8th, be sure to check the series out. We did a signed hand-painted edge design here, if you like your books special :) which you can find here.
Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar...2022-11-0920 minLit ServiceAll the Ways Your Liver Will Betray You with Tamsyn MuirTamsyn Muir joins Kristen and Caitlin to chat about alternative POV choices, non-consecutive timelines, meme culture, Women Who Suck, and all the other fun things that went into the Locked Tomb series.
TAMSYN MUIR is the bestselling author of the Locked Tomb Series. Her fiction has won the Locus and Crawford awards, and been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Dragon Award, and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. A Kiwi, she has spent most of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time living in Waiuku...2022-10-0624 min
The Paranorm GirlA Conversation with Author Keith EvansKeith Evans is a paranormal researcher and author of The Hays House, Ghosts Are People, Too. Over the course of a few years, Keith spent countless hours looking into the history of the property and it's residents and 41 hours of dedicated paranormal investigation of the ghosts and spirits who still call this house their home. Transcripts of these investigations, detailed accounts, and thorough history make up his story...in order to provide a fully transparent understanding of what a genuine investigation might be like, making the reader feel like they're in the room.On today's episode, I...2022-07-051h 08Lit ServiceUpping a Story’s IQ with Erin BeatyErin Beaty joins Caitlin, Kristen, and Aliah to talk about how to write stories and characters that are smarter than we are.
Erin was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, which means she can't drive a tractor but won't eat veggies that come from a can.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) and German, then served in the fleet as a weapons officer on a combat destroyer and later as an instructor the Center for Naval Leadership.
After a few years as a s...2022-06-2925 minLit ServiceSuspension of Disbelief with Emily X.R. PanCaitlin, Aliah, and Kristen chat with Emily X.R. Pan about magic in contemporary books and suspension of disbelief (as well as throwing down a gauntlet in the never-ending prologue debate!). To find the signed and stenciled edge edition the podcast put together for her new book An Arrow to the Moon, visit our shop.
Emily X.R. Pan is the New York Times bestselling author of THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER, which won the APALA Honor Award and the Walter Honor Award. It was also a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize, longlisted for the...2022-04-1330 minLit ServiceThe Publishing Rollercoaster with Kristen CiccarelliKristen Ciccarelli joins Caitlin, Kristen, and Aliah to talk about how publishing journeys look from the inside and how to manage the rough moments and celebrate the good.
Kristen was born and raised on her grandfather’s grape farm. She spent her childhood running amok through his vineyards and adventuring in the deep, dark woods behind his house. Before writing books full-time, Kristen was an artisanal bread baker, an indie bookseller, and a ceramic artist. Her first novel, The Last Namsara, was an international bestseller and has been translated into 12 languages. Her new contemporary fantasy, Edgewood, released on...2022-03-0128 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: A Deep Dive into ArcaneJoin Caitlin, Kristen, and Aliah as they discuss some of the cool storytelling elements used in Netflix's new series, Arcane.
If you want to read twelve pages of Caitlin and Kristen lauding/arguing/not understanding/beings stupid about some of the things the writers, animators, and others involved did, you're welcome to it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQrrDsc9pBwvPFDv_flGj7nELO1UZ9XcQpqtzmrEjjw/edit?usp=sharing
2022-01-1130 minLit Service5.21 Fake PoliticsAliah, Caitlin, Cameron and Kristen talk about constructing fake political intrigue in stories and how to make it interesting and peak amounts of "intrigue-y".
The chapter we critique is here.
Find out how to support Lit Service on our Patreon.
2021-11-1025 min
SelfieMatthew Paul Turner on His New Book with Rachel Held Evans + How to Find a Good Therapist for Kids | Selfie Podcast Episode 174Matthew Paul Turner joins us to talk about the new book he completed with our late friend Rachel Held Evans, and we chat about our memories of her. BJ gives advice on finding a good therapist for kids.
In this episode we also talk about:
* What Is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner
* Jordans Skinny Syrups Sugar Free Blueberry Lavender
* Sencha Green Tea Powder Decaf 30 Single Serving Packets
* Anastasia Brow Freeze
* Amazon Essentials Tech Tee 2-Pack2021-06-031h 28
The MindShift Podcast with Darrell Evans58: How Interim Executives Can Help You Grow with Kristen McAlisterHave a question for Darrell? Text the show here.Want to turn AI and digital disruption into your competitive advantage as a service-based business? Join the MindShift Inner Circle. Want help to market, grow, and scale your business? Schedule a free strategy session.In this episode:Kristen McAlister is the Co-owner of Cerius Executives, a firm that helps growing companies find the talent they need to grow and scale their business. Over the last 10 years, Kristen has taught companies how to leverage interim executives for tr...2021-05-2551 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Hot Seat Query Critique with Tricia LevensellerTricia Levenseller joins Caitlin Sangster and Kristen Evans to live critique a few queries.
Tricia Levenseller is the author of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology, Warrior of the Wild, The Shadows Between Us, and forthcoming Blade of Secrets. She writes young adult high fantasies with heavy romantic subplots. You can find more about Tricia and her books here, or preorder her new book (do it!) here.
If you'd like us to do more episodes like this or have suggestions about what would help you the most, let us know! You c...2021-04-0720 minLit Service5.06 The Mentor Always Dies: How to Write Mentor FiguresCaitlin, Kristen, and Aliah chat about the roles mentors take in (mostly!) fantasy and sci-fi narratives, their purpose and the shape of their place in a story.
For the chapter we critique with all our notes go here!
To find out how to support the podcast, go here! (We're about to do a live q&a, so if you want to come as us questions in person, now's the time to join our Patreon!)
For more about the podcast and how you can submit your work for a critique (and our next upcoming...2021-03-2429 minLit Service4.25 Getting Your Characters to Squad UpAliah, Caitlin, and Kristen chat about how to get your characters to squad up.
The chapter we critique can be found here.
Don't forget to check our Patreon for video versions of episodes and other bonus episodes and content!
2020-12-2330 min
His Hands in all ThingsKristen ReberIn this episode I interview Kristen Reber host of the Early Homecoming podcast and author of Early Homecoming: A Resource for Early Returned Missionaries, their Church Leaders, and their Families. Kristen talks about her own story of coming home early and how she felt the Lords hand in her life and as well as other times as well such as a family member who was struggling with addiction. She also gives great advice on how you can better feel the Lord's hand and as well as to missionaries who have returned home early. Kristen is open and is very e...2020-11-2225 min
A Time to BloomEpisode 4: Managing your Self-Care during the pandemic with Special Guest Kristen EvansToday's interview will discuss managing your self care with special guest Kristen Evans. Kristen is an Advertising Executive, Consumer Researcher and Strategist. Outside of branding and advertising, she has a special interest in wellness and recovery. Join us for some practical tips for managing your stress during the pandemic.2020-11-0320 minLit Service4.17 ToneCaitlin, Cameron, and Kristen chat about what tone is and how to utilize it to tell your story to a specific audience or to elicit a specific response in a reader.
2020-08-2633 minLit Service4.16 Perseverance with Darcie Little BadgerDr. Darcie Little Badger joins the Lit Service Crew to talk about how to survive the ups and downs of the publishing world both as an aspiring writer and as a published one.
Darcie is an Earth scientist, writer, and fan of the weird, beautiful, and haunted. Her debut novel ELATSOE will be launching on August 25th and you can find it here.
2020-08-1229 minLit ServiceBonus: Hot Seat Critique with Caitlin and CameronJoin Cameron and Caitlin as they read a past submission out loud and do a live critique as they go. let us know if you like this on social media! If you do, we'll do more of these!
2020-07-2921 minLit Service4.15 Author-Agent Relationships with Holly RootHolly Root, the founder of Root Literary and agent to many a New York Time Bestseller, joins the Lit Service crew to chat about what author-agent relationships look like.
2020-07-1529 minLit Service4.14 Monkey Closets with Samantha HastingsSamantha Hastings joins the Lit Service Crew to talk about how to approach writing a historical romance. Samantha is the author of The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter (which is available for pre-order now! It will be available July 14) which is a Jr. Library Guild Selection. Her next book A Royal Christmas Quandary will arrive October 6, 2020.
2020-07-0131 minLit Service4.13 Bookstagram with Bridget HowardCaitlin, Cameron, Aliah, and Kristen chat with Bridget Howard about building a social media platform.
Bridget owns the bookstagram account @darkfaerietales_ which has over 116,000 followers. She is also part owner of Storygram Tours, a Bookstagram Tour company that has run over a thousand successful instagram tours. She works closely with publishers like Harper, Little Brown, Disney, Macmillan, Scholastic, Random House, and many more on a weekly basis. Storygram has also run tours for many authors such as Kendare Blake, Kerri Maniscalco, Tricia Levenseller, Adrienne Young and others.
2020-06-1732 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Q&A with Marissa Meyer and DongWon Song2020-06-1217 minLit Service4.12 Collaboration with the Lady JaniesThe Lit Service crew chats with the Lady Janies (Jodi Meadows, Cynthia Hand, and Brodi Ashton, NYT bestselling authors of My Lady Jane, My Plain Jane, and My Calamity Jane) about how to collaborate on a project.
2020-06-0328 minLit Service4.11 Twenty Questions with DongWon SongLiterary agent DongWon Song joins the Lit Service crew to chat about what authors can do to get an agent's attention and why some stories work and some don't.
DongWon Song is an agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency representing science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adult, and middle grade readers as well as select non-fiction. He was formerly an editor at Orbit and a product manager for the ebook startup, Zola Books and has taught as an adjunct instructor in the publishing program at Portland State University. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
2020-05-2036 minLit Service4.10 Keeping it Grounded with Lauren SpiellerLauren Spieller joins the Lit Service Crew to chat about the differences in tension in stakes between grounded, realistic, contemporary novels vs genre fiction.
Lauren is an agent at TriadaUSA, and the author of She's the Worst and Your Destination is on the Left.
If you'd like a first chapter critique from the podcast, be sure to check out our guest schedule and submission guidelines on our website, https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation
2020-05-0630 minLit Service4.9 Juggling Multiple POVs with Marissa MeyerMarissa Meyer joins the Lit Service crew to chat about how to make different points of view in a story sound distinct, how to best utilize your different points of view, and how to avoid common pitfalls that go with having more than one point of view character.
Marissa Meyer is the NYT bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, and the Renegades series.
If you would like to see the text of the chapter we critiqued along with all our notes, you can find it on our website, https://litservicepodcast.wixsi...2020-04-2233 minLit Service4.8 Unlikable Characters with Kiersten WhiteKiersten White joins the Lit Service crew to chat about how to help readers identify with and root for characters who aren't exactly shiny white souls.
Kiersten is the New York Times bestselling author of the And I Darken trilogy, the Paranormalcy trilogy, Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Slayer, and many other novels.
2020-04-0827 minLit Service4.7 Dispatches from the Closet with Ben GrangeJoin Lit Service for their first socially distanced--wait no, we're almost always socially distanced--episode about how to write good dialogue.
Ben Grange is an agent at the L. Perkins literary agency.
2020-03-2535 minLit Service4.6 It's Complicated with Misa SugiuraThe Lit Service crew chats with Misa Sugiura about creating flawed characters, why we like flawed characters, and how flaws can drive a story.
Misa Sugiura is the author of the award-winning It's Not Like It's A Secret (2017) and This Time Will Be Different (2019)
Our next two guests will be Kiersten White and Marie Rutkoski. If you'd like a first chapter critique from the either of these NYT bestelling authors, check out our submission guidelines here.
2020-03-1132 minLit Service4.5 Layers of Tension with Katherine ArdenThe Lit Service crew chats with Katherine Arden (NYT Bestselling author of The Winternight Trilogy: The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and The Winter of the Witch as well as the two middle grade horror books Small Spaces and Dead Voices) about how to create layers of tension in your story in order to keep it from feeling flat.
Sorry about the beeps. We were recording in a new space and . . . well, that's what happens sometimes.
If you'd like a first chapter critique (and to see who we have coming up on...2020-02-2624 minLit Service4.4 Authentic Kid Voice with Tae KellerThe Lit Service Crew chats with middle grade author Tae Keller about how to approach writing from a child's perspective and what we owe to the audience for whom we're writing.
Tae Keller is the author of The Science of Breakable Things and When You Trap a Tiger. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she danced hula and subsisted on kimchi and spam musubis. Now, she writes about biracial girls trying to find their voices, and lives in New York City with a multitude of books.
2020-02-1226 minLit Service4.3 Characters Are Like Onions with Rebecca RossRebecca Ross joins the Lit Service crew to chat about layering characters (like onions! Imagine the Scottish accent) and how that relates to plot.
Rebecca is the author of The Queen's Rising, The Queen's Resistance, and the forthcoming Sisters of Sword and Song.
2020-02-0531 minLit Service4.2 Pitch Wars 101 with Sarah NicolasOnline pitching and mentorship contests can be kind of confusing. Sarah Nicolas breaks down Pitch Wars for us.
Sarah Nicolas is a recovering mechanical engineer, library event planner, and author who lives in Orlando with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he’s a chihuahua. Sarah writes YA novels as Sarah Nicolas and romance under the name Aria Kane. Sarah has published both traditionally and independently, and has also worked in the publishing industry as an editorial intern, editorial assistant, publicist, publicity director, cover artist, and art director. Sarah is the current Managing Director for Pitch Wars.
2020-01-2927 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Reactions to The Rise of Skywalker with Emily DuncanThe Lit Service Crew chats with Emily Duncan about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the Mandalorian. Spoilers abound (though not so much on the Mandalorian front!) so be forewarned.
2020-01-2913 minLit Service4.1 I Made It All Up with Emily DuncanThe Lit Service crew chats with NYT Bestseller Emily Duncan about how she approaches researching high fantasy. Emily A. Duncan is the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints. She was born and raised in Ohio and works as a youth services librarian. She received a Master’s degree in library science from Kent State University, which mostly taught her how to find obscure Slavic folklore texts through interlibrary loan systems. When not reading or writing, she enjoys playing copious amounts of video games and dungeons and dragons. She is represented by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary...2020-01-1531 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Behind the Scenes in Publishing with Tony DanielDue to a recording snafu, we are posting a bonus episode early! Tony Daniel, who is a senior editor at Baen publishing, chatted with the podcasters about some things that go on behind the scenes when it comes to books being acquired and published.
The chapter we critiqued with Rebecca Ross is available on our website with all our notes.
2019-12-2614 minLit Service3.21 Getting Those Hobbits Out the DoorCaitlin, Cameron, and Kristen talk in depth about how inciting incidents relate to character and how people accidentally mess them up.
2019-12-1132 minLit Service3.20 Character is Setting with Tony DanielThe Lit Service Crew chats with Tony Daniel about how to approach building a character and how that interacts with setting.
Tony Daniel is a senior editor at Baen Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. He is also an award-winning author (a few of his titles: Guardian of Night, Metaplanetary, Superluminal, Earthling, Warpath, and the two Star Trek Original Series novels, Devil’s Bargain and Savage Trade), a co-writer of screenplays for monster movies that appear on the SyFy and Chiller Channels, and the founder, writer, and director of theatrical and audio drama group Automatic Vaudeville, wi...2019-11-2729 minLit Service3.19 How to Not Discover WitchesCameron, Kristen, Aliah, and Caitlin chat about POV usage and how to best make your choices fit the kind of story you want to tell.
2019-11-1328 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Kate Watson Query and FanX Q&AAnother in our series of query letters that succeeded (and then went on to become published books) Enjoy Kate Watson (author of Seeking Mansfield) reading the query that landed her an agent, and then some questions we answered at Salt Lake ComicCon/FanX this last September.
2019-11-0606 minLit Service3.18 The Emperor King's Assassin with Ben GrangeBen Grange, agent at the L. Perkins agency, joins the Lit Service crew to talk about what "high concept" means, why everyone talks about high concept books, and why it's important to be able to put together a high concept-ish pitch for your book even if it isn't a high concept story.
2019-10-2332 minLit Service3.17 Save the Dragons with Jodi MeadowsCaitlin, Cameron, and Aliah discuss with Jodi Meadows why books need themes, where themes come from, and how to make the ones that creep up on you seem intentional.
Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy, the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology, and the FALLEN ISLES Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of the New York Times bestsellers MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE (HarperTeen).2019-10-0927 minLit Service3.16 Heebie Jeebie Research with Susan R. MatthewsThe Lit Service Crew chats with Susan R. Matthews about seeking out in person experiences that inform the sensory detail, blocking, and the plausibility of your planned plot. Extra points that in person experience gives you the heebie jeebies.
Special welcome to our guest Susan R. Matthews, whose debut novel An Exchange of Hostages was nominated for the 1997 Philip K. Dick Award and for the 1998 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer; She’s since written eight other books in this dystopian space opera series, plus many other books.
If you'd like a first cha...2019-09-2533 minLit Service3.15 Magic Systems 101 (and when to throw them out)The Lit Service crew recorded live at FanX Salt Lake City ComiCon with Sara B. Larson and Kathryn Purdie.
Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY trilogy (DEFY, IGNITE, and ENDURE) and the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN duology (DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT). She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook.
Kathryn Purdie is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Burning Glass series and the forthcoming Bone Crier’s Moon duology...2019-09-1137 minLit Service3.14 The Jack Skellington EffectOur guest, Stacy Whitman, is the founder and publisher of Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low that focuses on diverse middle grade and YA books. Stacy was a founding member of the CBC Diversity Committee. She is also currently looking for submissions for their #NewVisionsAward, but submissions close on August 31st, so act fast.
Some media we talk about: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
If you'd like to submit your work for us to critique, you can find our submission guidelines here: https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation/submissions
2019-08-2837 minLit Service3.13 The Weeds in Frodo's GardenThis is our fiftieth episode!!! The Lit Service crew discusses when to go "into the weeds" with your writing and when to stay out and summarize
2019-08-1430 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Query Examples with Nicki Pau PretoNicki Pau Preto, author of Crown of Feathers shares the query that got her an agent along with thoughts from her agent about why it worked.
Nicki Pau Preto lives just outside Toronto, Canada. After getting a degree in visual arts, a masters in art history, and a diploma in graphic design, Nicki discovered two things: she loves to escape the real world, and she isn’t interested in a regular 9-5 life. Luckily, her chosen career covers both. She is represented by Penny Moore at Aevitis Creative Managment.
2019-08-0702 min
Weighing In On Happy with Victoria Evans OfficialWhy Your Femininity Is Your Secret Weapon- Sexologist Kristen Murray Alexi - 029Sexologist, goddess and good friend Kristen Murray is back for another kick-ass episode to teach us everything we need to know about being a badass feminine woman.
It is not uncommon in our society to perceive femininity as weak and fragile and masculinity as strong and capable. I was guilty of this and spent the majority of my life trying to avoid being feminine. It is only recently that I have begun to embrace my feminine side and all its untapped power.
In today’s episode, we divulge all there is to know about what it...2019-08-0133 minLit Service3.12 Beta Readers (and how to get them to email you back)Livia Blackburne joins the Lit Service crew to discuss beta readers, who you should ask, and, most importantly, how to politely follow up with them. They also critique a bit of fantasy involving elven warriors, magic, and myths.
2019-07-2528 minLit Service3.11 Contemporary WorldbuildingAs it turns out, writing contemporary novels requires just as much worldbuilding as writing fantasy! Kate Watson and the Lit Service crew discuss the process of researching the real world for your writing.
2019-07-1024 minLit Service3.10 The Horcrux PrincipleCaitlin, Cameron, and Kristen discuss the Horcrux Principle (closely related to the objective correlative) with Lisa Mangum. Enjoy fun jokes, references, and a little Regency romance!
2019-06-2631 minLit Service3.9 Protagging 101People like characters who move, who make decisions, who want things. Caitlin, Cameron, and Kristen discuss how to make this happen on the page.
Books and media we talk about:
Harry Potter
The Hunger Games
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Great Gatsby
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
If you'd like a first chapter critique from the podcast, please check out our submission guidelines here: https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation/submissions
2019-06-1222 minLit ServiceBonus Episode: Query Examples with Charlie HolmbergCharlie Holmberg reads the query that got her an agent (and some feedback from her agent about why it worked!)
Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie N. Holmberg was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. Her fantasy Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for...2019-06-0502 minLit Service3.8 Brick by Brick (but only the bricks that matter) with Nicki Pau Preto This week we talk to Nicki Pau Preto about how she approaches world building and how to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed and also how to create a lush secondary world.
Nicki Pau Preto is the author of Crown of Feathers. She lives just outside Toronto, Canada. After getting a degree in visual arts, a masters in art history, and a diploma in graphic design, Nicki discovered two things: she loves to escape the real world, and she isn’t interested in a regular 9-5 life. Luckily, her chosen career covers both.
Some books and medi...2019-05-2930 minLit Service3.7 The Query MonsterCaitlin and Cameron chat with Ben Grange from the L. Perkins agency and Amy Jameson from A+B Works about how to craft the perfect query.
2019-05-1541 minWeighing In On Happy with Victoria Evans OfficialThe Sex Talk You’ve Been Waiting For - Kristen Murray Alexi - 017Self-pleasure, arousal response, lubrication, menstruation, feminine and masculine energy, sensuality, long-term relationships, labia size, tantra, orgasms, yoni eggs and every other topic that your mom and health teacher never told you about!
In this episode I sit down with Kristen Murray Alexi also known as "Yonilicious" in an all encompassing educational and eye opening interview about the empowered female body. You won't want to miss this!
Kristen Murray Alexi
Website https://www.yonilicious.com.au/
Instagram @YONILICIOUS
Want more support?
Visit my website www.victoriaevansofficial.com
Fo...2019-05-0946 minLit Service3.6.5 Bonus Q&A with Charlie Holmberg and Brian Lee DurfeeBonus episode! Listen to our our fabulous guests at FanX (Charlie Holmberg and Brian Lee Durfee) answer questions from the audience.
Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, whose debut series, The Paper Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney award for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
Brian Lee Durfee is an...2019-05-0316 min
Lit Service3.6 Surviving your First NovelHave you started a novel you've never finished? Wanted to write a novel and never started? Award winning authors Charlie Holmberg and Brian Lee Durfee join us to talk about their first novels and share tips and strategies for actually finishing.
Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, whose debut series, The Paper Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney award for Speculative Fiction. She i...2019-04-2427 minLit Service3.5 Pacing your BackstoryYou have your fabulous main character, their deliciously dark past, their wealth of relationships, habits, memories, and everything else that makes them who they are-- and then you have to write the first chapter. What can you put in, what should you leave out, and how do you make it interesting? Listen in as we discuss how to best drop your back story in a way that is natural and interesting.
Some books and media we talk about:
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Last Jedi (movie)
Animorphs...2019-04-0526 minLit Service3.4 Writing from your Heart with Emily R. King
Powerful themes and well-explored issues often make the difference between a good story and a great one. However, many writers struggle to find the balance between exploring issues and sounding "preachy". In this episode, Emily R. King talks with us about how to help our writing have a heart.
Emily R. King is a reader of everything and a writer of fantasy. Born in Canada and raised in the USA, she has perfected the use of “eh” and “y’all” and uses both interchangeably. Shark advocate, consumer of gummy bears, and islander at heart, Emily’s greatest interests ar...2019-03-1519 minLit Service3.3 The Anatomy of a Fight Scene with Tricia LevensellerTricia Levenseller is the author of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology and standalone Warrior of the Wild. She likes to describe her books as young adult alternate–world historical fantasies with heavy romantic subplots.
One thing that a lot of new writers struggle with is writing a good fight scene that moves quickly and makes sense. In this episode, Tricia Levenseller breaks things down to give us ideas on what to pay attention to and how to make our fight scenes have an extra dash of awesome.
Some things we mention on the podcast:
St...2019-03-0127 minLit Service3.2 The Art of Misunderstanding with Kelly Barnhill Kelly Barnhill received the Newbery Medal in 2017, won the World Fantasy Award, the Parents Choice Gold Award as well as many other honors. She is a New York Times bestseller, and the author of THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON, THE WITCHES BOY, IRON HEARTED VIOLET, and THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK as well as the novella, “The Unlicensed Magician”.
In this episode, we chat about using misunderstandings between characters as a plot point that rings true rather than frustrating readers.
Check out the text of the submission we critique on our websit...2019-02-1726 minLit Service3.1 The Need for EvilWe're back with an all new season of Lit Service!
Announcement!! We are going to be doing live shows at the Life the Universe and Everything Symposium in Provo, Utah, Saturday February 16th. If you haven't been to a writing conference yet (and you really should go...) this is a relatively inexpensive one, espeically if you are a student. We'd love to meet up and see you at our show!
The last time we tried to talk about writing a good villain on the podcast, we got distracted and talked about the difference between antagonists...2019-02-0228 min
1on1 with Jon EvansKristen Dalton Wolfe: Former Miss USA helps women find "The Sparkle Effect"Kristen Dalton Wolfe dreamed of being Miss USA. When she won the title in 2009, Kristen realized that achievement did not bring the fulfillment she needed. Realizing she wore another crown paved the way for Kristen’s success as a model, television host, motivational speaker and author. Kristen’s new book, The Sparkle Effect, seeks to help women overcome the feelings of insecurity and self-doubt she battled while growing up in Wilmington.2019-01-0544 minLit Service2.20 Horror Elements with Dan WellsFor our final episode of the season we chat with Dan Wells about how to incorporate horror elements into our work. Because Dan is really smart, we let this one go a little long.
Some of the things we mention:
Zero G by Dan Wells (available for free on audible for the month of December!! https://www.audible.com/pd/Zero-G-Audiobook/B07K4VYQ5X)
Holly Black's collective work
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
There's Someone Inside...2018-12-1937 minLit Service2.19 Crucibles with Kathryn Purdie and Ben GrangeBen mentioned during the podcast that this is one of the most important topics for newer writers to learn about. #1 NYT bestseller Kathryn Purdie joins Ben, Caitlin Sangster, Aliah Eberting, Kristen Evans, and Cameron Harris to talk about what it means to put your characters in a crucible in order to increase tension in a story and how to go about doing it.
Some books and movies we mention:
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Office (TV series)
Star Wars
2018-11-3029 minLit Service2.18 Writing Original CharactersLiterary agent Ben Grange joins the Lit Service crew to chat about how to approach writing original characters.
Some things we mention:
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Scarlet Pimpernell by Baroness Orczy
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway
If you'd like to see the text of the submission we critique, you can find it on our website: https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation
If you'd like a first c...2018-11-0928 minLit Service2.17 The Fantastic First Chapter with Ben GrangeThe Lit Service Crew chats with Literary Agent Ben Grange about what goes into a fabulous first chapter and how to approach getting yours into that fabulous category, red flags and things that make Ben pass over people in his query slushpile, and some of our own favorite first chapters.
Some of the things we mention in this episode:
5 Writing Tips: Barbara Kingsolver
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/78305-5-writing-tips-barbara-kingsolver.html
Author Mentor Match http://authormentormatch.com/
Holes by Louis Sachar
Strange the Dr...2018-10-2729 minLit Service2.16 YA Thrillers with Karen M. McManusThe Lit Service Crew chats with Karen M. McManus, author of NYT Bestselling One of Us is Lying, about the rise of the YA thriller and the elements that go into writing a good thriller (and thriller elements that you can apply to any other genre you write.)
Some of the books and other media we mention:
There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Sadie by Courtney Summers
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
Little Monsters by Kara T...2018-10-1031 minLit Service2.15 Brainstorming with Ben GrangeThis week the Lit Service crew chats with literary agent Ben Grange about brainstorming techniques.
Some things we mention:
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
Struck By Lightning https://beta.prx.org/stories/176346-struck-by-lightning
Cameron's writing deadline game https://4thewords.com/
Fear and Writing, with Emma Newman from the Writing Excuses Podcast https://writingexcuses.com/2018/05/20/13-20-fear-and-writing-with-emma-newman/
If you'd like to see the text of the first chapter we critique, you can find it on our webs...2018-09-1936 minLit Service2.14 Subplots with the Lit Service Crew (reunited!)The Lit Service crew chats about subplots, what they are, how to use them, and when you don't need them. Some of the books and movies we talk about are:
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Jurassic Park, the movie based on the book by Michael Crighton
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Solo the movie
Infinity War movie
Chuck the TV series
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
If you'd like t...2018-09-0531 minLit Service2.13 Improving Your Craft with Rosalyn EvesThis week we chat with Rosalyn Eves about rhetorical devices and how to go about learning and using them (and maybe when not to use them). Some of the things we mention in the podcast worth checking out:
Soundbite from Ira Glass on "The Gap" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbC4gqZGPSY&ab_channel=Getoutthebox1
Slyva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric, provided by Dr. Gideon Burton. A list of rhetorical devices with examples: http://rhetoric.byu.edu/
We also mentioned Austenland by Shannon Hale
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Sch...2018-08-2232 minLit Service2.12 Hanging Lanterns with Ben GrangeBen Grange and the Lit Service Crew chat about what it means to "hang lanterns" in your writing, and how to go about doing it.
Some books we mention: The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater
The Office (the TV show)
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Belles by Dhionelle Clayton
Moby Dick by Herman Mellville
Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
Our first chapter critique is about a boy named Cole who is a guardian angel. The text for this submission (including in-line notes by...2018-08-0835 minLit Service2.5 Building TensionThis week Kristen, Caitlin, and Cameron talk about rising tension and how to use it in your writing and announce our special publishing industry professional guest for April. Some books we mention:
Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Joan Druett
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
American Panda by Gloria Chao
Out of the Dust by Karen Hess
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Also, we talk about the movie While You Were Sleeping
Check out our youtube channel if yo...2018-04-1439 minLit Service2.4 Matching Character and Plot with Erin SummerillErin, Caitlin, Cameron, and Kristen chat about how character and plot fit together, and how, as you are engineering your character, to choose flaws and strengths that suit the sort of plot you want to write. Erin talks about the emotional core of a book and how oftentimes conflict is internal rather than external.
Please check out the submission we critque here: litservice.wixsite.com/podcast
If you want to submit your first chapter for us to critique, check out the submission guidelines on our website!
Remember to listen in two w...2018-03-1726 minLit ServiceBuilding Good Writing HabitsIn which Caitlin, Kristen, and Cameron examine the correct pronunciation of the words "latrine" and "Yosemite". We also talk about our own writing habits and how to cultivate the consistent sort of habits both with writing and editing.
Please come visit us on Twitter https://twitter.com/LitService, facebook https://www.facebook.com/LitServicePodcast/ or on instagram https://www.instagram.com/litservicepodcast/
Come visit our fledgling forum, talk about writing, publishing, look for potential critique partners and generally have a good time! https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation/forum
If you want to check out t...2018-03-0330 min
Lit Service1.14 Inciting IncidentsInciting incidents: what they are and how to effectively choose one. Kristen, Cameron, and Caitlin discuss their own writerly inciting incidents (how they started writing) and then talk about they ways inciting incidents affect the rest of the story, specifically using examples from RED RISING by Pierce Brown, THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Krisoff, LAST STAR BURNING by Caitlin Sangster, and JURASSIC PARK the old and fabulous movie that Cameron has been fixated on for a few episodes now :)
If...2017-12-1823 minLit Service1.8 Making Promises with Tracey NeithercottCaitlin is up to no good, Cameron works too hard, Kristen makes a mean sweet potato fry and Tracey will not fold laundry for a kingdom. Tracey Neithercott joins the Literary WIP team to discuss what it means to make promises in your first chapters and how to make sure you're making the right ones.
If you want to look at the submission from today, you can find it here: https://literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast/episode-8
If you'd like to submit your work, you'll find guidlines on the Literary WIP website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast2017-11-0633 minLit Service1.7 Why and How to Use Concrete DetailsFind out much more about Cameron Harris than he wants you to know! Caitlin, Kristen, Dan, and Cameron chat about what concrete details are and why they're important. We then critique a submission about a boy who has a little trouble with hallucinations.
If you'd like to submit your work for a critique, check out our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast
2017-10-3023 min