Shows
Writer Unblocked#019 Your Focus Is Being Stolen: Here’s How to Take It BackAre you constantly distracted when you sit down to write? Do you find yourself stuck in an endless scroll, even though you meant to open your manuscript? You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault. In this solo episode, Nicole dives into Stolen Focus by Johann Hari and unpacks how our attention is being hijacked by modern life—and what authors can do to reclaim it.Nicole breaks down the science behind attention loss, debunks the myth of multitasking, and shares actionable strategies to help writers get back into a creative flow state. From the truth ab...2025-05-0811 minWriter Unblocked#018 Even the Critic Has DataWhat if the biggest thing blocking your progress... is you?In this episode of Writer Unblocked, I’m joined by conflict resolution coach and author Dana Bernstein, whose book It’s the Thought That Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. you is an empowering guide to untangling your thoughts, owning your identity, and getting out of your own way.This conversation dives deep — from the internal “committee” we all battle, to what it means to define your core “Who,” to a real-time coaching moment where I share something I’ve been struggling with (yes, it's...2025-05-0130 minWriter Unblocked#017 From Beats to Books: How Hip-Hop Artist Orlando Molina Created RhymosaursWhat happens when a hip-hop artist turns his lyrical fire toward children's books? You get Rhymosaurs—a brilliant mashup of storytelling, rhythm, and prehistoric swagger that’s turning picky eaters and fussy sleepers into poetry-loving dino fans.In this high-energy episode, Nicole chats with Orlando Molina, the creative force behind Rhymosaurs, about how he went from laying down bars in studios to writing rhyming picture books that actually slap. Orlando opens up about his unexpected pivot into children’s publishing, how a life-changing move to Norway shifted his path, and why poetry is a secret weapon for ch...2025-04-2445 minWriter Unblocked#016 Why Authors Need to Shift from Annual to 12-Week GoalsIn this solo episode, Nicole breaks down the key ideas behind The 12 Week Year and how this framework can radically shift the way you write, publish, and promote your book. She shares how she’s adapted the method into a full author success system—and how you can too.Whether you're drafting, revising, querying, or marketing your work, this approach gives you a plan with urgency, structure, and momentum. Plus, Nicole introduces her group program, The Strategic Author, designed to help writers stop spinning their wheels and start hitting their goals with clarity and community.You’...2025-04-1713 minWriter Unblocked#015 What Every Author Website Really Needs with Web Designer Kate CrossYour author website shouldn't just sit there looking pretty—it should work for you. In this episode, I chat with web designer and strategist Kate Cross, who specializes in creating websites that actually help authors sell books, grow newsletters, and connect with readers.We get into the good stuff, including:Why “just having a website” isn’t enough anymoreHow to design a homepage that hooks readers instantlyThe must-have features every author site should include (no, a blog isn't always one of them!)Common website mistakes that make authors look unprofessionalTips for monetizing your aut...2025-04-1056 minWriter Unblocked#014 The Importance of Resilience in Building a Writing CareerIn this episode, Nicole discusses the concept of author resilience, emphasizing that it is an ongoing journey rather than a one-time achievement. She shares her personal experiences in building a coaching business for authors and highlights the importance of self-kindness and acceptance during challenging times. Nicole encourages authors to recognize their feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome as natural, and to develop coping mechanisms to navigate these emotions. The conversation concludes with a reminder that resilience is a continuous practice that all authors must cultivate throughout their careers.If today's episode sparked ideas for your author...2025-02-2722 minWriter Unblocked#013 Audiobook Intricacies with narrator Samantha NorburyToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with audiobook narrator Samantha Norbury. Samantha shares her journey from theater to audiobook narration, the importance of quality production for indie authors, and the impact of AI voices on the industry. We also talk about the emotional connection of this craft, the use of pseudonyms, and the growing accessibility of stories through audiobooks.You can find Samantha here:https://www.instagram.com/samantha.norbury_narrator/https://www.samanthanorburyvo.com/https://www.youtube.com/@SamanthaNorburyNarratorFor more information ab...2025-02-2056 minWriter Unblocked#012 Science Meets Magic: Meredith Kasian on Writing The Wielder’s DiscoveryToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with Meredith Kasian! Meredith shares her journey as an author, discussing her debut novel, The Wielder's Discovery. We delve into the inspiration behind her story, the character development, and the intricate world-building that combines elements of science and magic. She is a chemical engineer, afterall! Meredith also provides insights into her writing and editing process, the challenges of self-publishing, her strategic plan for the audiobook, and the importance of balancing creativity with the business of being an author. Meredith’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/meredithkasianauthor/Mere...2025-02-1337 minWriter Unblocked#011 Building a Publishing Empire with Tanya Anne CrosbyToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with author and publisher Tanya Anne Crosby! Tanya Anne is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of thirty novels. She’s been featured in People, Romantic Times, and Publishers Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Tanya Anne shares her journey from traditional publishing to becoming a successful indie author and publisher. She discusses the importance of testing cover art, the significance of managing a backlist and delves into the growth of her publishing company, Oliver Heber Books.Tanya’s Website: https://tanyaannecrosby.com/2025-02-0650 minWriter Unblocked#010 Judging a Book by Its CoverIn this conversation, Ashton M. Smith shares her journey into the world of book design, emphasizing the importance of cover art in attracting readers, especially in the self-publishing landscape. She discusses her educational background, her passion for helping indie authors, and the detailed process she follows to create compelling book covers. Ashton also addresses the challenges of working with authors who may struggle to articulate their feedback and the balance between honoring their vision while applying her design expertise. The conversation concludes with insights on expanding services to include branding and marketing assets, as well as considerations for different...2025-01-3044 minWriter Unblocked#009 Overcoming Trauma to Write MagicToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with author Kara M. Zone about her amazing book Cinders Burn at Midnight - which I am devouring. I loved this conversation, we covered so much. First off, Kara is an advocate and educator on the indie publishing industry. I think she is so smart in her approach and strategy for writing and releasing this book. I loved how open and vulnerable she is about the underlying trauma themes in the book and her own experience with C-PTSD and the impact it has on her writing. We chat about audiobooks, formatting, resources an...2025-01-2352 minWriter Unblocked#008 From Rejection to RepresentationToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with author Robin Brooks. Her journey is a testament to perseverance and rediscovering joy in writing. She’s a full-time working mom who decided to pursue her dream of writing and publishing a book, proving it’s never too late to show up for yourself. From enduring soul-crushing query rejections to revisions and ultimately landing her agent, she’s faced it all with determination. Her story is not just about chasing a dream but about learning, evolving, and embracing the messy, beautiful process of being an author. Join me as we dive into her...2025-01-1640 minWriter Unblocked#007 How to set goals as an AuthorToday is a solo episode and I’m talking about goal setting. Using the Objective: Key Result framework I show you how I guide authors to come up with big goals, aligned actions and measurable outcomes!Here are some great resources and further reading if this is interesting to you:Wishcraft by Barbara SherOKRs for Dummies by Paul R. NivenThe Messy Middle by Scott BelskyAtomic Habits by James ClearWrite It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne KlauserInterested in working with me? You can email me at Ni...2025-01-0915 minWriter Unblocked#006 How Did a Biochemistry Major Become a Romance Novelist?Today on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with Florence A. Bliss, she is the author of Taken by His Sword, her debut romance novel! This has everything an enemies to lovers fan would want including force proximity, slow burn, redemption and one horse! We talk about how she went from biochemistry to education to romance author, and how to write a fierce, multi-dimensional and likeable female protagonist! We also dive into her long querying process and how she ended up landing a publisher with no agent. Florence A. Bliss website:https://www.florenceabliss.com/]Ins...2024-11-2143 minWriter Unblocked#005 Is an MFA in writing worth it for authors?Anthony Casella is a writer based in New York. He holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School. His work has appeared in HOBART, The Diverse Arts Project, and has been translated to Italian. He is currently working on his first novel. You can find him on Instagram @anthonyfcasella.Resources mentioned:QueryTracker: https://querytracker.net/Publisher’s Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/For more information about Writer Unblocked please visit writerunblockedpodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-11-1442 minWriter Unblocked#004 Self-Publishing an Erotic Romance Novel with Brooke DeanToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with author Brooke Dean. She is a mother, story teller, content creator, producer, editorial operations director - and now author - with over 20 years of television and digital media experience. Brooke currently oversees the Audible Originals Third Party Scripted Content and Podcasts team at Audible where she produced the best-selling audiobook Force of Beauty: A Newark Family Memoir by Mikki Taylor. She has written for online magazines focusing on love, sex, relationships and lifestyle content. Her first erotic romance novel, Brooklyn Unbound, released in June of 2022; and the much anticipated sequel, Brooklyn Unlea...2024-11-0744 minWriter Unblocked#003 From Self Publishing to a Six Book Deal!Today on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with Christina Diane, a wife and mother who enjoys weaving stories of love and passion from her home in Northern Maine. Her favorite genre to read and write are historical romances set in the Regency era. She took a long break from writing when her kids were younger, but found that she couldn’t stop thinking about stories and characters she had to get on paper! And with only a few weeks to go for her self-publishing launch, she got a SIX book deal from a publisher!We talk abou...2024-10-3134 minWriter Unblocked#002 Liza Darnton’s Expert Advice for Aspiring AuthorsToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with Liza Darnton. She’s been in publishing for over 20 years. Her background includes in-house acquisitions editor for Penguin and Amazon Publishing as well as an independent editor working directly with both professional and new authors. Liza is also an agent at large for Mary Evans Inc.You can find Liza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-darnton/For more information about Writer Unblocked please visit writerunblockedpodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-2437 minWriter Unblocked#001 Healing Trauma Through PoetryToday on Writer Unblocked, I’m chatting with David Glover, an actor, poet, playwright and director from Philadelphia. His book Beneath My Body Armor, is one of the most incredible and intimate poetry collections I’ve ever read. You can find David on instagram @sirdavidlawrenceglover.For more information about Writer Unblocked please visit writerunblockedpodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-0548 min