Kobo Writing Life Podcast

Skye MacKinnon is an international bestselling author who writes across multiple genres, from science fiction to fantasy to paranormal romance and even children's books. Skye joins us on the podcast this week to discuss writing in different genres and how she incorporates her love of Scottish folklore and mythology into her work no matter what she's writing. She also talks about her experience co-writing series with authors she admires and why she decided to go wide.

Author Nora Shalaway Carpenter is on the podcast this week to discuss her debut YA novel, The Edge of Anything, and how her own experience with mental health shaped the story she wanted to tell. Nora tells us about her writing journey, from childhood dreamer to published author, about why she likes writing Young Adult Fiction, and about the conversations she hopes her novel will spark.

Science fiction and fantasy author Anthony Dobranski is on the podcast this week to talk about the tarot deck he created as a tie-in to his book, The Demon is Business Class. Anthony takes us through the creative process behind the deck, from inception to production to marketing and sales, and he gives us a Business Class Tarot reading (which you can also watch on our Youtube channel)! In collaboration with author Anthony Dobranski, Kobo Writing Life is giving away one Business Class Tarot Deck to one lucky follower! To be eligible for the giveaway you must:1. Follow us on Instagram at @kobo.writing.life or our YouTube channel Kobo Writing Life 2. Leave a comment of what your favourite tarot card is. Follow and comment on both for twice the entries!

Romance author and marketing executive Kilby Blades joins us on the podcast this week to talk about the new, ever evolving storytelling platforms authors can access to not only publish new work, but also expand their reader base. With a background in digital marketing, Kilby shares tips and tricks of the trade, from marketing steamy romance novels to the importance of creating a unique and flexible marketing plan.

Author Abbigail N. Rosewood joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her debut novel, If I Had Two Lives, and the real-life inspiration behind the story. Abbigail also discusses how she benefited from her MFA in creative writing beyond improving her craft, including gaining a built-in writing community and getting more comfortable with sharing her work.

Maggie Marr has been an entertainment attorney, a producer, an entertainment agent, and is a USA Today bestselling author. She joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her journey from the courtroom to the bestseller list, what it takes to make the jump from author to screenwriter, and she gives some excellent advice to anyone looking to adapt their work for the silver screen.

Writer, illustrator, and poet Jasmin Kaur joins us on the podcast this week. Jasmin's work has been celebrated globally, and has been shared by celebrities and activists including Jennifer Lopez, Tessa Thompson, and Reese Witherspoon. She talks to us about her journey as a writer and what it's like to know her work has had such a wide reach, how she ensures she maintains her original intentions when sharing her work, and why she feels it's so important for her to share and protect her authentic voice.

Bestselling author, podcaster, and motivational speaker Joanna Penn joined us for a KWL Facebook Live event recently, where she discussed all things audio from recording her own podcast to narrating, marketing, and editing audiobooks. Joanna also talked about how and why audio content is evolving, and she gave us some great predictions about the future of audiobooks and publishing. You can find Joanna's podcast, The Creative Penn, here!

Historical thriller author Glenn Dyer was in his sixties and freshly retired when he published his first novel, The Torch of Betrayal. Now planning the release of his third book, Glenn joins us on the podcast to discuss finding the motivation to realize his dreams of becoming a published author, how he weaves historical facts into his novels, and what he has learned about self publishing along the way.

Canadian musician and author Eamon McGrath joins us on the podcast this week to discuss the differences and similarities between being a musician and being an author. He talks about how his first book came about while he was touring Europe as a musician, how playing his own music in front of a crowd differs from reading his own words, and how learning to edit his books has influenced his approach to songwriting. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear Eamon play us his song, In Like a Lion.

Debut author Andrew David MacDonald joins us on the podcast this week. Fresh off the release of his first novel, When We Were Vikings, Andrew talks to us about his writing journey, what he has learned about the publishing industry, and he gives us some wonderful advice on finding your character's voice and how to finish that dreaded first draft.

Award winning poet Saeed Jones was in the Kobo office recently to discuss his new memoir, How We Fight For Our Lives. In conversation with maxine bailey, Saeed talked about growing up black and gay in the southern United States, the process of putting his life onto paper, his desire to save Meghan Markle, and how everyone is fighting for their lives. It's a fun and wonderfully insightful conversation; we hope you enjoy! Hear more from Kobo in Conversation.

Tawdra Kandle, a USA Today bestselling romance author, writes across multiple genres using just as many pen names. She tells us why she decided to utilize pen names, how these names came about, and how they've proven to be incredibly useful marketing tools.

Bestselling Science Fiction and Paranormal author TS Paul joins us to discuss how he went from a reluctant writer to an author who puts out over 20 books a year, his creative marketing techniques that helped him build a loyal fan base, and why he's such a big advocate for publishing wide.

Our international KWL team members were in town earlier this month, so we all crowded into our small (and very warm) podcast room to discuss the future of publishing, where we think indie publishing is heading, and our current reality television obsessions.

USA Today bestselling author Darcy Burke sits down with Steph and Tara to discuss the importance of having a writing group, what writing retreats are really like, and how to keep your backlist fresh to attract new readers.

New York Times Bestselling romance author Jennifer Probst discusses her experience in publishing and how she found her success, why she loves writing romance, and the secret to writing a great sex scene. Fan of the podcast? We would love to hear from you! If you have a couple minutes to spare, please fill out our survey below. We want to learn more about you and what you would like to hear on the podcast next! https://forms.gle/i2gkgvFBbHa19YvU7

USA Today bestselling author, Autumn Jones Lake explains to us the misconceptions associated with motorcycle romance, how she plots her Lost Kings MC series (16 books and counting!) and shares her tips for aspiring romance writers. Fan of the podcast? We would love to hear from you! If you have a couple minutes to spare, please fill out our survey below. We want to learn more about you and what you would like to hear on the podcast next! https://forms.gle/i2gkgvFBbHa19YvU7

Holly Mortimer, both an author and email marketing specialist, discusses easy strategies authors can implement to sell more books. Holly describes the common mistakes authors make when trying email marketing, best practices for writing excellent newsletters and the frequency authors should be sending emails. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Vanessa Vale, USA today best-selling author of sexy romance novels, discusses publishing in a niche genre and how she strives for brand recognition through her author name rather than a singular book. Vanessa talks about her strategy for going wide, why she releases a book every 6 weeks and the process of creating translations. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Sara Rosett, USA Today bestselling author, gives her tips for plotting mystery novels and advises authors on which aspects of a mystery they should spend the most time on. Sara discusses the psychology of why readers choose cozy mysteries as well as the difficulties of marketing a long-standing series. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Learn more about Fiction Vortex and StoryShop University with co-founder David Mark Brown. David talks to us about the idea behind Fiction Vortex and StoryVerses™ which allows authors to collaborate and make narrative content in shared worlds. David also discusses Pirate Publishing and the origins behind the Pirate Author Code. Interested in attending the StoryShop Summit? Use code S32020KWL to receive $250 off your ticket!

Crime fiction writer Robert Craven chats to us about how he writes strong female characters, his formula for writing and pitching a book and he provides insight into conferences available in the Ireland and the UK. He also discusses the common mistakes he sees in crime fiction novels. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Multi-media artist and author Victoria L. Szulc chats to us about using steampunk as a creative theme, how she is able to create her own book trailers and covers with only her iPhone and we learn more about her research process. Calling all holiday romance lovers! All audiobooks in this sale are $6.99 or less. Go to https://www.kobo.com/holiday-romance to save! Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free and easy! www.kobo.com/writinglife

With 30 books published for children and teens, New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, discusses the evolution of the young adult genre from when she published her first book in 2002. She talks about the inspiration behind her latest series The Folk of the Air and what she is working on next after finishing her trilogy. Want to read The Cruel Prince? Use promo code KWLHOLLY to 30% off your purchase today! (https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-cruel-prince)

With 7 years' experience in the audiobook industry, Michelle Kaatz, the director of Kobo Originals, shares her insight and tips for creating audiobooks and original content. Michelle discusses how new technology will influence audiobooks, what customers and subscription models will look like in the future and what to expect next from Kobo Originals. Want to listen to Kobo's latest Original? Check it out here: https://www.kobo.com/audiobook/little-women-and-other-christmas-stories Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free and easy! www.kobo.com/writinglife

Michael Anderle, best-selling indie author, gives us the scoop on the launch of his first "wide" series, Opus X. He tells us his author origin story, and talks about his focus on the business of writing and creating his own publishing company. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free and easy! www.kobo.com/writinglife

Mexican author Juan Pablo Villalobos, talks about his latest novel, The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border (https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-other-side-95). Juan Pablo shares the research process behind his non-fiction titles, the difficulties that arise interviewing younger subjects and how he makes his work accessible to younger readers. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Zoe York talks to us about how she began her career writing "the stories of her heart", and turned those stories into a commercial success. Zoe explains how she runs her business and handles her separate pen names, Zoe York and Ainsley Booth. She also explains how she maintains her backlist sales and uses her back catalogue to grow her readership. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Violet Howe talks to us about her writing career and how feeling strongly about her story and characters led her to indie publishing. Violet discusses how writing two different series in the same town allows her to explore two genres. Violet also talks to us about how her past work experiences have influenced her writing but also how they have helped with other aspects of her writing business. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Melissa Yi, an emergency room physician and author, chats to us about how she balances being a writer and part-time doctor. She discusses how her work experiences have made their way into her Hope Sze Medical Mystery Series and she shares some of her favourite emergency room stories. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Author Rachel Grant and her narrator Greg Tremblay shed some light on the process of creating an audiobook. Rachel discusses the working relationship she has with Greg and how his narration has influenced her future work. Greg shares his experience as a narrator, and the process for creating audiobooks. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Are you ready to start writing your novel but have no idea where to start? In this special bonus episode, superstar Joanna Penn shares her top 5 tips for writing a novel in a month (and actually reaching your goal!). Need more tips? We have an exclusive offer on Joanna's titles The Writer's Toolbox 2019 (https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-writer-s-toolbox-2019) and The Successful Author Mindset (https://www.kobo.com/audiobook/the-successful-author-mindset-1). Use promo code KWLPODPENN to receive 50% off of your choice of either eBook or audiobook.

New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Young talks to us about the life-changing success of her self-published novel On Dublin Street. Samantha examines the benefits of being a hybrid author, stepping out of her comfort zone with her forthcoming novel Outmatched and why relatable characters are the hallmark of all her novels. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an exclusive offer on Samantha's audiobook Into the Deep (https://www.kobo.com/audiobook/into-the-deep-18)!

Writing duo, Piper Rayne gives us insights on what it is like being a writing duo and they discuss the writing and revision process that works best for them. No two writing duos are alike! They discuss the prep work and strategy behind releasing a successful new persona and give their tips for new co-authors starting out. Make sure to stay tuned to the end of the episode for an exclusive offer on Piper Rayne's title Lessons from a One-Night Stand (https://www.kobo.com/ebook/lessons-from-a-one-night-stand).

Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist originally from Wasauksing First Nation, talks about his latest novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, a take on a post-apocalypse story told from an indigenous perspective. He also describes his path to writing and offers advice for young aspiring writers.

Emma Chase, NYT bestselling author, discusses the importance of learning the habits of your readers and setting reader expectations before the release of a new book. She discusses how she built up her newsletter audience and gives us hints about what to expect next from her Royally series. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

New York Times best-selling author, Rachel Van Dyken discusses how having an authentic online presence offers something tangible to readers and allows authors to stay relevant in the ever-changing publishing world. She talks to us why she decided to be a hybrid author and discusses her upcoming novel Fashion Jungle which she co-wrote with model Kathy Ireland.

Joshua Lisec take us behind the scenes on what it is like being a Celebrity Ghostwriter. He discusses how he became a ghostwriter, what the ghostwriting process looks like and ways in which you can start your first non-fiction title. Joshua also discusses his unique business model that sets his projects up for success. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

With 20 years in the industry and over 100 novels under her belt, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis shares her tips for finding the right method of publication for you and how to sustain a lifelong publishing career. Jill shares her strategy for her social media and how she models her posts in the same tone as her novels. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Julie Evelyn Joyce talks to us about the inspiration for prize-winning novel Steeped in Love. Julie shares how writing Gilmore Girls fanfiction taught her about craft and how a chance meeting at RWA led her to entering and winning Kobo's Emerging Writer Prize! Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

In this episode, Steph and Joni sat down with David Wind, author of The Indie Writer's Handbook. Wind has written 59 titles and started his author journey with a traditional publisher, before becoming a very early adopter of indie publishing in 2008. He talked to us about the lessons he's learned along the way, how he engages with readers across multiple genres, and offers advice for authors just starting out! Join the platform that's fast, free and easy at www.kobo.com/writinglife!

Nora Decter, Kobo's Emerging Writer Prize Winner for Literary Fiction, chats to us about her debut novel How Far We Go and How Fast. She talks about what pushed her to finish her first book, how she created an album to go with the novel and her experience winning the emerging writer prize. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Sarah gives listeners the rundown of her experience creating her own audiobook and how it has been one of the best things she has done for her business. She discusses how authors can target Australian readers and why she wanted to create her own indie publisher, Serenade Publishing. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Jackie Lau reflects on her first-year self-publishing and the steps she took to ensure success. She discusses the importance of diversity in romance and how she wanted to write characters with backgrounds underrepresented in the romance community. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Stefanie London, USA Today best-selling author, shares with listeners her tips for completing your first draft, how to sustain productivity while working from home and how to find the right editor for your project. She also discusses the importance of taking time off for your creativity. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Ricardo Fayet, co-founder of Reedsy, answers all our questions about the company from founding principles to their latest launch, Reedsy Discovery. He talks about SEO and steps authors can take to increase their searchability to ensure new readers find their books. He also discusses the manual process of acquiring freelance professionals to provide authors support for every step in their publishing career.

Michael Tamblyn, the CEO of Kobo, provides the most compelling argument to date about why indie authors need to go wide. Spoiler: You don't want one algorithm to run your life. Michael discusses the origin story of Kobo and Kobo Writing Life and his own unique career path that led him to where he is today. He also talks about how indie authors have been excellent at exploiting opportunities as the eBook market shifts. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Indie publishing activist David Gaughran discusses the benefits of BookBub in targeting specific markets such as Kobo and how much money authors should spend on advertising. David discusses the importance of creating a marketing strategy and how to revive a title with decreasing sales. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife

Sacha Black joins us to discuss the archetypal villain and how writers can stop writing boring clichéd villains. Sacha gives tips on how to write a kickass protagonist that stands out and why copywriting is a skill all writers should continually work on. Start self-publishing today with KWL. Join the platform that's fast, free, easy. www.kobo.com/writinglife