Shows
Women WritingRe-release Episode 9: Trisha Jenn LoehrWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I take a coffee break with romance writer and book coach Trisha Jenn Loehr. Enjoy this delightful conversation about all things romance.Trisha Jenn Loehr is a romance writer and Author Accelerator certified book coach. She helps busy women who want to write romance novels without guilt or shame prioritize their writing, develop their craft, and find joy in the journey toward their publishing dreams.With a decade of experience as a communications and events professional, she understands writing, marketing, the importance of identifying your audience...2025-07-2253 min
Women WritingRe-release Episode 7: Coffee Break with Patricia WesterhofWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m having a chat with author, speaker, and writing coach, Patricia Westerhof. You can read Patricia’s previous Women Writing feature here and check out her book The Canadian Guide to Creative Writing and Publishing.Patricia Westerhof is the award-winning author of The Canadian Guide to Creative Writing and Publishing, Catch Me When I Fall, and The Dove in Bathurst Station. She also co-authored The Writer's Craft, a textbook on creative writing that’s been used widely across Canada. Her stories and articles have appeared in Room, The Fe...2025-07-0839 min
Women WritingRe-release Episode 5: Coffee Break with Kim FahnerWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, Kim Fahner and I take a coffee break together to chat about her debut novel, her career as a poet, and her work at The Writers’ Union of Canada. Sit back and enjoy our conversation. You can read Kim’s previous feature in Women Writing here.“Every time you work with a book coach, editor, or a publisher, every time you read someone else’s work and you learn from them, I think it’s just this wonderful palimpsest of learning.”Kim Fahner lives and writes in Sudbury...2025-06-2446 min
Women WritingRerelease Episode 11: Amy L. BernsteinWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this rerelease of Season 1, Episode 11 with author and book coach Amy L. Bernstein as we discuss her new book Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, recently short-listed for the Eric Hoffer Book Award. Amy L. Bernstein is the author, most recently, of Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, a source of encouragement for self-doubting creatives. She is an award-winning multi-genre novelist, a former journalist, and a certified nonfiction book coach helping authors find their best path to publishing. Amy also...2025-06-1042 min
Women WritingEpisode 24: Coffee Break with Nicole MeierWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with author and book coach Nicole Meier.Nicole Meier is a certified book coach and author of four upmarket novels, including The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay, The Second Chance Supper Club, and City of Books. Her books have been recognized by Booklist, Refinery29, BookBub, and Popsugar. She hosts The Whole Writer podcast and is the co-founder of Book Works. She can be found at nicolemeier.com📚Women Writing CircleThe Women Writing Circle meets on th...2025-05-2746 min
Women WritingEpisode 23: Coffee Break with Alex Van TolWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with my colleague, author and book coach, Alex Van Tol.Alex Van Tol is the bestselling author of 15 books and an Author Accelerator-certified book coach. She works with writers across genres and at all levels of craft, with particular skill in dialogue and character development. She is also a somatic coach, helping people release stuck patterns and regulate their nervous systems. Learn more about Alex’s work at www.alexvantol.com.📚Women Writing CircleTransform your writing journey in 2025...2025-05-151h 01
Women WritingEpisode 22: Coffee Break with Andi CumboWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with Andi Cumbo, also known as ACF Bookens, the author of the A St. Marins Cozy Mystery Series, Stitches in Crime Series, and several other series, and we chat about pen names, writing series, creativity, and how she gets all the things done.Andi Cumbo lives at the edge of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with her young son and three rescue cats, who are - of course - nocturnal. When she’s not writing, she watches a lot of boys play baseba...2025-05-0855 min
Women WritingEpisode 21: Coffee Break with Katie CurtinWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m chatting with multi-disciplinary artist and book coach Katie Curtin. A multi-disciplinary artist, Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, and lifelong activist with a passion for holistic health and healing, Katie Curtin helps creative change makers bring their visions to life. Her writing journey began at 24 with Women In China (Pathfinder Press)—which saw three printings, translations into French and Swedish, and adoption into high school curriculum—and continues with her Amazon bestseller The Happy Well-Fed Artist: How to Get Your Creative Projects Off the Ground and Into the Wo...2025-05-0158 min
Women WritingLet's Talk Creativity with Katie CurtinThis is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com/subscribe2025-04-301h 02
Women WritingEpisode 20: Coffee Break with Kathryn MocklerWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m chatting with author, screenwriter, and teacher Kathryn Mockler.Kathryn Mockler is a writer, screenwriter, experimental filmmaker, editor, and publisher and the author of the story collection Anecdotes (Book*hug Press, 2023), which won the 2024 Victoria Butler Book Prize and was a finalist for the 2024 Trillium Book Award, 2023 Danuta Gleed Literary Award, 2024 Fred Kerner Award, and 2024 VMI Besty Warland Between Genres Award. She co-edited the print anthology Watch Your Head: Writers and Artists Respond to the Climate Crisis (Coach House Books, 2020). Her films have screened at TIFF, EMFA, th...2025-04-241h 23
Women WritingEpisode 19: Coffee Break with Kerry ClareWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with author, editor, and podcaster Kerry Clare.KERRY CLARE is the author of Asking for a Friend, Waiting for a Star to Fall, and Mitzi Bytes. Her fourth novel will be published in March 2026. A National Magazine Award-nominated essayist and editor of The M Word: Conversations About Motherhood, Kerry also edits the Canadian books website 49thShelf.com, is host of the BOOKSPO podcast, and writes about books and reading at her longtime blog, Pickle Me This. She lives in Toronto with her fa...2025-04-1747 min
Women WritingConversation with Author & Hybrid Publisher Caroline ToppermanThis is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com/subscribe2025-04-161h 09
Women WritingEpisode 18: Coffee Break with Laurie ElmquistWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with children’s author Laurie Elmquist. We chat all things board books, picture books, and chapter books and how you might get started writing for children.Laurie Elmquist is the author of several books for children including her most recent board book, Country Baby (Orca Book Publishers, 2024) and upcoming picture book, Dr. Lila Frankenstein (Orca Book Publishers, Oct. 2026). Her book for young readers, Where’s Burgess (Orca Book Publishers 2018) was nominated for a Silver Birch Express Award. The second book in the series...2025-04-101h 02
Women WritingEpisode 17: Coffee Break with Holly GutwillingerWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with my book coaching client, Holly Gutwillinger. Holly shares her experiences finding joy in her writing life.Holly B. Gutwillinger is a heartfelt writer from a small town in Northern Ontario. In the evenings, after her day job, she devotes her time to writing and attending the Creative Writing program at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. She is working on her debut novel, which explores a woman’s complex relationship with her rescue dogs. Living in remote parts of Can...2025-04-0356 min
Women WritingBook Coaches Reveal Insights on Writing Retreats and Book CoachingThank you Liisa Kovala, Maddeline Elizabeth, Foreman Josh, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dinah Laprairie! Join me for my next live video in the app on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 at 1:00 PM EST with Caroline Topperman.Find us online:* Dinah Laprairie at dinahlaprairie.com* Liisa Kovala at liisakovalabookcoach.com* Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing RetreatsFind out more about our weekend getaway Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat at rekindlecreativity.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this...2025-04-0246 min
Women WritingEpisode 16: Coffee Break with Louise EllsWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with author and professor Louise Ells.Louise Ells was born and raised in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, by parents who were both voracious readers. Two of her father’s cousins were writers, so she grew up believing “author” was an entirely reasonable career choice. Ha! After a circuitous path which included jobs as a Cordon Bleu chef and submarine co-pilot amongst others, she earned her PhD in Creative Writing and became a university teacher. Her short story collection, Notes Towards Recovery, was published in 2019...2025-03-2743 min
Women WritingEpisode 15: Coffee Break with Alissa ButterworthWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with Alissa Butterworth.Alissa Butterworth is an author, editor, certified book coach, and educator. She has taught creative writing to teens through seniors and holds a longstanding Writer’s Workshop. Alissa is particularly interested in helping students discover (or rediscover) their own voices and gifts. Her short story “The Carriage Held but Just Ourselves” debuted as part of the Satellite Collective’s Telephone international art exhibit and was published in the accompanying Crosstown Press print anthology. Alissa's short story “Girls Who See Gods” will b...2025-03-2050 min
Women WritingEpisode 14: Coffee Break with Dinah Laprairie, Emily De Angelis, and Daphne GordonWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this special episode, we’re taking a coffee break to chat about all things writing retreats!Emily De Angelis comes from a long line of visual artists, musicians, and storytellers.She has spent many years developing her writing through independent study, workshops, conferences, and courses, including a year in the Humber School for Writers. She was also fortunate to receive an OAC grant for Works in Progress. Emily has western and Japanese-style poems as well as short stories published in various anthologies. She was guest curator and poet for an ek...2025-03-131h 07
Women WritingEpisode 13: Coffee Break with Marion AgnewWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m having a coffee break with creative non-fiction and novelist Marion Agnew. You can check out Marion’s feature in Women Writing here. Marion gives me an update on the Hoito in Thunder Bay, discusses writing her books, and we delve into all kinds of writerly topics, including her husband Roy Blomstrom’s novels.Marion Agnew’s debut novel, Making Up the Gods (Latitude 46), was released in October, 2023. Her personal essay collection, Reverberations: A Daughter’s Meditations on Alzheimer’s (Signature Editions, 2019), was shortlisted for the Louise de Kiriline...2025-03-061h 00
Women WritingEpisode 10: Coffee Break with Lindsay MayhewWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m chatting with spoken word poet, editor, and publishing assistant, Lindsay Mayhew.Lindsay Mayhew is a spoken word poet, author, and editor from Sudbury, Ontario. She is a recent English Literature Master’s graduate from the University of Guelph. Her editorial debut with Connor Lafortune, A Thousand Tiny Awakenings, releases April 5, 2025. As Wordstock Sudbury’s multi-year slam champion and a runner up in the 2024 Womxn of the World poetry slam, Lindsay is a successful slam competitor. She will be representing Hamilton in the 2025 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam in Van...2025-02-2734 min
Women WritingEpisode 11: Amy L. BernsteinWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this episode with author and book coach Amy L. Bernstein as we discuss her new book Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration.Amy L. Bernstein is the author, most recently, of Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, a source of encouragement for self-doubting creatives. She is an award-winning multi-genre novelist, a former journalist, and a certified nonfiction book coach helping authors find their best path to publishing. Amy also publishes on Substack, teaches a variety of writing workshops, and may...2025-02-2042 min
Women WritingEpisode 10: Coffee Break with Suzy VadoriWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I have a coffee break with author, book coach, and host of the Show, Don’t Tell Podcast, Suzy Valdori. Suzy shares seven essential elements to help you with the show, don’t tell concept.Suzy Valdori is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers’ Favorite Book A...2025-02-1358 min
Women WritingEpisode 9: Trisha Jenn LoehrWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I take a coffee break with romance writer and book coach Trisha Jenn Loehr. Enjoy this delightful conversation about all things romance.Trisha Jenn Loehr is a romance writer and Author Accelerator certified book coach. She helps busy women who want to write romance novels without guilt or shame prioritize their writing, develop their craft, and find joy in the journey toward their publishing dreams.With a decade of experience as a communications and events professional, she understands writing, marketing, the importance of identifying your audience...2025-02-0653 min
Women WritingEpisode 8: Coffee Break with Vera ConstantineauWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m taking a coffee break with poet and author Vera Constantineau. You can read Vera’s previous Women Writing feature here. Enjoy our conversation about haiku, haibun, and supporting writers.Vera Constantineau loves the written word. Nonfiction, short fiction, poetry and humour have all held her interest for many years. Vera is a former poet laureate of Greater Sudbury (2020-2022), a past president of the Sudbury Writers’ Guild and she’s member in good standing of several national and international writing organizations including The Writers Union of Canada...2025-01-3052 min
Show, don't Tell Writing with Suzy Vadori29. Interview with Author and Book Coach, Liisa KovalaSend us a textIn this episode Suzy speaks with Author and book coach Liisa Kovala about her journey and her books, but also what she's seeing as she collates stories of women writers in her podcast, Women Writing. What are our unique challenges and opportunities as women when we're young, when we're middle aged and aging? Lisa and I are going to have a frank discussion about the ups and downs that you're not going to want to miss➡️✍️ Sign up here to FINISH YOUR BOOK in Suzy's...2025-01-281h 00
Women WritingEpisode 7: Coffee Break with Patricia WesterhofWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m having a chat with author, speaker, and writing coach, Patricia Westerhof. You can read Patricia’s previous Women Writing feature here and check out her book The Canadian Guide to Creative Writing and Publishing.Patricia Westerhof is the award-winning author of The Canadian Guide to Creative Writing and Publishing, Catch Me When I Fall, and The Dove in Bathurst Station. She also co-authored The Writer's Craft, a textbook on creative writing that’s been used widely across Canada. Her stories and articles have appeared in Room, The Fe...2025-01-2339 min
Women WritingEpisode 6: Coffee Break with Hollay GhaderyWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m having a chat with poet, memoirist, short story writer, publicist, and founder of River Street Writing, Hollay Ghadery, to discuss her writing, her work as a publicist, and the importance of literary communities. You can learn more about Hollay in her Women Writing here. Enjoy! “A really easy thing you can do to keep yourself relevant is to celebrate other people’s work.”Hollay Ghadery (she/her) is a content, PR, and communications specialist with 20 years of experience working with businesses and individuals from around t...2025-01-1652 min
Women WritingEpisode 5: Coffee Break with Kim FahnerWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, Kim Fahner and I take a coffee break together to chat about her debut novel, her career as a poet, and her work at The Writers’ Union of Canada. Sit back and enjoy our conversation. You can read Kim’s previous feature in Women Writing here.“Every time you work with a book coach, editor, or a publisher, every time you read someone else’s work and you learn from them, I think it’s just this wonderful palimpsest of learning.”Kim Fahner lives and writes in Sudbury...2025-01-0946 min
Women WritingEpisode 4: Coffee Break with Caroline ToppermanWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m chatting with Caroline Topperman about her new memoir, writing family stories, hybrid publishing, and advice for writers. You can read Caroline’s Women Writing feature here.Caroline Topperman is a European-Canadian writer, entrepreneur, and world traveler. Born in Sweden, raised in Canada with a recent stint of living in Poland, she holds a BFA in Screenwriting. She is a co-founder of Mountain Ash Press and KW Writers Alliance. Her book, Tell Me What You See, serves as a toolkit for her writing workshops. She has written arti...2025-01-0251 min
Women WritingEpisode 3: Coffee Break with Emily De AngelisWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I’m sharing a cuppa with Young Adult novelist Emily De Angelis. We chat about who reads YA (don’t we all?), her novel The Stones of Burren Bay, reaching your audience, and Emily’s YA book recommendations. Emily’s Women Writing feature can also be found here.“There are no topics that are taboo in Young Adult.”Emily De Angelis comes from a long line of visual artists, musicians, and storytellers.She has spent many years developing her writing through independent study, workshops, conferences, and courses, inc...2024-12-2641 min
Women WritingEpisode 2: Coffee Break with Heather CampbellWelcome to the Women Writing podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Latitude 46 Publishing publisher, and Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival director, Heather Campbell. We chat about the joy in publishing, the current state of publishing, and what authors should know about the publisher/author relationship, plus a behind the scenes glance at the workings of a small press. “I’ve wanted to do this my whole life and I’ve finally figured out how.”Heather Campbell has combined her education, experience and ‘need to initiate’ by stimulating the literary arts in northern Ontario. She founded and...2024-12-1956 min
Women WritingEpisode 1: Coffee Break with Dinah LaprairieI’m so excited to share my chat with book coach and my co-host of Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat, Dinah Laprairie, in the first episode of Women Writing. We discuss the role of the book coach, the joy of book coaching, book coaching certification, what success can look like for clients. Plus, we chat about our 2025 writing retreats.Dinah Laprairie is a writer, editor, and an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, offering story support to passionate people and community-minded mentors. For 13 years, Dinah served as editor–publisher of Open Minds Quarterly. Today, she supports authors as an...2024-12-1631 min
Women WritingEpisode 1: Coffee Break with Dinah LaprairieI’m so excited to share my chat with book coach and my co-host of Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat, Dinah Laprairie, in the first episode of Women Writing. We discuss the role of the book coach, the joy of book coaching, book coaching certification, what success can look like for clients. Plus, we chat about our 2025 writing retreats.“It's that question that we usually ask as coaches: If you're saying yes to this project, what do you need to say no to?”Dinah Laprairie is a writer, editor, and an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coa...2024-12-1130 min
Your Writing Retreat ConnectionRekindle Creativity Writing Retreat with Liisa Kovala and Dinah LaprairieIn this episode, writing retreat co-hosts Liisa Kovala and Dinah Laprairie chatted with me about their upcoming Rekindle Creativity Women's Writing Retreat in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. We also discussed a range of topics including: Why they decided to co-host a writing retreat The surprises that came with planning their first retreat How a writing retreat is such a gift for you and your writing Liisa and Dinah's writing projects And all the details about their upcoming writing retreat in January, 2024Show Links:Rekindle Creativity Women's Writing Retreat websiteDinah Laprairie's websiteLiisa Kovala's websiteSurviving Stutth...2023-11-1437 min
New Books in Eastern European StudiesLiisa Kovala, "Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Ordeal in a Nazi Concentration Camp" (Latitude 46, 2017)As the first Russian bombs drop on Oulu, Finland in early 1940 during the Winter War, Aarne Kovala is a young boy with a great love of the sea. While the war rages, Aarne takes fate into his own hands and joins the Finnish merchant marines. He spends his days delivering war materials between Finland, Poland, and Germany.But when Finland’s ties with Germany are severed after the signing of the Moscow Armistice in 1944, Aarne and his fellow sailors are arrested by the Nazis and sent by cattle car to the infamous Stutthof concentration camp deep in th...2023-06-191h 14
New Books in German StudiesLiisa Kovala, "Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Ordeal in a Nazi Concentration Camp" (Latitude 46, 2017)As the first Russian bombs drop on Oulu, Finland in early 1940 during the Winter War, Aarne Kovala is a young boy with a great love of the sea. While the war rages, Aarne takes fate into his own hands and joins the Finnish merchant marines. He spends his days delivering war materials between Finland, Poland, and Germany.But when Finland’s ties with Germany are severed after the signing of the Moscow Armistice in 1944, Aarne and his fellow sailors are arrested by the Nazis and sent by cattle car to the infamous Stutthof concentration camp deep in th...2023-06-191h 14
New Books in Military HistoryLiisa Kovala, "Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Ordeal in a Nazi Concentration Camp" (Latitude 46, 2017)As the first Russian bombs drop on Oulu, Finland in early 1940 during the Winter War, Aarne Kovala is a young boy with a great love of the sea. While the war rages, Aarne takes fate into his own hands and joins the Finnish merchant marines. He spends his days delivering war materials between Finland, Poland, and Germany.But when Finland’s ties with Germany are severed after the signing of the Moscow Armistice in 1944, Aarne and his fellow sailors are arrested by the Nazis and sent by cattle car to the infamous Stutthof concentration camp deep in th...2023-06-191h 14
New Books in Historical FictionLiisa Kovala, "Sisu's Winter War" (Latitude 46, 2022)Today I talked to Liisa Kovala about her new novel Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022).Meri Saari made a promise to her dying mother she would keep the family together, but she was too young to know how a war can pull people apart. As a teenager responsible for her siblings she finds herself following her father to the front lines during the Winter War when he goes missing in action. Forty years later, living in northern Ontario, Meri's past and present collide when she is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. Responsible for her granddaughter, and navigating a strai...2023-06-091h 09
New Books in LiteratureLiisa Kovala, "Sisu's Winter War" (Latitude 46, 2022)Today I talked to Liisa Kovala about her new novel Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022).Meri Saari made a promise to her dying mother she would keep the family together, but she was too young to know how a war can pull people apart. As a teenager responsible for her siblings she finds herself following her father to the front lines during the Winter War when he goes missing in action. Forty years later, living in northern Ontario, Meri's past and present collide when she is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. Responsible for her granddaughter, and navigating a strai...2023-06-091h 11