Best Pessl Podcasts (2026)

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110 AI in Coaching 33:34

Play Pause

2M ago33:34

33:34

AI & The Future of CoachingWhat Can Be Replaced, and What Never WillArtificial Intelligence is changing the landscape of every creative and human profession, including coaching. In this solo episode, Phil Goddard explores what AI can already do better than most humans, and where its reach will always end. Phil also takes a more intimate look at wha…

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109 Leo Pessl - Mentorship 48:45

8M ago48:45

48:45

The Art of MentorshipLeo Pessl joins Phil for a thoughtful conversation on the transformative power of mentorship. With warmth and humility, they discuss how mentorship has been a thread that has connected growth, purpose, progression and their eventual roles as a guide to others. This episode is a quiet masterclass on how learning unfolds in conne…

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108 Lorena Bernal 1:19:02

9M ago1:19:02

1:19:02

It Starts With YouIn this beautifully reflective episode, Phil Goddard welcomes Lorena Bernal — actor, model, TV host, mother, wife of a Premier League Football manager, and now coach and author — for a soul-stirring conversation about what it truly means to live from the heart.Lorena’s journey has taken her from Argentina to Spain, to Hollywood, a…

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107 - Rishi Rongala 1:24:18

10M ago1:24:18

1:24:18

A Path of MasteryIn this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Phil Goddard sits down with Rishi for a deep and moving conversation about the search for meaning, the twists of self-discovery, and what it truly means to live a fulfilling life.In This Episode: • How an existential crisis sparked a journey of transformation • The role of philosophy, s…

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Saying Farewell after 225 episodes... and Hello to The Happy Writer Book! 47:23

11M ago47:23

47:23

In this final (!) episode of the Happy Writer podcast, Marissa and Joanne chat about the past almost five years and 224 episodes of the podcast: favorite moments, what they learned, what they will (and won’t!) miss, how many people tuned in, and more fun facts and stats. Also discussed: THE HAPPY WRITER book – how it came about, what changed thanks…

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Gothic Romances and Ghosts Galore! with J. Ann Thomas - The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall 59:49

12M ago59:49

59:49

Marissa chats with J. Ann Thomas about her new adult gothic ghost novel, THE SPIRIT COLLECTION OF THORNE HALL. Also in this episode: the unpredictability of being a podcaster with children, how publishing can be a roller coaster of a career, creating love interests that are not perfect but are perfect for the character, using a real house and its b…

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Militant Outlines and Author Vulnerability with Trisha Tobias - Honeysuckle and Bone 46:27

12M ago46:27

46:27

Marissa chats with Trisha Tobias about her debut gothic YA, HONEYSUCKLE AND BONE. Also discussed: creating author signatures, writing fanfiction across fandoms, writing from a place of grief and vulnerability and using writing to help process, researching a far-off setting through family and the internet, flawed and unreliable characters, militant …

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Banter, Love Confessions, and IP Projects with Paul Coccia - Recommended Reading 47:43

12M ago47:43

47:43

In this first episode of 2025, Marissa chats with Paul Coccia about his upcoming YA romance, RECOMMENDED READING. Also discussed in this episode: Glitterature, projects taking time to find the perfect home and market, feeling confident enough to follow your own path, intellectual property (IP) projects and the audition process, working to a provide…

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Celebrating Accomplishments and Setting Writing Goals for the New Year - with Tamara Moss 1:00:24

1y ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Marissa is joined by repeat podcast guest, author, longtime critique partner, fellow Sailor Moon fanfiction writer and now, cowriter, Tamara Moss. Discussed in this episode: Tamara and Marissa’s writing accomplishments for 2024 and how they celebrated (hint: Tamara shares the kind of ‘celebration’ we don’t recommend), the benefits of cleaning and d…

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Behind the Scenes of Audiobook Narration with Gabi Epstein and Rebecca Soler 1:14:59

1y ago1:14:59

1:14:59

Marissa and Joanne are joined by Rebecca Soler and Gabi Epstein – the narrators for the LET IT GLOW audiobook (You may also recognize Rebecca’s voice from most of Marissa’s other audio books!). Discussed in this deep dive episode all about audio books: the similarities and differences between audiobook narration and stage acting, how much interacti…

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Perfect Gifts for Readers, Writers, & Book Lovers - The Happy Writer Holiday Gift Guide 1:09:23

1y ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Marissa and Joanne chat all things holiday gifting in this special bonus super-sized episode where they share their favorite presents received and offer their suggestions, along with a few submitted by listeners (thank you!). From free ideas to the lavishly spendy, items to services, you’re sure to find the perfect something for the readers and wri…

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Twists, Mysteries, and Filling Your Artistic Well with Marisha Pessl - Darkly 45:17

1y ago45:17

45:17

Marissa chats with Marisha Pessl about her new YA thriller, DARKLY. Also discussed in this episode: avoiding the trap of feeling like you have to publish a book a year, how planning and outlining can be essential for writing great twists that fool the reader, keeping a names database, finding inspirations for writing gothic and atmospheric novels, …

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Middle Grade Tips & Tricks with Alyssa Colman - The Gilded Girl 46:40

1y ago46:40

46:40

Marissa chats with Alyssa Colman about her Gilded Magic middle grade fantasy duology and her upcoming WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW in this jam-packed middle grade focused episode. Also discussed: the hallmarks of middle grade (themes, tone, voice), word counts, heavy and difficult themes in middle grade books, voice, humor, creating sympathetic character…

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Let It Glow - Live from Book Tour with Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy 42:54

1y ago42:54

42:54

Marissa and Joanne get together to tape this special episode (less than 24 hours after they met in person for the very first time!) as they embark on their LET IT GLOW tour! They answer listener-submitted questions on topics like their origin stories, the origin story for LET IT GLOW, writing fanfiction, the inside story on their collaboration, wha…

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Worldbuilding & Romance in Dystopian Sci-Fi with Jill Tew - The Dividing Sky 47:11

1y ago47:11

47:11

Marissa chats with Jill Tew about her debut dystopian romance, THE DIVIDING SKY. Also discussed in this episode: making the transition from the corporate world to writing sci-fi inspired by the corporate world, sci-fi worldbuilding, sci-fi as a cautionary tale (“if this goes on”), plotting out romance to make it feel organic, the irony of promoting…

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A Jane Austen-Inspired LGBT+ Romance with Hari Conner - I Shall Never Fall in Love 46:45

1y ago46:45

46:45

Marissa chats with Hari Conner about their queer regency graphic novel rom-com, I SHALL NEVER FALL IN LOVE. Also discussed in this episode: a non-typical (is there such a thing as typical?) road to finding an agent, mining real world history and Jane Austen texts for influences, using comics to make historical stories feel relatable, historical res…

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Solving Impossible Plot Problems with Amanda M. Helander - Divine Mortals 45:23

1y ago45:23

45:23

Marissa chats with Amanda M. Helander about her debut romantasy, DIVINE MORTALS. Also discussed in this episode: how keeping diaries can be a first step in a writing career, publishing timelines and how there’s no such thing as typical, the frustration of fitting books into age categories and writing books in their margins, worldbuilding, planning …

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106 Ian Watson - The Accidental Coach - 1:02:56

1y ago1:02:56

1:02:56

The Accidental CoachWhat has really struck me in my conversations with Ian, and in reading his throughly beautiful book, The Tao of Homeopathy, is that everything in homeopathy is applicable in some way to masterful coaching. We explore this and more in this wholesome exploration of healing and what it is to be human.Phil & Ian discuss:* Ian’s expa…

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Pacing and Suspense in Big Fantasies with Sabaa Tahir - Heir 46:53

1+ y ago46:53

46:53

Marissa chats with Sabaa Tahir about the first book in her new YA fantasy duology, HEIR. Also discussed in this episode: Yosemite National Park, using the GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) technique, how the final, typeset draft can be a place where momentum requires deeper revisions (much to publishers’ chagrin), adding unexpected twists midway thr…

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105 Exploring with Tibi Sátor 1:06:36

1+ y ago1:06:36

1:06:36

Exploring Human Experience A special episode in which Phil responds to some queries raised by Tibi, and they explore together how we create our experience and our most compassionate way of Loving Being Human.Phil & Tibi discuss:* Are we really 100% responsible for our experience?* Goddard’s Law of Spiritual Exploration.* How can we be compassionate…

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Vampires Meet Jewish Folklore with A.R. Vishny - Night Owls 45:28

1+ y ago45:28

45:28

Marissa chats with A. R. Vishny about her debut paranormal YA romance, NIGHT OWLS. Also discussed in this episode: the popularity of getting started with fanfiction, how much timing can matter in the submission process, the recent trend (again!) of vampires, the inherent challenges of writing vampire romance, the importance of knowing a character’s…

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Revise Your Novel, Step by Step! Marissa's Revision Process 34:05

1+ y ago34:05

34:05

In this bonus craft episode, Marissa shares her steps and processes for revisions. Hint: they begin in the drafting process! Also discussed: celebrating milestones and accomplishments, the importance of letting a project simmer, how to know when to jump back in, making a plan to tackle revisions and the different methods, how many rounds of revisio…

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104 Sara Priestley - Ethics, Cults and Coaching Integrity - 1:25:18

1+ y ago1:25:18

1:25:18

Ethics, Cults and Coaching IntegrityIn a necessary conversation for all coaches and service professionals, Sara and Phil talk in-depth about ethics, cults, integrity, and how important it is for us to be aware of unhealthy aspects of our desires to help others.Topics of conversation include:* When and when not to share our writing.* Embellishment o…

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Vampires Meet Dark Academia with Tigest Girma - Immortal Dark 44:50

1+ y ago44:50

44:50

Marissa chats with Tigest Girma about her debut, a YA romantic vampire novel, IMMORTAL DARK. Also discussed in this episode: struggling with the young adult/new adult/adult labels, making the change to age down a book and characters and what that entails, writing morally gray characters, crafting an extreme enemies to lovers romantic storyline, cre…

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Trilogies, Tropes, and Love Triangles with Adalyn Grace - Wisteria (Belladonna series) 44:36

1+ y ago44:36

44:36

Marissa chats with Adalyn Grace about WISTERIA, the conclusion to her Belladonna trilogy. Also discussed in this episode: the love of and uses for Pinterest, the phenomenon of finishing a book and forgetting having written it, writing a series with differing POVs, the rare book that’s “easy” to write, turning concepts into characters, favorite trop…

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103 Elizabeth Lovius 1:11:05

1+ y ago1:11:05

1:11:05

Bringing Love to the BoardroomWith over 3 decades of coaching experience, Elizabeth works with senior leaders who have responsibility for hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars. She brings a wholesome humanness into her work of helping her clients Love Being Human.In this episode Phil & Elizabeth discuss:* The importanc…

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Contemporary Royalty and Romance with Julian Winters - Prince of the Palisades 47:19

1+ y ago47:19

47:19

Marissa chats with Julian Winters about his latest YA romance, PRINCE OF THE PALISADES. Also discussed in this episode: how fanfiction is a great way to get started in writing, the sometimes difficult elements of crafting a contemporary royal story, writing romance and the importance of creating moments when characters are vulnerable, how challengi…

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102 Anna Koukoullis 1:04:58

1+ y ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Episode102 - Anna KoukoullisOpera Dreams of Social ImpactA former aspiring international opera singer whose career took an unexpected turn due to a vocal injury, Anna shares her inspiring journey from the stages of conservatoires and international venues to finding a new calling as a social impact coach. Anna & Phil discuss:* Anna’s early aspiratio…

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Middle Grade Horror and Illustrated Novels with Remy Lai - Read At Your Own Risk 39:24

1+ y ago39:24

39:24

Marissa chats with Remy Lai about her new illustrated sketch diary, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. Also discussed in this episode: why kids relate to horror, the importance of capturing the tone of the book on the cover and determining appropriate content for a young audience, making important design choices like font and color, deciding on a story’s forma…

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Avoid Creative Burnout with Lydia Michaels - Write 10K In a Day : Avoid Burnout: Unleash Your Prolific Potential 1:00:25

1+ y ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Marissa chats with author and life coach Lydia Michaels about her craft book, Write 10K in a Day. Discussed in this practical episode: the challenges of being an indie author/entrepreneur, writer burnout, time poverty – particularly for women, why setting boundaries on word counts is a good idea, signs of burnout, paying attention to ROJ (Return on…

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101 Maria Brandt - Be Thou My Vision 1:21:44

1+ y ago1:21:44

1:21:44

Be Thou My VisionThis is an episode I have wanted to create for a long time.Maria was a client almost a decade ago, at the time she was dating the man who she would marry, and be with on his journey through cancer, and eventually his passing.This is a story of love, passion and loss.It is a very moving conversation, one that moved me to tears.It is…

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Romance, Family Dynamics, & Disability Rep with Anna Sortino - On the Bright Side 38:52

1+ y ago38:52

38:52

Marissa chats with Anna Sortino about her latest YA romance, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. Also discussed in this episode: who is the ‘real’ audience we write for, deciding on a single vs dual POV and where the points of view intersect, leaving space in outlines for exploration, layering in character traits and details during revision, writing family dynamic…

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7 Tips for Balancing Multiple Writing Projects with Marissa Meyer 41:02

1+ y ago41:02

41:02

In this bonus craft episode, Marissa shares her seven best tips and strategies for balancing multiple writing projects. Discussed in this practical episode: how many projects she works on at any given time and what stage in the process they are at, how she prioritizes, what she does in the times when she isn’t or can’t be drafting, and so much more…

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100 Phil Goddard - From Breakfast to Bali - (with Reno Winston) 1:52:29

1+ y ago1:52:29

1:52:29

From Breakfast to Bali - A 100 Episodes Special(In conversation with Reno Winston)In this special 100th episode, Reno Winston takes the reins to askPhil all about his Coaching Life. Together they discuss:* Breakfast !!* The beauty in simplicity and ordinariness of life.* Being at ease when life isn’t easy.* The importance & benefits of daily practi…

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099 Kim Kaase & Phil Goddard 57:03

1+ y ago57:03

57:03

A Necessary Conversation About the Coaching ProfessionOne my lawyers advised me against… ;) Kim makes her 3rd appearance on the podcast to discuss with Phil aspects of the coaching profession that are not necessarily serving in the most impactful way.They shine a light on:* The two worlds of Coaching* The monoculture of the Coaching Pyramid* The Bu…

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Owning Your Writing Career with Tomi Adeyemi - Children of Anguish and Anarchy - The Legacy of Orisha 54:22

1+ y ago54:22

54:22

Marissa chats with award-winning author of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, Tomi Adeyemi, about her new third book in the Legacy of Orisha series, CHILDREN OF ANGUISH AND ANARCHY. Also discussed in this episode: the inspiration for Tomi creating The Writer’s Roadmap courses for writers, feeling like you’re finally a career writer, transitioning from a l…

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Why We Love Heists and the Benefits of Co-Writing - Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka - Heiress Takes All 46:26

1+ y ago46:26

46:26

Marissa chats with the husband-and-wife writing team of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka about their latest YA adventure heist novel, HEIRESS TAKES ALL. Also discussed in this episode: the process of cowriting and the division of labor that resembles a marriage, carefully and consciously casting a heist book’s ensemble of characters, bene…

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Ask Me Anything! Marissa Meyer Talks Writing, Books, Life, and More for our 200th Episode Celebration! 1:06:37

1+ y ago1:06:37

1:06:37

In this 200th (!) episode of The Happy Writer Podcast, Marissa (with some help from Joanne) answers many of your burning questions. Topics discussed: dealing with burnout, crafting three-dimensional characters, writing to trends, co-writing, balancing writing with parenting, and so much more. Also included: much-anticipated updates on TLC productio…

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Contemporary Challenges and "Unlikeable" Protagonists - Alexene Farol Follmuth - Twelfth Knight 44:05

1+ y ago44:05

44:05

Marissa chats with Alexene Farol Follmuth about her latest contemporary coming-of-age YA romance, TWELFTH KNIGHT. Also discussed: some of the differences between self and traditional publishing and how the two can come together in a career, crafting the ‘unlikeable female character’, using Shakespeare for source material, structuring a romance diff…

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098 Philippe Bartu - Building from Disappointment 1:20:38

1+ y ago1:20:38

1:20:38

Building from DisappointmentAs promised in episode 051 just 67 weeks ago, Philippe is back on the podcast :DIn a very real, raw and honest conversation, we share & discuss:* Reflecting on ‘Honoured the Path of the Heart’? - the title of our previous episode.* Philippe’s initial resistance to getting married a second time.* Diving deep into our desi…

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Co-Writing Fantasy and Having Fun With It - Tessa Gratton - Chaos & Flame / Blood & Fury Duology 44:29

1+ y ago44:29

44:29

Marissa chats with Tessa Gratton about her new YA fantasy, BLOOD & FURY, the sequel to CHAOS & FLAME, co-written with Justina Ireland. Also discussed: building social justice and important topics into fantasy while also making a book fun, how working on different projects concurrently can be both challenging and inspiring, creating inspiration list…

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Outline Your Novel! Tips, Tricks, and Encouragement with Save the Cat! Writes a Novel's Jessica Brody 55:00

1+ y ago55:00

55:00

Marissa chats again with Jessica Brody, author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel about her popular craft books and how she adapted the original Save the Cat screenplay book’s components for novel-writing. Also discussed in this craft-focused episode: how even pantsers can benefit from outlining tips, how h…

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Arthurian Legend and Graphic Novel Retellings with Isabel Greenberg - Young Hag and the Witches' Quest 48:43

1+ y ago48:43

48:43

Marissa chats with Isabel Greenberg about her new Arthurian fantasy graphic novel, YOUNG HAG AND THE WITCHES’ QUEST. Also discussed in this episode: the freedom of creating a first project without the expectation that it will be read, the challenges and allure of retellings and Arthurian legends, the process of creating and revising a graphic novel…

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097 Dean Powell - Bali Brotherhood 1:07:08

1+ y ago1:07:08

1:07:08

Bali BrotherhoodA one hour chat with my dear friend in Bali.In this conversation we discuss:* The magic of men’s circles, and what inspired Dean to start facilitating them.* Handling things when they get tough.* Dean’s journey into addiction and through recovery.* The intoxicating nature of Bali and how it was to live there during the pandemic * Ba…

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Time Travel Plotlines and How We Get Ideas with Kekla Magoon - The Secret Library 49:40

1+ y ago49:40

49:40

Marissa chats with Kekla Magoon about her new middle grade time travel fantasy, THE SECRET LIBRARY. Also discussed in this episode: How secrets can take many forms (goats!), writing stories non-linearly, how creating a timeline can help catch inconsistencies and track continuity, how sometimes you need to write the whole book to feel confident enou…

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10 Tips for Better Writing-Life Balance with Marissa Meyer 42:11

1+ y ago42:11

42:11

Marissa shares her top 10 tips for improving your work-life balance. From starting with a focused to-do list, to reframing goal time frames, to the best way to approach multitasking, and so much more, you’re sure to find something helpful in this practical episode. Note: For more writing-specific productivity tips, you can also check out episode 14…

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Unique Magic Systems & Endearingly Flawed Protagonists - Ana Ellickson - The Vanishing Station 47:15

1+ y ago47:15

47:15

Marissa chats with Ana Ellickson about her debut YA urban fantasy, THE VANISHING STATION. Also discussed: having the courage to leave an agent even before selling a book, developing complex magic systems and how helpful editors can be for ensuring they work, using locations—known and unknown—as settings for urban fantasy, creating three-dimensional…

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A Fantasy Quest Rooted in Polynesian Culture with Makiia Lucier - Dragonfruit 45:37

1+ y ago45:37

45:37

Marissa chats with Makiia Lucier about her new romantic YA fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology, DRAGONFRUIT. Also discussed in this episode: writing by hand in notebooks, what it’s like to revise and resubmit to an agent, the advantage of keeping early writing a secret, the joy of research and using it to build lush worlds and believable f…

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Answering Your Publishing Questions: From Query to Book Deal to Publication 1:12:41

1+ y ago1:12:41

1:12:41

Marissa and Joanne get together to answer listener-submitted questions about publishing, getting into nitty gritty details of what it’s like to be a published author. Also covered in this jam-packed episode: word count guidelines, what happens after signing with an agent, the submission process, what it’s like to break up with an agent, advances an…

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A YA Theater Romance with Adib Khorram: The Breakup Lists 49:20

2y ago49:20

49:20

Marissa chats with Adib Khorram about his new YA romantic comedy, THE BREAKUP LISTS. Also discussed in the episode: the challenges of pandemic books and virtual launches, the positive influence of We Need Diverse Books, having fun mining your own experiences for fiction, showcasing the people who work behind-the-scenes in theater, identifying and c…