Melinda Hammond - Podcast Details

Shows

Living IncogNegroWhich racial quotes inspire you the most? Gin Hammond respondsWhich racial quotes inspire you the most? Gin Hammond respondsWhen white people have quotes and thoughts, share their thoughts and quotes about racism, I think it depends on the track record, right?Do they have a long history of putting their money where their mouth is? Do they have a long history of deep engagement? So for example, I think Melinda Gates does. And she saved a lot of lives. I think, if you know you've saved a lot of lives, yeah, you can...2025-03-0302 min

Hope when there was noneHow not to raise a narcissistic child with Christine HammondChristine Hammond, MS, LMHC, and Author of "The Exhausted Woman's Handbook" as we discuss the very important subject of, "How not to raise a narcissistic child", tips and suggestions to help you and your family. Ms. Hammond specializes in psychotherapy with families in transition, trauma, personality disorders, and addictions. She provides family and individual therapy using evidence-based psychotherapy methodology. She provides Parenting Coordination, mediation, and functions as collaborative mental health neutral. Ms. Hammond writes blogs, articles, newsletters, videos, webinars, podcasts, and a book. Her website is GrowWithChristine.com. Her professional blog is the Exhausted Woman...2021-06-0530 min

Writer On The RoadThe Aussie Indie Podcast Launch EpisodeIntroducing a new direction for Writer on the Road Productions, including our Publishing and Podcast activities. Although we've always been about bringing to our listeners the latest and best Indie publishing advice - as exemplified by our Business of Writing Podcast Series, Author Success Stories Series and magazine, plus our courses and workshops - we're now doubling down on the talent in our own part of the world. Australasia has a plethora of talent in the Indie publishing space and it's our aim to form community where we encourage each other, share our knowledges and work towards supporting ourselves financially...2020-03-0900 min

Writer On The Road#161 Mel & Sam in Orlando: Audio Matters & What You Need to Know For Your WritingPodcasts are the new blogs. And, as an author, the best way to reach your audience to promote your novels and stories is through audio. If you’re not guesting on podcasts, it’s time to start. Audio is king, is the key message we bring away from our Podcast Movement Conference in Orlando, Florida, as we wind up our America trip and get ready to head back to Oz. And audio is only going to get bigger. Think Google podcasts, Google searches, and anything else Google you want to throw in this sentence. And Smart Speakers. One in five...2019-08-1700 min

Writer On The Road#160 10 Minutes with Sam & Mel: Tall Ships, Hamilton & a Research SabbaticalIt’s time to write. And research. Join us as we enter the research and writing phase of our NYC journey. Let’s call it a writing retreat where we meet people who give generously of their time and knowledge with no expectation of return. If you love history and the gilded age, then this one’s for you. Think tall ships, maritime history, old mansions and sticky buns. Meet Pamela Grimm, author of Destiny’s Gold and Destiny’s Freedom. Pamela is an amazing historian and a person I had the privilege to meet whilst in NYC. Enjoy ten...2019-08-0800 min

Writer On The Road10 Minutes with Mel & Sam in NYC: Living Like Locals and Dastardly Budget DiscussionsInternational travel, book buying, theatre attendance and writerly adventures all need budgetary considerations if one wants to survive for an extended period in the greatest city in the world. Having comfortable shoes is also a good idea. In this episode we chat about the importance of keeping an eye on the budget on a daily basis, discussing plans ahead of time and knowing when it’s time to slow down and enjoy the free stuff. We also chat with our Airbnb Superhost, Michelle, who gives us some tips on how to choose the perfect holiday accommodation to meet your needs...2019-08-0100 min

Writer On The Road#158 10 Minutes with Sam & Mel in NYC: A Night at the TheatreThe writing life can be tough sometimes and this week was no exception as we busied ourselves attending two theatre pieces; Antigone in Ferguson and Mojada. You don’t need to know your Greek myths but it helps if you want to fully appreciate the political statement each piece makes. The intention of original Greek theatre is to allow an audience to purge their emotions, and in both cases, Sam & I blamed the emotion of the theatre experience as we cried. After such intense emotional connection it’s always good to have somewhere to go to debrief. In our...2019-07-2500 min

Writer On The Road#157 10 Minutes With Mel & Sam in NYC: Writin’ Along On Our Pushbikes, Honey…Writing the road less travelled is turning out to be the path of our NYC ’10 Minutes With Mel & Sam’ journey. Exploring the greatest city in the world on foot, by bike, train and ferry is opening up adventures we never deemed possible all that time ago when we were planning our adventure. But, as luck halos our heads, we’re following in the tradition of great writers we can only dream of emulating, as we cross literary paths with the greats: Walt Whitman, Jack Kerouak, F. Scott Fitzgerald and who knows who else. Fun facts: NYC is not as...2019-07-2000 min

Writer On The Road#156 10 Minutes with Mel & Sam in NYC: Bookshops Aren’t Meant to be Like ThatJoin us in NYC to celebrate the creative freedom of being able to work from anywhere, starting with the greatest city in the world. We explore the opportunities in the world of theatre, books and writing, combined with travel, good food and the occasional drop of Long Island wine. In this episode we set the scene for what’s to come, discuss what makes a good bookshop, and chat with the writers of the off-Broadway musical, Assistants, about how to succeed at the hardest of creative endeavours, producing theatre.2019-07-1600 min

Writer On The Road#155 Never Give Up On Your Publishing Dreams, with Cassie HamerIf at first you don’t succeed at this thing called writing…keep writing, and learning, and writing some more. Cassie Hamer, author of After the Party, has put in the hard yards, earning her Masters in Creative Writing, and then unlearning most of what she’d been studying for years as she searched to find voice. And lucky for us, she found it with her debut novel. Cassie opens up about the fears, doubts and joys of success as a published author. We even get a sneak preview of the joys of lunching with her editor. In this episode, w...2019-06-0500 min

Writer On The Road#154 Grand Narratives & Epic Adventures: The Real Meaning of Romance, with Elizabeth Ellen CarterWelcome to the world of pirates, love, blackmail, ill-gotten gains, treason and trickery. And that’s on a good day. Elizabeth Ellen Carter is an award-winning historical romance author who pens richly detailed historical romantic adventures. Carter is known for her meticulous research. My husband jokes that it’s five minutes of writing and twenty five minutes worth of research per half hour…it could be half an hour on looking at what the liquor licensing laws were in t66he early eighteen hundreds or or checking the etymology of vagrancy to make sure that it’s accurate. In this episo...2019-05-2600 min

Writer On The Road#153 How To Narrate Your Novel, with Renee ConoultyYou’ve written your novel and now it’s time to narrate it. Renee Conoulty is the author of novels and flash fiction that contain elements of dance, romance, and/or military life in a variety of genre – chick lit, women’s fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, children’s books. She also has a book on how to narrate your own novels and stories, Narrated by the Author. In this episode, not only do we have the pleasure of listening to Renee read her work, we chat the following: ⬩ The pros and cons of self-narrating ⬩ Affordable equipment options ⬩ Narration tips ⬩ How to edi...2019-04-0900 min

Writer On The Road#152 How To Boost Your Writing Work-Flow using Dragon Dictation, with Scott BakerAre you ready to ditch your keyboard? Scott Baker is an expert in all things Dragon Dictation. If you want to learn to train your Dragon, Scott’s your man. Scott’s official bio: Scott Baker has written dozens of books under various pen names and spent most of the last decade working as a freelance writer for numerous publications in the UK. He first began dabbling with Dragon voice recognition software in the late 1990s when it was, quite frankly, terrible. Things have improved dramatically since then and Scott now uses dictation on a daily basis, taking advantage of...2019-03-2800 min

Writer On The Road#151 What Happens When a Software Developer & a Pair of Writers Get Together? with Lee PowellLee Powell is a writer and expert in technology. He works with Angela Ackerman and her co-creator Becca Puglisi at One Stop for Writers. He also created the Windows version of renowned writing program Scrivener. When the team collaborated, they came up with the Character Building Tool, which combines Powell’s software design skills with Ackerman and Puglisi’s thesaurus writing skills. In this episode, we chat about the following: the importance of collaboration Scrivener for Windows One Stop For Writers the Character Building Tool following your passion what happens when creativity and coding meet integrating technology into the writing p...2019-03-2100 min

Writer On The Road#150 Career Strategies For Indie Authors, with Adam CroftAdam Croft is an Indie author and a counterpoint to anyone who says you can’t make a living through Indie publishing. He’s sold more than 1.5 million books and once bumped J.K. Rowling off the USA Today bestseller list. His ‘Knight and Culverhouse’ thrillers have sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, and his Kempston Hardwick mysteries have been adapted as audio dramas starring some of the biggest names in British TV. He’s also published several books in his Indie Author Mindset series, a great tool for Indie authors. (https://writerontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Indie-Author-2.jpg) ...2019-03-1200 min

Writer On The RoadAsking Big Questions: Writing The Landscape Novel, with Karen ViggersKaren Viggers is the award winning, internationally bestselling author of four novels, including her new release, The Orchardist’s Daughter. She writes contemporary realist fiction set in Australian landscapes, and her work explores connection with the bush, grief and loss, healing in nature, death, family, marriage and friendship. During our conversation, we discuss the following: the intersection of nature and humanity our connection to nature the big philosophical questions the importance of solitude and thinking deeply hope, intimacy, humour setting, character & narrative writing the landscape novel the music and rhythm of words what is literary fiction and more You...2019-03-0700 min

Writer On The Road#148 From Traditionally Published To Indie: A Success Story, with Keri ArthurI’ve always trusted myself. I’ve always written what I want to write and gone in the direction I want to. I’ve never actually had much input from the publishers that way. So that really hasn’t changed. I’m still using the same beta writer that I always have. I’m still with my same crit. group so you know none of that has changed. The way I work really hasn’t changed from traditional to self publishing. Keri is a best selling paranormal and fantasy author. She has won several Romantic Times reviewers Choice Awards and...2019-02-2600 min

Writer On The Road#147 How to Cut Through The Noise & Win Google Love Using SEO, with Kate Toon“With small businesses, their greatest assets are all the other people in their network, and leveraging that can lead to big gains.” Kate Toon is an award-winning SEO copywriter and SEO consultant with over two decades of experience in all things advertising, digital and writing. She is the founder of The Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur (https://www.katetoon.com/confessions-misfit-entrepreneur-podcast/) – which also has its own podcast. Google optimisation is something we have to do as part of our business marketing, along with keyword searches and increasing traffic to our websites. But, often, none of these things are at the top...2019-02-2100 min

Writer On The Road#146 Boundless: From Indie Brand to Indie Movement, with Michael EvansThis week’s podcast showcases up and coming Indie author, Michael Evans, and coincides with the launch of the Indie Issue of Author Success Stories Magazine. Find out more here. (https://writerontheroad.com/author-success-stories-magazine/) Michael Evans is a young adult author and futurist. He’s an up and coming Indie author, following in the footsteps of the likes of Adam Croft, with a business savvy to match. Evans has published three novels and four novellas, under his brand, Boundless Press, and at the age of 16 he’s learnt a lot from his journey. He is a keynote speaker at the u...2019-02-1300 min

Writer On The Road#145 How to Create Characters That Resonate With Your Readers, with Angela AckermanAngela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker and co-author of six best-selling books with the latest one the updated Emotion Thesaurus: a Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. Angela is an international speaker and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also enjoys dreaming up new tools and resources for One Stop For Writers (https://onestopforwriters.com/) , a library built to help writers elevate their storytelling. She’s also one half of the team over at Writers Helping Writers, alongside Becca Puglisi. You can find out more here. (https://writershelpingwriters.net/about-writers-helping-writers/) In this ep...2019-02-0600 min

Writer On The Road#144 Out of Africa: Telling the Story That Wants to Be Told, with TM ClarkBorn in Zimbabwe, T.M. Clark completed her primary school years at boarding school in Bulawayo, but on weekends and holidays she explored their family ranch in Nyamandhlovu, normally on the back of her horse. Her teenage years were totally different to her idyllic childhood. After her father died, the family of five women moved to Kokstad, a rural town at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa, and the boarding school hostel became her home. In the tradition of Tony Park and Wilbur Smith, Australian author, TM Clark, writes what she knows and tells the stories that...2019-01-3000 min

Writer On The Road#143 Do You Need An Agent? The Business of Being a Writer, with Haylee NashEver wondered whether you’re better to strike out on your own with your writing career, pitch directly to publishers or hire an agent? Haylee Nash, of The Nash Agency, outlines the pros and cons of each option, demystifying the publishing cycle in the process. But be warned, after listening to Nash, you’ll be hard pressed to justify not running with an expert. Think of an agent as an industry expert that has you as their primary focus in a publishing world that throws up more options every day. Besides, everyone needs a cheerleader and therapist, says Nash. In th...2019-01-2400 min

Writer On The Road#142 The Magic of Being a Writer, with Belinda AlexandraOne of the joys of being a writer is sinking into the research abyss: events, characters, society, music, language and culture, reading books of the period, interior design, cookbooks, and the list goes on. Belinda Alexandra writes historical and historical/contemporary fiction novels set in exotic locations with the latest being The Invitation, a gilded age Domestic Noir, full of passions, secrets, history and intrigue. A born storyteller, Alexandra takes us through the Narnia wardrobe to a world of excess and opulence, where deceit, betrayal and moral corruption in New York at the turn of the twentieth century rule. The...2018-12-2800 min

Writer On The Road#141 A Room Of Her Own, with Darry FraserDarry Fraser is the bestselling author of Daughter of the Murray, Where the Murray River Runs, and The Widow of Ballarat. We first met Darry on the podcast, here, (https://writerontheroad.com/99-summer-reading-writing-series-darry-fraser/) last Christmas, as part of our Summer Reading Series. This week we talk about the discipline of being a writer, about learning to be present while you’re writing and how finding your own style is critical to building a successful author career. You can learn more about Darry and her books here. (https://www.darryfraser.com/) (#) Mel: Welcome to a very special Christmas episode of Writer o...2018-12-1300 min

Writer On The Road#140 Writing Life Out Loud: A Story Told in Real Time, with Lisa MessengerLisa Messenger writes her books in real time – almost like a journal. Sometimes the results aren’t pretty, but they’re real. Messenger is an Australian entrepreneur, author, and the founder and CEO of Collective Hub, an international multimedia business and lifestyle platform. She is also an international speaker, best-selling author, and an authority on disruption. She writes books in real time, her latest being Risk & Resilience, the story of the tough lessons she’s learned during the last eighteen months of her entrepreneurial journey. Her story isn’t pretty, but it’s heartfelt and we learn about the...2018-12-0700 min

Writer On The Road#139 Writing Fight Scenes For Women, with Aiki FlinthartAiki Flinthart is the author of the YA 80AD Series (where the downloads went nuts), the Ruadhan Sidhe Series, Shadows Wake, Shadows Bane and Shadows Fate, and now, newly released, Iron, the first of the Kalima Chronicles. She has been shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards & Writers of the Future Contest, appeared on the Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers Assn of America YouTube channel – and she writes kick-ass women characters. In a Zombie apocalypse, you need to be able to shoot without sticking your head out. Read a Flinthart novel, and you’re immediately transported to a world of Terracotta Armies, Chines...2018-11-2700 min

Writer On The Road#138 The Spiderweb Effect: How Writing A Book Will Grow Your Business, with Brian K. WrightBrian K Wright is the host of Success Profiles Radio and publisher of Success Profiles Magazine. Over the last 6 years, Brian has interviewed world-class achievers such as Darren Hardy, Jack Canfield, Loral Langemeier, Kevin Harrington, Sharon Lechter, and many more. A lot of people, when they think about writing a book, they think of selling millions of copies and it’s a really nice idea but unless you’re really famous or well known that may or may not happen. It’s what you can do with the book once it’s done that’s the goal, whether it’s...2018-11-2100 min

Writer On The Road#137 Writing, Procrastination & Getting Things Done, with Geoff McDonaldIn the last 13 years, Geoff McDonald has read 550 books and written sixty plus Book Rapper ebooks, as well as over 1000 blog posts. And now he’s launching two books on the same day, Done and Project Done. McDonald has always been prolific, great with ideas and creativity, but not so strong at execution. It wasn’t until he bought a new laptop computer that he realised the untapped potential of all that creativity, and the problems he had with not finishing his various projects. Whilst copying over files he found 25 unfinished books. I was like, “Oh, my God, how much of my...2018-11-1400 min

Writer On The Road#136 Allegory & the Australian Landscape, with DM CameronSometimes, it’s best to let a novel speak for itself. DM Cameron’s Beneath The Mother Tree is lyrical from the first page and deliciously unputdownable. It could be Cameron’s Irish ancestry, or her background as an award-winning scriptwriter, or never-give-up attitude, but her debut novel hooks us from the first page and keeps us enthralled. Or it could be that I love landscape novels and Cameron’s intertwining of Irish and Indigenous cultures as they meet on an island that’s at once familiar and sinister is riveting stuff. And the real treat is listening to her...2018-11-0700 min

Writer On The Road#135 How to Build a Community of Loyal Readers, With Rachael JohnsABIA award-winning and bestselling author, Rachael Johns, is one half of the duo who has been organising the upcoming Australia’s West Coast Fiction Festival, an event eighteen months in the making. The other half is Tess Woods. It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest events of the year as sixty top Australian and New Zealand authors converge on Perth on the 3rd of November, 2018, for book signings, a cocktail party and live band. Johns is currently Australia’s leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around womens issues and her newest release, Lost Without You, is hitting...2018-10-2300 min

Writer On The Road#134 Women’s Fiction Takes to the High Seas, with Tricia StringerThere’s something about character driven novels that has you turning the pages, feeling you know the characters already but want to know more. But what about writing them, with one eye on giving your reader a satisfactory ending whilst at the same time putting your characters through their paces and herding them all in the same direction towards that ending? Juggling five characters’ points-of-view and delving deeply into what motivates each of them is the latest challenge for bestselling and award winning Aussie author, Tricia Stringer, as she tackles her tenth novel and first Women’s Fiction. Stringer is alre...2018-10-1700 min

Writer On The RoadKnowing When It’s Time to Step Up Your Writing Ambitions, with Ber CarrollTold in seven first-person voices, The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy, is a new direction for Australian author, Ber Carroll, author of eight contemporary fiction novels. Tightly constructed and difficult to edit, it’s Carroll’s most ambitious novel yet, and if the early reviews are anything to go by, a highly successful novel at that. Carroll is not a planner and goes where the novel takes her, and Missing Pieces has taken her in a whole new direction. It’s why this is her first novel published under B M Carroll instead of her usual Ber Carroll. This novel...2018-10-0500 min

Writer On The Road#132 What A Career as an Author Looks Like: 10 Years, 15 Books & Gaining Momentum, with Jacquie UnderdownHave you ever wondered what it takes to be a career author? Jacquie Underdown has put in the hours and she’s starting to reap the rewards after ten years of hard work. It’s not an uncommon story. Underdown set about learning her craft through a A Masters in Writing, Editing & Publishing. Her first contract was an ebook with Harper Collins five years ago, when ebooks were an emerging market with Traditional Publishers (back then, texting was also new). With over a million words published in novels, novellas and short stories, Underdown has learnt a few things, including...2018-09-2400 min

Writer On The Road#131 Kindle Unlimited or Wide, and Other Vexing Indie Publishing Questions, with Joanne DannonThere’s no such thing as an overnight success in the writing game – well, maybe occasionally – but there’s a fast establishing pathway to give yourself the best chance of a long and profitable writing career. First, it takes time and writing more than a few good books, preferably in series, followed by perfecting your marketing and branding, building a loyal following who sign up to your email list, and coming to grips with the vagaries of the available sales platforms. And that perennial question, should we go Kindle Unlimited or wide with our books? Someone who has come to...2018-09-1700 min

Writer On The RoadOrigin Stories, Myths & Dragons: How to Write SciFi/Fantasy, with Sherrilyn KenyonWith over 70 million books sold, Sherrilyn Kenyon is worth listening to when it comes to all things writing. She’s experienced all the trials that we’re familiar with and celebrated all the successes the rest of us dream about. Stygian, a Dark Hunter Novel, has been named the Best SF and Fantasy novel for August, 2018 by Unbound Worlds. The Dark Hunter series, at twenty-nine and counting, is a #1 International Bestselling series, along with Kenyon’s Deadman’s Cross, Hellchasers and Nevermore Series, to name a few. You won’t run out of books to read anytime soon, and there’...2018-09-0700 min

Writer On The RoadHow to Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile and Why You Should, with LinkedIn Expert, Adam HoulahanAre you a scaling entrepreneur who wants to gain influence by defining who you are and why you matter? Checking your LinkedIn profile is one of the first things a potential connection will do before they reach out to you, and you need make a good impression. Social Media Strategist and LinkedIn expert, Adam Houlahan, has written a book about it. The LinkedIn Playbook will walk you through the process of optimising your LinkedIn profile and creating a highly professional presence online. Or, if you prefer, join his 12-week Influencer Program here. (https://www.adamhoulahan.com/courses/) I did. There’...2018-08-3000 min

Writer On The Road#128 Name Your Poison: Writers, Alcohol & The Creative Muse, with Cassandra GaisfordAre you a grey area drinker? If your writing routine is anything like mine you go about the business of writing all day and knock off in time to do a little editing whilst watching the sunset and enjoying a glass of wine or two…or three. Imagine my chagrin reading psychologist and author, Cassandra Gaisford’s latest book, Mind Your Drink: The Surprising Joy of Sobriety; Control Alcohol, discovering freedom, find happiness and change your life. Alcohol is a neurotoxin, a flammable liquid and a poison. So much for romance. In this episode we chat about the following (among o...2018-08-2200 min

Writer On The Road#127 How To Self-Publish Your Book, with Alexandra AmorThe world needs your book, says Self-Publishing coach, Alexandra Amor. In the ever-changing world of publishing it’s easy to become overwhelmed and that’s where Amor steps in as she guides your through the publishing maze. Amor has been an independent author for over ten years. She’s written eleven novels and hosts a mystery podcast (you can find out more her novels and podcast here). (https://alexandraamor.com/) She VA’s for Mark Dawson and Joanna Penn. If there are any better testimonials than these pillars of the Self-Publishing world I’m yet to find them. She offers s...2018-08-1800 min

Writer On The Road#126 What Readers Want in a Novel, with Book Reviewer, Helen SibbrittWriters need readers and one way to find readers is through book reviews. With over 800 romance book reviews under her belt Helen Sibbritt knows a thing or two about what makes a good book and it would be pertinent for the writers amongst us to listen to what she has to say. She’s what’s known as an Influencer and she always has a review list she’s working her way through. How do we get onto Sibbritt’s list? Blurbs matter, as do professional covers, and testimonials. Sibbritt often turns to Goodreads and recommendations to find her next good boo...2018-08-0800 min

Writer On The Road#125 When Australian Romance Authors Take on the World, with Alli SinclairAustralian romance authors are taking on the world with their novels. Hot on the heels of Natasha Lester’s success with The Paris Seamstress, Alli Sinclair’s latest novel, Burning Fields, will be available worldwide in November. Burning Fields is an historical novel set in my part of the world, Far North Queensland, and is touted as an Australian historical with an Italian influence. During our conversation we chat about the following: women’s experiences during WW2 and beyond the role of women in history researching historical fiction in Australia what a romance novel is and what it isn’t e...2018-07-3000 min

Writer On The Road#124 Strategically Planning a Writing Career, with Annie SeatonWe talk a lot here at Writer on the Road about what it takes to be a successful author. Today, we’re celebrating the success of one of our favourite authors, Annie Seaton. Our conversation is short and it’s powerful as Seaton shares with us her journey over the last seven years. Here’s what it takes, Annie Seaton style: seven years high energy never giving up always pushing forward seeing results celebrating the small wins Congratulations, Annie Seaton, from everyone here at Writer on the Road. We look forward to the next seven years of watching you shine. ...2018-07-2100 min

Writer On The Road#123 On Being a Real Writer, with Christian WhiteIt’s a question that bugs us all – when do we get to call ourselves a real writer? Christian White, Aussie author of thriller The Nowhere Child shares with us what it feels like to become an overnight success in the literary world. The Nowhere Child is White’s fifth novel but the first to see light of day. He shares with us his journey from winner of the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript to signing on with Australian publisher, Affirm Press, to having his novel picked up by publishers around the world. He says his ch...2018-07-2000 min

Writer On The Road#122 Writing For Your Life: An Indie Publishing Success Story with Bella AndreHave you ever wondered how to become a bestselling Indie author? Well, here’s the secret: write and write a lot. This is from a woman who has just celebrated selling over 7 million books. Her other secret is to work really hard for a very long time. Bella Andre is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “The Sullivans”, “The Morrisons” and “The Maverick Billionaires” series. In this episode we chat about the following: what it was like starting out when Indie publishing was the ‘wild west’ the importance of good writing habits writing...2018-07-1300 min

Writer On The Road#121 When Writers Collaborate, with Kelly Hunter, Victoria Purman, Cathryn Hein & Fiona McArthurWhat do you get when you combine the talents of four of Australia’s top romance authors – Kelly Hunter, Victoria Purman, Cathryn Hein and Fiona McArthur? A bestselling romance series, for a start. And an altogether fun podcast, notwithstanding the challenges of keeping track of the number of awards, novels, and accolades these ladies have notched up between them over the years. In the crowded and competitive field of romance, these ladies stand out – as does their latest venture, a rural romance series smattered with runaway brides, historic homesteads, and quaint country towns full of characters we all recognise. ...2018-07-0600 min

Writer On The RoadThe Art of Travel-Inspired Novel Writing, with Janice HortonTravel fiction has a long tradition. Think Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathon Swift, On the Road, by Jack Kerouac, and more recently, The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall-Smith. The list is endless. Janice Horton’s, The Backpacking Housewife, is in fine company, and although Horton is experiencing something like an overnight success with her new novel, it’s actually her thirteenth. Like most overnight successes, there’s a lot of hard work and learning her craft that has led her to this point. And a lot of travel. Being i...2018-06-2800 min

Writer On The RoadAccountability, Clarity & Mindset: Success Traits For EntrepreneursSuccess comes in all shapes and sizes and it seems successful people share similar habits. A strong success mindset requires vision, strategy, focus, grit, consistency, and positive positive habits. Kim Argentsinger is a creative entrepreneur, coach and writer. It’s her job to help us get out of our own way and create a plan to take us to the next level, to find our own version of success. What are our core business values? What lights us up? Kim shares her tips on morning routines, positive intentions and keeping things real. Build relationships, not social media likes. Ask questions...2018-06-2200 min

Writer On The RoadBikers, Millionaires & Military Men: Writing The Romantic Hero, With Jackie Ashenden 2018-06-1100 min

Writer On The RoadThe Business of Entrepreneurship, with Classy Career Girl Founder, Anna RunyanAre you ready to invest in yourself to achieve your goals? Do you know what your ideal workday looks like? Do you need a step by step process to help you get where you want to go with your life? Anna Runyan, founder of Classy Career Girl, has a Corporate Rescue Plan just for you. In fact, she’s just launched Corporate Rescue Plan 2.0. Stuck? Anna runs a bootcamp to get you unstuck. She also has a free list of 75 tools to help you launch your new career plan (I saw it on Instagram). Her keys to success include growing...2018-05-2800 min

Writer On The RoadTurning To Crime: Writing Colonial Mysteries, with Alison StuartCurious about how an author goes about building a world to create a series? Alison Stuart, Australian author of historical fiction set around the time of the Civil War, is embarking on a new project, the Harriet Gordon Mysteries, the first of which, Singapore Sapphire, is set in 1910 Singapore and will be released early in 2019. You can find out more here (https://www.harrietgordonmysteries.com/) . (https://writerontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2018-05-17-at-3.48.44-pm.png) Alison spent three years living in Singapore as an ex-pat wife and used the time to hone her writing skills. She is a lawyer...2018-05-1700 min

Writer On The Road#115 How To Market Your Book: The Five Stages Of The Reader’s Journey, with David Gaughran‘Self publishing hasn’t just arrived, it’s taken over,’ says a man who knows. David Gaughran, champion of Indie authors, and author of several versions of Let’s Get Digital and Let’s Get Visible, has released a new bible for us, Strangers To Superfans, A Marketers Guide To The Readers’ Journey. Think discoverability, visibility, consideration, purchase and advocacy, and you’ve got most things covered. The trouble is, most of us don’t think enough about these things, or at least, we haven’t until now. David talks us through failure points, optimising each stage of the reader’s...2018-05-1100 min

Writer On The RoadAdvising Young Women in Business by Studying The Masters In Leadership, with Robyn WilsonWorking with millennials is rewarding because young entrepreneurs think differently. New ways of thinking, getting rid of the past and working with new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, is the way forward. Any of these things sound familiar? Robyn Wilson, educator and lifestyle designer, is at the forefront of a revolution, or if you like, a changing of the guard, and she’s right in there making a difference where it counts. Think Ken Robinson. Think the Khan Academy. Even the way we learn nowadays is different. Deny the obvious at your peril. Pushing boundaries, removing fears and valuing creativity are...2018-04-2500 min

Writer On The RoadThe Rhymes & Writings of Aussie Bush Poet, Tim BorthwickThere’s nothing better than kicking back around the campfire in outback Australia and listening to a bush poetry slam. Humour, larrikanism and more than a little heartbreak often make up mood of most bush poetry, all of it heartfelt, and most of it inspired by the poet’s personal experiences. Enter Tim Borthwick, quiet and unassuming, but also your quintessential, outback Aussie bloke. Waltzing Australia is a collection of his poems, with the added bonus of a yarn accompanying each poem. The collection is recited by another Aussie icon, Jack Thompson, but today, Tim also recites one of his...2018-04-1800 min

Writer On The Road#112 It’s The Journey That Matters: A Healthy Writing Life, With Joanna PennThe life of an Indie writer is a busy one – what with writing, taking care of business, family life, eating, exercising and down time – so is it any wonder we need a little help occasionally to re-align our priorities, and get our lives back into balance. (https://writerontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Joanna.jpg) Today’s guest, Joanna Penn, teamed up with Dr Evan Lawson to write The Healthy Writer, and in it she shares her personal journey to achieving balanced, healthy writing lifestyle. Walking, yoga, sleep, community and a healthy workspace are a few of the things...2018-04-1200 min

Writer On The Road#111 Deep Writing, with Kevin TumlinsonKevin Tumlinson has just returned from a road trip and he has a few secrets to share. You see, he learned a few things out there on the road about the writing process and his novels are all the better for the time he spent on the prairies. And Kevin, being Kevin, is ever generous in sharing what he’s learned. The single most important thing Kevin has discovered over forty-three novels is that deep thinking leads to deep writing. It’s vital that we give our brains time off to ponder the deeper meaning behind our ideas. And reading g...2018-04-0600 min

Writer On The RoadHard Work, Luck & Timing: How To Write A Bestseller, with Natasha LesterSagas are back!! The Paris Seamstress is the right novel at the right time for Australian Author, Natasha Lester. How much will a young Parisian seamstress sacrifice to make her mark in the male-dominated world of 1940s New York fashion? Labelled as a novel of ‘hope, heartache and a journey of discovery’ by Books & Publishing, Natasha’s much touted latest novel is finally available – yep, it’s launch day. If you are enamoured by Tiffany’s and New York City’s garment district then you’re going to love this one. In fact, all of Natasha’s books are...2018-03-2700 min

Writer On The Road#109 How To Succeed At Self-Publishing, with Joanne DannonLearn how to self-publish before you choose to self-publish, is the sage advice of self-publishing expert, Joanne Dannon. It’s easy to upload your book, but it’s a lot harder to sell your book, develop your brand and make a living from your writing. Step 1 is to write a good book, followed by professional editing rounds, formatting, cover design and uploading to the various sales platforms. Then, there’s the business side of things; your website, blog, social media strategy, and mailing list. Did I mention being consistent with your brand from the start, which will save you the...2018-03-2200 min

Writer On The Road#108 The Secret Life of Authors Revealed, with Rachael Johns, Lisa Ireland & Sally HepworthHow much fun can three Aussie Romance Authors have? Rachael Johns, Lisa Ireland and Sally Hepworth share their secrets of living their lives as professional writers, including making the time to write, pushing through the resistance, finding your tribe and more, much more. The trio chat about word-counts, trusting in the process and accountability. Committing to the writing life is a choice, and it’s not for everyone, but if you’re an aspiring author, or an author on your own writing journey, then these ladies have something to share with you. A few gems; if it’s easy, forget...2018-03-1500 min

Writer On The Road#107 A Passion For Writing; Making a Living Doing What You Love, With The Cooking LadiesFrom working seven days a week as restauranteurs to a self-funded life on the road in an eleven metre motorhome, Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay, have lived the life most of us dream about. More commonly known as The Cooking Ladies, the duo have cruised the United States and Canada, and gathered more than a little infamy along the way. Am I jealous? You bet. Phyllis and Lamont have dared to follow their passion and made a huge success out of doing it. With sponsored travel/cookery books to freelance writing for magazines and more than a few of their...2018-03-0600 min

Writer On The Road#106 Travel, Work & Play; The Life of a Digital Nomad, with BarbaraliciousEver wondered about taking your work on the road and combining it with travel and pleasure? The freedom to do exactly that is common for more people than you think. Co-working spaces solve most problems in relation to internet connections, skill-sharing, meet-ups and events. There’s a growing community out there who can tell you where to go, what to see and how to get your work done. An added bonus is the friends you make along the way. (https://writerontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Barbara.jpg) Barbaralicious is what’s known as an influencer in the digital nomad...2018-03-0100 min

Writer On The Road#105 Writing Through The Messy Middle with Creative Mermaid, Sherrie McCarthyWe all have good days and bad days with our writing, but spare a thought for today’s guest where a good day is a very good day indeed and a bad day could sink her boat. Sherrie McCarthy, founder of Creative Mermaids, encourages us all to live our most creative and vibrant lives – and have fun along the way. You can find out more about Sherrie and her Creative Mermaids here. (https://www.creativemermaids.com/) (https://writerontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_6189.jpg) Today’s podcast is sponsored by 30 Days To Better Writing Habits. Starting with a...2018-02-2300 min

Writer On The Road#104 Squeezing Your Writing Into The Gaps of Your Life, With Clare ConnellyHarlequin Mills & Boon sell a book every four seconds, and today I’m chatting with Australian Romance Author, Clare Connelly, to learn the secrets to writing a romance novel. You also get to tweet your pitch for a chance to win one of four copies of Clare’ M&B Dare romance, Off Limits. Clare’s first tip is to write a lot and write often – it was going to be the title of this podcast but I couldn’t resist the idea of using a title that we can all relate to – and like Tracey Pedersen’s ‘write a...2018-02-1400 min

Writer On The Road#103 How to Write a Million Words a Year the Romantic Way, with Tracey PedersenGrow you email list, network and promote your books, is the advice that prolific romance author, Tracey Pedersen, shares with us today and she makes it sound so easy. But listen a little closer and you’ll learn the real secret. Bum on chair and write. Tracey is dedicated to her craft and she’s learnt everything she knows along the way. She calls it taking action through a constant stream of baby steps. Her romantic comedy, Married This Year, is the first in a new series and is proving to be her most popular book yet. She has grown...2018-02-0700 min

Writer On The Road#102 The Thing About Freelance Writing, with Lindy AlexanderIf you’ve ever thought of supplementing your income with a bit of travel writing, dabbling with magazine writing or becoming a serious full time freelancer, then sit back and listen as Lindy Alexanders shares what she’s learnt along the way to earning $100k a year as a freelance writer. Here are some of the things we discuss: Being a fast, trusted and reliable writer The shift towards digital pay rates lifting Compelling personal stories Developing relationships Inflight magazines Research How to pitch Finding ideas Testimonials Taking good pics Managing workflow Saying no Biggest fails If it all sounds...2018-01-3100 min

Writer On The RoadGirlpreneur: the Theory & Practice of Entrepreneur EducationThe world needs more daydreamers. It’s okay to fail. How do we enable our girls? These are just a few of the ideas up for discussion with Col Jones, entrepreneur educator at Queensland University. Then there’s Sam, Girlpreneur, out there doing her way. I call it when theory meets practice. And it makes for interesting listening for the rest of us watching from the sidelines. As teachers, we know when we’re successful when our students are capable of creating their own opportunities for satisfaction. Sam’s done that but neither she nor I are sure how, or...2018-01-2400 min

Writer On The Road#100 Creativity & Entrepreneurship: Skills For The 21st CenturyCreating something from nothing is the entrepreneur’s most important skill. Discipline and art is what makes it happen. Jarie Bolander, Editor in Chief of the Daily MBA and author of The Entrepreneur Ethos: How to Build a More Ethical, Inclusive and Resilient Entrepreneur Community,unpacks the internal workings of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. He talks about the traits entrepreneurs need, the internal challenges we face on a daily basis and the importance of leading from within. Jarie shares tips on how to build success into our daily lives, including how creativity on a deadline is the bes...2018-01-2400 min

Writer On The Road#99 Summer Reading & Writing Series, with Darry FraserHappy summer reading, everyone. Meet Darry Fraser, author of historical and contemporary fiction. You can find out more about Darry and her novels, Daughter of the Murray and Where the Murray River Runs, here. (https://www.darryfraser.com/) I asked my Summer Reading Series guests four questions in an attempt to peek behind the scenes of the life of a writer: What books influenced you as a writer? Where do you write? What do your readers most often want to know about you? What are you reading now? We hope you enjoy our Summer Reading & Writing Series. Happy New...2018-01-0300 min

Writer On The Road#98 Summer Reading & Writing Series: This Writing Life, with Tess WoodsI asked my Summer Reading Series guests four questions in an attempt to peek behind the scenes of the life of a writer: What books influenced you as a writer? Where do you write? What do your readers most often want to know about you? What are you reading now? We hope you enjoy our Summer Reading & Writing Series. Happy New Year everyone. See you in 2018 xx 2017-12-2800 min

Writer On The RoadResearch Matters: Tools for Writing Historical Fiction, with Tea CooperA conversation with Australian author, Tea Cooper, where we discuss all things research, from the wonders of Trove to the delights of local folk museums spawning treasures that bring added life to our stories. You can find out more about Tea and her novels here. (http://www.teacooperauthor.com/)2017-12-1800 min

Writer On The RoadIt’s 5 o’clock Somewhere; Writing on the Road & Making Money Doing It, With Joe RussoFreedom’s just another word for taking the leap, and getting out there and doing it. Word is, it’s not as scary as it seems. Joe Russo, of We’re The Russos, should know. He’s written a book about it, Take Risks; One Couple’s Journey to Quit Their Jobs & Hit The Open Road. Not only is it possible to live the dream and travel the world, it’s possible to make money doing it. Best of all, you don’t need to be a tech junkie or have all the you-beaut equipment. A computer, an iPhone a...2017-12-0600 min

Writer On The RoadThe Voices In Your Head; Daily Intentions & A Healthy Writing Mindset, With Brian BurkardAre you ready for a few top mindset strategies to help you deal with fear, ego and money? Brian Burkard, of the Marketing Mindset Podcast, mixes it with the experts and today he shares his mindset toolkit with us. Developing a growth mindset isn’t easy but there are a few tricks, like starting your day by setting your intentions rather than reacting to other people’s agendas. Living your dream, never giving up, reminding yourself that now is always the best time to start and sticking with whatever it is you’ve started for however long it takes. Limiting...2017-11-3000 min

Writer On The RoadGetting Started on Your Writing Journey, With Judy Lawn‘Where do I start?’ is the question Judy Lawn, author and Creative Writing Teacher, is most often asked in her writing classes. That, and where to find ideas. Her advice is always the same. Study good stories in depth and find out why they work. Look at the dialogue, setting and characters, the backstory and point of view. Never stop learning and don’t be put off by what others tell you. Take heart and write. Pluck up the courage and just start. Judy has been teaching writing classes for nearly twenty years and she has a few tricks to...2017-11-2000 min

Writer On The Road#93 Creating a Work/Life Balance, with Annie SeatonHave you ever thought about sitting down and planning exactly what you want your writing life to look like? Annie Seaton – author of Kakadu, Daintree and Diamond Sky, along with countless other novels over the last five years – takes a breath and shares with us, not only her writing journey to date, but how she’s fighting hard to gain some kind of balance to the crazy thing we call our writing lives. Annie’s the first to admit she’s driven to succeed and sometimes there’s more work than play in her life. But all that’s changing...2017-11-1400 min

Writer On The Road#92 The Six-Figure Travel Writer, with Gabi LoganEver wanted to try your hand at travel writing? The first thing you need to do is identify what’s motivating you; being published, freedom to travel or free trips? Once you know your motivation the rest falls into place, especially if you listen to the advice of Travel Writing Coach and journalist, Gabi Logan, or read her book, The Six-Figure Travel Writing Roadmap. Or sign up for her webinar series. Or, best, tap into her Dream of Travel Writing database that lists all the gigs available each week. Make no mistake, it’s not easy, nor is blogging and...2017-10-2500 min

Writer On The RoadHow to Write a Book & Get it Published, with Paul BrodieDo you crave the freedom to do what you’re passionate about? If that means getting your book out there and being an authority in your field then you’re in the right place. Ask yourself what are you willing to invest and what it’s costing you not to have your book out there, and you start to get the idea of the power of Brodie’s reasoning. Committing to the decision to write and publish your book is yours and it’s Brodie’s job to help you create the frameworks and systems to make it happen. His...2017-10-1700 min

Writer On The RoadCreating a Writing Life, with Tamsin JanuInterested in literary festivals, school visits and speaking gigs as part of your writing schedule? Award-winning Australian author, Tasmin Janu includes the Adelaide Writers Festival and the Premier’s Awards on her resume, Scholastic publishes her books and she makes her living from her writing life, with the occasional day job thrown in. And she’s young. From studying law and international and global studies, to being the remote community youth worker, to globe-trotter, Tamsin has packed a lot into her young life. Her first book, Figgy in the World, is set in Ghana, and it’s followed up with...2017-10-1100 min

Writer On The RoadRich Pickings: Where to Find Story Ideas, with Fiona McArthurWrite every day, start that book and keep going forward. If you think it sounds like good advice then you’re in for a treat. Fiona McArthur knows what she’s talking about. With nearly forty romance and a couple of non-fiction books to her name, two million sales, translated into twelve languages, it’s not a bad effort for this quiet country author who just happens to set her books in exotic outback locations. Sit back and listen as we journey to remote outback Australia, and learn about the allure of the outback for so many Australian writers. Strong...2017-10-0400 min

Writer On The RoadMaking Stuff Up: From Non-Fiction to Fiction Author, with Julie SchoolerHow many assets do you own from your writing? Julie Schooler shares with us why it’s important to take care of your writing business even as you add more assets to your list. In Julie’s case, it’s meant a switch from non-fiction to trying her hand at fiction and she shares with us the struggles and joys of writing her first fully made-up story, along with her journey to getting it published. If you’ve ever thought of writing and publishing your own picture book, then Julie shares a practical way of going about it, from using...2017-09-2900 min

Writer On The RoadThe Art & Craft of Writing Romance, With Barbara HannayWith guest host, Sarah Williams: Barbara Hannay has been writing rural romance for twenty years and has seen many changes along the way. We talk about her early days writing for Mills and Boon before being head hunted by Penguin. Over recent years her books have had multiple stories and time lines and it is an art the way she weaves these together. When she’s not writing, she teaches writing workshops, goes on retreats with other writer friends and enjoys living in the beautiful North Queensland Tablelands. It was at the Townsville Writers Festival two years ago when I...2017-09-2000 min

Writer On The RoadCrazy Good Advice: Crowdfunding & Social Entrepreneurship, with Tony LoydThere’s no better introduction to what Social Entrepreneur and podcaster, Tony Loyd, does than the following quote: ‘Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The square pegs in the round holes. The ones who see differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones...2017-09-1300 min

Writer On The RoadThe Creative Benefits of Writing Short with Jessica AspenTaking control of every aspect of your writing career, from writing to marketing to standing proud behind the results of your efforts, is something that Jessica Aspen is passionate about. Jessica has a list of books, FB group, newsletter, mailing list and is currently in the running for a Kindle Scout publishing deal. We chat about the benefits of contests to build your email list and readership, the difference between warm and cold leads, and the benefits of belonging to a writing group. Oh, and pen names and winning awards, the importance of measuring your success and keeping up with...2017-02-2000 min

Writer On The RoadBusiness of Writing Mini-Series Day 3: Reading the Numbers, with Nadine TraversIt’s time to put on our CEO hats and get serious about the business of writing. Nadine Travers chats with us today about how important it is to read the numbers of our businesses; knowing our costs, managing our time, collecting our invoices in one place, having a separate bank account for our business and making sound business decisions such as hiring the services of others based on the data. Alas, I didn’t kick too many goals during this this conversation but it’s never too late to start. As Nadine reminds me, information means power and it’...2017-01-1100 min

Writer On The RoadBusiness of Writing Mini-Series Day 2: Positivity and Opportunity with Life Coach, Lisa Cherry BeaumontYesterday it was health and fitness and today it’s my whole life. Lisa Cherry Beaumont is a Life Coach and today we chat about lifestyle, fulfilment and life purpose alchemy. Lisa outlines a four step process for change, mentions gratitude practise, meditation, goal setting and brain training (among other things), and offers us action steps to fight off overwhelm and disillusion. She reminds us that everyone’s definition of success is different and it’s important to ‘have somebody there to guide you, push you over it, to talk you through it as you just keep going, keep making...2017-01-1000 min

Writer On The RoadBusiness of Writing Mini-Series: Health, Fitness and the Writing Life with Jennifer GaleIt’s that time of year and for some of us, that time of life, where living the creative life – and especially the writing life – may require some adjustment to our routines to include that most wonderful of words, exercise! Today’s guest, Jennifer Gale, is a certified Wellness Coach. She has a Masters in Science, is an international speaker and researcher, and will soon release her book, How to Get Fit and Stay That Way. I’m the first to admit that Jennifer has her job cut out bringing me back to the slim, svelte shape of my youth...2017-01-0900 min

Writer On The RoadEntrepreneur, thought leader, influencer: meet Tina Dietz, business coach and mentor, as she reminds us of the importance of creative freedom, fun and playThere’s something to be said for studying the habits and processes of great writers and artists and how they kept their creative juices flowing over time. There’s a lot of burnout happening in the field of writing right now, especially among Indie authors trying to manage both their writing and their business. Tina is a mentor and coach, and she’s my kind of crazy. With a focus on values as well as mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, Tina guides us to be the best we can be. She’s also damned funny at times. We chat about...2016-11-0700 min

Writer On The RoadWriting: Author Mindset and Faster Fiction with Alexandra AmorTime, space and writing habits are the focus of many a good how-to-write book, and make for an endlessly fascinating topic for most of us keen to glean yet another secret weapon for our arsenal of writing tips and tricks. Alexandra offers more than her fair share of tricks with us today. Writers need to be selfish about their time and the space they need to write, whether that’s headspace or physical space. We chat about procrastination and the barriers to sitting down and actually writing. We also chat about my current bug-bear, the noise about how self-publishing is...2016-10-2400 min

Writer On The RoadBusiness success is a game of inches, not a one off event, with Nigel CollinYou can spend years learning to be a great writer but it’s only when you start writing that you actually learn. It’s a matter of starting because when you start you gain momentum and you learn as you go. Then there’s the passion, knowing and burn that drives you on when things get tough. Learning from your mistakes, making small changes wins the big results. Inch by inch. Writing is a business, we all know that, and learning the strategies and rules will get us part of the way, but it’s by being innovative, inventive and...2016-10-2000 min

Writer On The RoadThe Business of (Indie) Writing – Day 4 – On being a professional Indie author, with Maggie ChristensenWhat does it take to live the life of a professional Indie author? Maggie Christensen is about to publish her sixth novel, Champagne for Breakfast, and her answer is simple: learning. ‘It’s just learning as I go,’ Maggie assures me. ‘I’m learning all the time.’ And that’s the secret. There’s so much to do and so much to learn it takes time and dedication to become a successful Indie author. Not only does Maggie dress and speak beautifully, everything about what she does as an author screams professionalism. From her website, to her book covers and...2016-10-1300 min

Writer On The RoadThe Business of (Indie) Writing – Day 3 – Writing, editing and writing some more: how to edit your book and make it practically perfect in every way with freelance editor, Lynne Stringer‘I’m about to upload my story, can you quickly check for me,’ is a phrase Lynne Stringer hears a lot in her day job as a freelance editor and it drives her crazy. Her advice is we need at least two rounds of editing and preferably more, especially if it is our first book. Timeline errors, plot inconsistencies, structural problems, grammar and spelling problems, and everything else problems all get a mention during our chat today and I’m going to brave and suggest some of us may never look at the editing process with such fondness ever again...2016-10-1200 min

Writer On The RoadThe Business of (Indie) Writing – Day 1 – Writing, creativity and accountability with Jules HorneJules Horne lives in the Scottish Borders and is an Associate Lecturer at Open University. She writes plays for stage and radio, and fiction with a Scottish gothic flavour. She’s inspired by Angela Carter and Mervyn Peake (of Gormenghast fame). Today, we chat about the tension between creativity and risk, the role of Indie publishers as influencers, and learning from our mistakes. Throw in offshoots on deadlines, daily goals and the Pomodoro Technique and things start to get interesting. Jules is a true creative and lives what she believes. The Scottish Borders may be isolated geographically, but academically, Jules i...2016-10-1000 min

Writer On The Road#27 The Power of Story to Strengthen Your Business Brand, with Park HowellStory is the software that drives the hardware of our brains, says today’s guest, Park Howell, as he takes us through the ten steps of the story cycle process based on Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey. We learn to super focus on ourselves and the stories we tell ourselves, and from the outset of this interview I was busy doing my homework on my business brand. If you want to own both your personal and business brand, I strongly recommend you download the notes for this interview, so you, too, can get on with your homework to ma...2016-10-0500 min

Writer On The Road#23 The Business of Writing – Day 5 – Draft2Digital with Marketing Manager, Kevin TumlinsonYou’ve typed THE END on your story and now it’s time for the hard part – publishing it. But, if you’ve been listening to our series this week, you know there are all kinds of experts to help you. I’m chatting with Kevin Tumlinson today to get the low down on Draft2Digital, and as Kevin promises, it sounds kind of easy. But hey, I’ve been fooled before. So, my dear listeners, is Kevin telling us the truth? Is Draft2Digital the answer to our digital publishing prayers? Well, if I can work it anyone can...2016-09-1600 min

Writer On The Road#22 The Business of Writing – Day 4 – with International Thriller & Suspense Author, Rachel AmphlettWelcome to the world of International Thrill & Suspense author, Rachel Amphlett, as we chat about all things Indie publishing, from mailing lists to Facebook advertisements and being your own motivator, inspirer and hard-nosed boss. Not only does Rachel work a 9 – 5 job, she writes full time and runs her her own publishing business. The word discipline comes to mind just thinking about it. Bum-on-seat, is Rachel’s secret, and in her case it’s a train seat as she commutes to and from work on a daily basis. Forty minutes there and forty minutes back has seen Rachel notch up...2016-09-1500 min

Writer On The Road#20 The Business of Writing – Day 2 – Cultivating a Successful Mindset with Cassandra GaisfordCassandra Gaisford is an entrepreneur, creativity coach, public speaker and author of the Number 1 Bestselling series, Mid-Life Career Rescue. Her most recent release, The Art of Success, merges business and art through the lens of Leonardo Di Vinci and focuses on how to cultivate a successful mindset. What does success mean to you is a question that keeps popping up as Cassandra and I chat about importance of believing in yourself and reminding yourself that you have the freedom to make the choices that define you. Our conversation ranges from the magic of New Zealand’s Bay of Isles to...2016-09-1300 min $Creative Habit\'s Podcast | Exploring Habits for Tapping Into Creative Consciousness$ Creative Habit's Podcast | Exploring Habits for Tapping Into Creative ConsciousnessMelinda Hammond Talks Writing While Caravaning Around Australia and MoreMelinda Hammond reveals the benefits of living in a caravan while traveling the Australian outback. This is especially true with writing and the connection to landscapes and characters in those spaces. Plus you get to hear about her new course teaching kids and young adults the craft of story writing. 2016-08-2836 min

Writer On The RoadEnthusiasm, Entrepreneurship and Indie PublishingJoanne Dannon is an Indie author who is as generous with her advice to others as she is with her enthusiasm for everything to do with the business of writing. It is Joanne’s enthusiasm that attracted me to her while I was completing Mark Stephenson’s online marketing course for writers, Your First 10k Readers. If you’re interested in building your writing business then listen to Joanne’s journey where, through sheer tenacity of spirit, she is succeeding in building a loyal fan base and keen readership. She speaks of how networking with other writers sees her collaborating...2016-07-2400 min

Writer On The RoadOne Writer’s Transition to the RVing LifestyleEpisode 5 Kevin Tumlinson needs no introduction in the Indie publishing world – or in the podcasting world for that matter – and there’s a growing interest in his transition amongst his followers, including me, to full-time RVing. Kevin and his wife, Kara, will be travelling in style and for a while in this interview I forget about writing as I get lost in the detail of his new lifestyle. But, never fear, Kevin is as ever generous in his writing advice as he is in sharing the excitement of his new lifestyle. This man writes 5000 words a day, which to me...2016-07-1000 min

Writer On The RoadInsights into what it takes to be a successful romance author – a conversation with Regency Romance Author, Melinda HammondEpisode 4 – A conversation with the other Melinda Hammond If you love Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, then you’ll love this week’s guest to whom I refer fondly as the other Melinda Hammond, Regency Romance author, as she generously shares her advice for authors at all stages of the writing journey. Melinda has been writing for over thirty years and published her first romance with Robert Hale in 1980. She continues to work 8-9 hours a day, most days, with 4-5 of those hours dedicated to actual writing and the remainder to research, marketing, correspondence and all the other things...2016-07-0700 min

Writer On The RoadHow to Be an Entrepreneur with Colin JonesEpisode 3 – How to Be an Entrepreneur Join Colin Jones as he talks us through the thinking process necessary to succeed using the entrepreneurial mindset. Col has a Phd in Entrepreneurship and has been teaching young entrepreneurs and an undergraduate and post graduate level for nearly twenty years. You can hear more of Col’s thought on what it takes to succeed in an increasing and ever-changing world in his podcast, The Reasonable Adventurer. (#) Episode 3: Colin Jones Duration: [00:41:17] Melinda: Welcome to Writer on the Road Colin. Where we're all at different stages of the writing journey but our destination is the...2016-07-0100 min

Writer On The RoadTravel Writing with Graeme KemloEpisode 1 Meet Graeme Kemlo, Australasian President of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association and broadcaster of the Travel Writers Radio Show in Australia. Listen in while Graeme talks us through his journey from Canberra Press Journalist to travel writer to broadcaster of his own travel radio show. (#) Episode 1: Graeme Kemlo Duration: [00:46:17] Melinda: Alright, welcome to Writer on the Road where telling stories matter, writing them down is even better, and publishing them is the greatest goal of all. But it's important to remember through all the toilities and testing times (and there'll be plenty of those), it's the...2016-07-0100 min

Writer On The RoadCampfire Tales with Romance Author, Victoria BlackEpisode 2 – Campfire Tales with Australian Romance Author, Victoria Black If you’re into feisty heroines and handsome heroes then this is a podcast for you. Victoria is not only living the travelling dream with her own handsome hero, she is generous in her advice to aspiring writers following along behind. And what a setting she has to weave her tales. Join Victoria as she travels across the top end of Australia, through the remote Kimberley region and beyond, and shares her experiences with the rest of us. Every writer needs great settings and there’s nothing more inspir...2016-06-3027 min