Shows
Basically UnbotheredHalloween SpecialIn this episode, Gabi sits down with author and cultural anthropologist Nikki Auberkett for a fun, thought-provoking dive into everything from culture and creativity to Halloween chaos. They swap stories about how social media has turned spooky season into a full-blown production, unpack how fandoms shape modern myths, and geek out over beloved book series like The Mortal Instruments and A Court of Thorns and Roses. It’s a cozy mix of lit talk, cultural commentary, and laughter — all wrapped up in a reminder that community, creativity, and a little bit of magic keep us connected.Chapters
2025-10-3145 min
whttrIthandryll by Nikki Auberkett | Ancient Magic, Modern Struggles [Fantasy Book Summary & Discussion]🧚♀️ What happens when the echoes of old magic ripple into a modern world?In Ithandryll, the first book in the Song of the Sidhe series (Sidhe, pronounced 'SHEE'), author Nikki Auberkett weaves a powerful narrative that straddles realms—where Irish folklore collides with urban shadows, and destiny finds those who aren’t looking. As Ithandryll, a member of the nearly-forgotten Sidhe, navigates exile, rebellion, and revelations of birthright, the book explores timeless themes of identity, transformation, and legacy. This isn’t just a fantasy tale—it’s a lyrical reckoning with what...
2025-06-0716 min
Book Shop Chats:Episode FORTY-SIX: Nicki Auberkett: Romantasy, Indie Publishing, and the Power of CommunityNikki Auberkett joins me for an uplifting chat about the magic of storytelling and her inspiring journey in the indie publishing world. From designing her own eye-catching book covers to weaving intricate tales with elements of fantasy and sci-fi, Nikki's story is about creativity and passion. Author Bio: As a cultural anthropologist with a focused background in archaeology and global folklore, I weave real-world discoveries and intercultural theories into my fictional works. My current series, Song of the Sidhe, combines fantasy storytelling with "what if?" concepts, from the fae folk living in (and potentially having bu...
2025-02-121h 03
Pen & QuillWhat's Up With HarperCollins? The True Cost of PublishingEstablish your author brand and boost your marketing with The Author Platform Bootprint—debuts January 17th!
Ready to submit your novel to awards panels? Download our FREE 2023 Book Awards Checklist
For more information regarding editorial rates in independent publishing, go to www.the-efa.org
Read more about the HarperCollins strike at: https://www.fastcompany.com/90821278/harper-collins-union-strike
2023-01-131h 09Pen & QuillWhen Book Pirates AttackBook piracy is a HOT topic on social media — and no one is safe!
Not even me!
If you've been a victim of book pirating, grab a copy of this Copyright Infringement Notice Template (make sure you make a copy so you can insert your own information!):
Copyright Infringement Notice Template
For more information regarding copyright laws in the United States of America, registration, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), visit:
https://www.copyright.gov/
https://www.copyright.gov/dmca/
A SU...
2023-01-0242 min
Pen & QuillGrow Your Readership (with Book Marketing Expert, Hannah Richards!)One of the #1 Biggest Questions authors have across platforms is, "How do I market my book?"The short answer: grow your readership!The long answer: listen to this episode and book marketing expert, Hannah Richards, will walk you through it!Hannah Richards is a social media manager and consultant for authors. She’s helped hundreds of authors through her own business and Mindbuck Media Book Publicity where she has a team of three and works with publicists. She lives in Colorado, loves all animals, and loves helping authors find their dream readers through auth...
2022-01-291h 03
Pen & QuillEverything You Need to Know About Book AwardsWho's ready for the 2022 Book Awards season?If you didn't shout "I AM!!!" then this is the podcast episode for you! Most people don't know (because I don't announce it often) that I've actually been a judge on book awards panels and other similar evaluation-based events - which means everything we'll be talking about comes directly from the rubrics.Download the FREE 2022 Book Awards Checklist and follow along as we look at which features judges pay attention to, the percentage weights of each category, and enjoy a BONUS calendar of the best national/int...
2022-01-1452 min
Pen & QuillThe Best Unknown Resource For a Stellar Book LaunchIn an attempt to invite people into my Launch Team for Prax (coming April 2022!), we discovered that most people - including authors and Bookstagrammers - have no idea what a Launch Team even is!Well, we are about to fix that.And when I say "we", I really mean me, Nikki Auberkett, and my co-host, Quill (who tried to edit this episode by deleting 80% of it).Check out the new company, and new website, at www.talaeditorial.comFollow us on Instagram @thetalaeditorialAnd, as always, follow your favorite d...
2022-01-0733 min
Designed to SellHow To Start Writing Your Book with Developmental Editor Nikki AuberkettWriting your first book with Nikki A! Editor, anthropologist and all around incredible human being @nikkiauberkett spills the beans on how you can get started writing your own book today! You need to join Nikki’s 3 Day Plantsit Challenge starting November first to help you get the ball rolling with your fiction or non fiction book + you’ll get support for the entire month to celebrate NaNoWriMo! You can join here: https://www.nikkiauberkett.com/plants-it-challenge/ Please also tune into her podcast Pen & Quill on apple, Spotify and all places podcasts are listed! Plea...
2021-10-1259 min
Pen & QuillBlack Cats & Pointy HatsEver wonder why witches have pointy hats and black cats seem to get the worst luck?What better way to kick off a brand new season and a whole new podcast (title) than with a month-long "Monster Mash"? Tune in every week during October to hear all the fascinating facts and histories of some of Halloween's most popular monsters and magical mayhem-makers!This week's episode talks about some of the ancient histories of witches and how gender disparities in some of humanity's most popular industries led to today's depiction of witches, witchcraft, and those adorable l...
2021-10-0853 min
Pen & QuillThe Wordsmith Workbook: Part 3Welcome to the third and FINAL section of The Wordsmith Workbook "mini-course"/walkthrough!We've gone over so many details and explored different ways to figure out who your best editor is - are you ready to take that next step towards publishing?If you want to talk to me about your manuscript, publishing goals, and editing options, please visit www.nikkiauberkett.com and schedule your FREE consultation! I'm always happy to discuss the details, especially when it comes to turning your hard work into a successful, published novel.And if you haven't already, b...
2021-09-2732 min
Pen & QuillThe Wordsmith Workbook: Part 2Ready to hire an editor - but don't know what to look for?Maybe you've been looking around but haven't made a decision, or progress, because you're unsure of what an editor is supposed to do, charge, or look/sound like.Maybe you're afraid of getting scammed by someone posing as a publishing pro who's only out to steal your money.Maybe you're the victim of a scam.If any of those apply to you, THIS is the podcast for you!Every now and then, I'd see the random...
2021-09-1849 min
Pen & QuillThe Wordsmith Workbook: Part 1Ready to hire an editor - but don't know what to look for?Maybe you've been looking around but haven't made a decision, or progress, because you're unsure of what an editor is supposed to do, charge, or look/sound like. Maybe you're afraid of getting scammed by someone posing as a publishing pro who's only out to steal your money.Maybe you're the victim of a scam.If any of those apply to you, THIS is the podcast for you! Every now and then, I'd see the random Face...
2021-09-0358 min
Pen & QuillInclusive Writing: Responsibilities in RepresentationIs it possible to include absolutely everyone when we world-build and write our characters? Given the beautiful and immense diversity of the human species, the simple answer is: no.What we CAN do is ensure that who we seek to represent, we do so accurately and appropriately - and this means breaking past our own cultural boundaries in order to broaden our perspectives.This episode may get a little heavy and a little Real, but it is an immensely important, ongoing discussion in the literary world as much as everywhere else. Representation matters!...
2021-08-0553 min
Pen & QuillA Tale of Two Publishing Options: Traditional versus SelfOne of the most Frequently Asked Questions in writing groups, threads, forums, etc is this: "Which is better, Traditional Publishing or Self Publishing?"It's a trick question: both are good, it just depends on your personal goals and - primarily - your personality type.Ready to sharpen your storytelling skills and be part of an amazing, supportive community focused on your publishing success? Sign up for Mind to Manuscript! Resources:Organize and streamline your social media posts with my favorite sanity-preserving tool! Check out Planoly's clean, minimalist platform (available fo...
2021-07-2341 min
Pen & QuillThrough the Eyes of Medusa: Male vs. Female GazeOne subconscious bias that occurs consistently in writing is the Male/Female Gaze, and what better way to explore how this happens in storytelling than by examining the centuries-long legend of Medusa?Popularized by the Greek poet Ovid and later on in modern media by films such as Clash of the Titans (1981 & 2010) and book series like Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan), Medusa is often portrayed as a vicious monster created by Athena as punishment for defiling her temple when she had an affair with Poseidon.But that story is from the male perspective.
2021-06-2844 min
Pen & QuillThrough the Eyes of Medusa: Male vs. Female GazeOne subconscious bias that occurs consistently in writing is the Male/Female Gaze, and what better way to explore how this happens in storytelling than by examining the centuries-long legend of Medusa?Popularized by the Greek poet Ovid and later on in modern media by films such as Clash of the Titans (1981 & 2010) and book series like Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan), Medusa is often portrayed as a vicious monster created by Athena as punishment for defiling her temple when she had an affair with Poseidon.But that story is from t...
2021-06-2844 min
Pen & QuillMax Your Book Sales by Avoiding These 3 MistakesWhether you traditionally publish with a literary agent signing a nice fat check up front, or you self-publish and reap the benefits of no middle-man sucking up your revenue, both focus on one main thing to make the money happen: selling your books.Join me as I discuss the top 3 biggest mistakes new authors make that negatively impact book sales - and what to do instead so you can turn your manuscript into a bestseller!If you love what you hear and want to learn more about my editing services, courses offered, or want to...
2021-06-2134 min
Pen & QuillMax Your Book Sales by Avoiding These 3 MistakesWhether you traditionally publish with a literary agent signing a nice fat check up front, or you self-publish and reap the benefits of no middle-man sucking up your revenue, both focus on one main thing to make the money happen: selling your books.Join me as I discuss the top 3 biggest mistakes new authors make that negatively impact book sales - and what to do instead so you can turn your manuscript into a bestseller!If you love what you hear and want to learn more about my editing services, courses offered, or want to...
2021-06-2134 min
Pen & QuillWelcome to The Writer's WorkshopWriting is more than simply putting words on paper - it's a powerful way to preserve culture and history through storytelling! I'm Nikki Auberkett, editor and cultural anthropologist. If you love what you hear and want to learn more about my editing services, courses offered, or want to check out my blog, visit: www.nikkiauberkett.comBe sure to follow me on Instagram! @nikkiauberkettThis episode's book list:- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling-Animal Farm by George Orwell-The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Ra...
2021-06-0329 min
Pen & QuillWelcome to The Writer's WorkshopWriting is more than simply putting words on paper - it's a powerful way to preserve culture and history through storytelling! I'm Nikki Auberkett, editor and cultural anthropologist. If you love what you hear and want to learn more about my editing services, courses offered, or want to check out my blog, visit: www.nikkiauberkett.comBe sure to follow me on Instagram! @nikkiauberkettThis episode's book list:- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling-Animal Farm by George Orwell-The Ma...
2021-06-0329 min