Shows
PLOT TWISTCan You Like The Book and Hate The Author?Soman and Victoria discuss the paradox of loving the book -- and rejecting the author. Also they talk duologies vs. trilogies and the hazards of publishing under your legal name. Victoria is trying to power through her edits, and Soman thinks he should play Evita.Show notesTheme of the Week (02:46)Goals for the Week (12:33)Industry Nonsense (20:06) Reader Mailbag (35:05)Plot Twists in Real Life (43:16) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-07-2447 minPLOT TWISTIs a Public Profile Worth The Risk?Soman and Victoria discuss the pros and cons of having public profiles and get surprisingly emotional. Also they talk about how to sell a book as a debut author and how to craft the buzziest plot twists. Soman is planning a trip to London to meet the British publishing team for YOUNG WORLD and Victoria just wants *one* better news cycle. Theme of the Week (21:51)Goals for the Week (14:02)Industry Nonsense (20:50) Reader Mailbag (37:33)Plot Twists in Real Life (45:23) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...2025-07-1747 minPLOT TWISTWill Literature Survive?Soman and Victoria discuss whether literary fiction will survive over the next several decades. Also they talk about the differences between a good editor and a bad one, and what they plan to write next. Victoria is trying to figure out what to do with her visiting family, and Soman thinks it’s time for a talk with Usha Vance.Theme of the Week (02:14)Goals for the Week (15:19)Industry Nonsense (22:31) Reader Mailbag(36;56)Plot Twists in Real Life (46:04) Hosted on Aca...2025-07-1049 minPLOT TWISTAre You A Career Author or a Hobby Author?Soman and Victoria discuss the difference between career and hobby authors. Also they discuss how to decide what ideas to write next and if they plan to write spin-offs of their old books. Soman is trying to find a new routine, and Victoria wants to hear less about rats.Theme of the Week (02:01)Goals for the Week (15:05)Industry Nonsense (12:25) Reader Mailbag (28:16)Plot Twists in Real Life (36:19) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-07-0339 minPLOT TWISTWould You Read A Novel Written By AI?Soman and Victoria discuss whether they, or anyone, would read a book generated by AI. Also they discuss their editing process and how they balanced writing back when they had day jobs. Victoria talks about wanting her ‘yoga journey’ to start this week and Soman just wants planes to be checked for problems BEFORE he gets on them.Theme of the Week (02:58)Goals for the Week (07:13)Industry Nonsense (16:40)Reader Mailbag (33:34)Plot Twists in Real Life (45:06) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-06-2648 minPLOT TWISTIs the Algorithm Turning Authors into Cartoons?Soman and Victoria discuss whether social media and algorithms are making them less authentic. Also they fantasize about their perfect work day and talk about turning haters into fans. Soman talks about all the little pieces of YOUNG WORLD coming together, and Victoria just wants her printer to work. Theme of the Week (02:35)Goals for the Week (11:32)Industry Nonsense (20:01) Reader Mailbag(35:13)Plot Twists in Real Life (43:31) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-06-1947 minPLOT TWISTDoes Sex Really Sell?Soman and Victoria cover the new 'spice' industry and try to find the line of sexual content in YA versus adult work, and what really makes a book “for adults.” Plus how much input authors get on their covers, whether they prefer drafting or editing, Victoria's ongoing dilemma of whether TEMPEST draft is one book or two, and Soman's dream of a Wimbledon wild card.Theme of the Week (06:00)Goals for the Week (12:59)Industry Nonsense (21:10) Reader Mailbag(32:09)Plot Twists in Real Life (41:35) Hosted on Aca...2025-06-1247 minPLOT TWISTInspiration… or Infringement?Victoria and Soman discuss the boundaries of plagiarism, plus the pros and cons of having a traditional publisher and how to tell if a book festival is worth going to. They also introduce their new novels, how they met, their goals and themes for the week, plus plot twists they want to see in real life!Theme of the Week (12:30)Goals for the Week (20:43)Industry Nonsense (26:48) Reader Mailbag (36:32)Plot Twists in Real Life (47:12) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...2025-06-1250 minPLOT TWISTPLOT TWIST. Coming June 12th.Don't miss the first episode of PLOT TWIST, coming June 12th wherever you get your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-06-0501 min
I'm Not The Book Expert... But She Is003: Reviewing the 2021 Goodreads Choice AwardsMaggie and Rachel tear into the Goodreads Choice Awards, announcing our favorites, least favorites, and issues we have with the winners and nominees.
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Twitter: @BookExpertPod
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Email: NotTheBookExpert@gmail.com
Books in this episode:
Beautiful World, Where Are You? By Sally Rooney
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Arsenic and Adobo...2022-01-211h 31
First Draft with Sarah EnniLA Times Festival of Books, BEA, and BookCon MinisodeMore lightning-round interviews with authors at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, BookExpo America, and BookCon festivals, including: Brandy Colbert; David Connis; Dhonielle Clayton; E. Katherine Kottaras; Holly Black; Jennifer E. Smith; Jessica Morgan; Kiersten White; Karuna Riazi; Laini Taylor; Maggie Stiefvater; Maurene Goo; Morgan Matson; Nic Stone; Renee Ahdieh; Robin Benway; Samantha Mabry; Soman Chainani; Susan Dennard; Victoria Aveyard; and Zan Romanoff. LATFoB/BEA/BookCon Minisode Show Notes Brandy Colbert (listen to her First Draft interview here), author of Pointe and the forthcoming Little and Lion) The Hate U Give by Angie...2017-06-1436 min