Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Social media can feel like one more thing on an author's endless to do list, but what if it could become one of your most effective marketing tools? This week, social media strategist Karlyn Ankrom joins us to explain how authors can stop chasing algorithms and start building genuine connections that turn casual followers into loyal readers. From choosing the right platform to creating content that keeps working long after launch day, she shares practical strategies any author can put into action.
Today's conversation explores why relationship building matters more than going viral, how to create engaging content without spending hours online, and simple techniques like documenting your writing journey, repurposing your existing work, and using "one page, one line, one post" to generate an endless stream of ideas. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, this conversation is packed with realistic advice to help you grow your audience, keep readers engaged, and make social media feel a little less overwhelming. 
 
Karlyn Ankrom
https://ohsnapsocial.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In this episode of Fully Booked, Roland and Craig are joined by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a 28 year U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, former Defense Attaché to France, and author of the Major Jake Forina thriller series. Rick shares how a career spent commanding troops, working with NATO, leading counterterrorism efforts, and building international partnerships has shaped the stories he writes today. From deadly virus outbreaks to the Russia Ukraine conflict, he explains how real world experience helps him create fast paced thrillers that feel both authentic and cinematic.
The conversation also explores Rick's approach to the writing process, including what he learned from James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Ken Follett, why he combines planning with discovery as he writes, and how short chapters and strong cliffhangers keep readers turning the page. Rick also shares insights from his writing journey, including how he balances realism with entertainment and the realities of publishing on Amazon. Whether you're writing your own thriller or simply enjoy stories inspired by today's global events, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.
 
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke
https://ricksteinke.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Blending genres is one thing, but making readers believe they belong together is something else entirely. And when you're combining supernatural elements with crime fiction, there are even more considerations. This week's guest, Caryn McCann, explains how mythology can deepen a mystery by raising the stakes, shaping character motivations, and driving the narrative, but if the supernatural becomes the solution to the mystery, readers can feel cheated. Caryn shares how she carefully combined Chinese mythology with crime fiction while keeping every investigation grounded in evidence, logic, and procedural credibility.
That commitment to authenticity didn't just strengthen the stories. It also gave Caryn unexpected marketing advantages, opening the door to creative partnerships and helping her reach readers in ways traditional advertising couldn't. Her experience is a reminder that the qualities that make your book different can also become your greatest marketing asset. 
 
Caryn McCann
https://carynmccann.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Every author is looking for the next marketing strategy that will help their book break through the noise. This week's guest, JD Barker, believes that instead of copying what successful authors are already doing, the real opportunity lies in finding the ideas nobody else has thought of yet. That unconventional mindset has helped him build an international bestselling career, launching books in unexpected ways and creating publicity that readers and the media can't ignore.
This week's conversation isn't about running better ads or tweaking your Amazon keywords, but rather approaching book promotion from an entirely different perspective. Through a variety of real-world examples, JD explains why authors should think of themselves as a brand, challenge conventional publishing wisdom, and constantly look for opportunities to stand apart from the crowd. If you're struggling to get your books noticed in today's increasingly crowded marketplace, this episode may change the way you think about marketing your next release. 
 
J.D. Barker
https://jdbarker.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

What makes a memoir different from an autobiography, and why do some personal stories resonate so deeply with readers? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with memoir coach Ally Berthiaume to explore the power of personal storytelling. From uncovering the deeper meaning behind life's defining moments to understanding why memoirs so often focus on resilience, adversity, and growth, Ally explains what separates a memoir from a simple retelling of events.
As a memoir coach, Ally understands both the practical and emotional realities of writing about your own life and shares her insights on navigating difficult memories, overcoming emotional roadblocks, and balancing honesty with the challenges of writing about the real people who are part of our stories. Whether you're considering telling your own story or simply curious about the memoir genre, this conversation highlights why memoirs matter and how they create meaningful connections between writers and readers. 
 
Ally Berthiaume
https://thewriteplacerighttime.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

When writing historical fiction, research can be challenging enough. But what happens when some of the most important details simply don't exist? In this week's episode of Fully Booked, bestselling author Randy Overbeck returns to discuss the unique process of filling in the gaps, as he did while writing his latest novel, which centers on a Revolutionary War spy whose true identity remains one of history's enduring mysteries.
Drawing on years of research experience, Randy shares his typical process of uncovering elusive details by digging into primary source documents, following unexpected trails through archives and historical records, and piecing together clues from related events and stories. Along the way, he reveals some of the surprising discoveries he made about the American Revolution and explains how authors can blend fact and fiction while still remaining true to the spirit of the historical record. Whether you're writing historical fiction, researching nonfiction, or simply looking for ways to make your stories feel richer and more authentic, this episode offers plenty of practical insights for your writing journey. 
 
Randy Overbeck
https://www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

How do you turn real life into fiction when the truth is actually harder to believe than anything you could invent?
This week we explore exactly that question with guest Sandy Malone, whose Caribbean wedding planning business provided an endless stream of unforgettable stories that eventually became both a reality television show and the inspiration for her novels. From real life bridezillas and wedding disasters to couples so outrageous that their stories had to be split across multiple fictional characters to seem believable, Sandy shares how lived experiences can be transformed into compelling fiction.
Along the way, we discuss the balance between authenticity and storytelling, including when to create composite characters, when to simplify real events, and why preserving emotional truth often matters more than preserving every fact. Sandy offers a fascinating look at the challenges of adapting real life for the page while keeping stories engaging, relatable, and believable. For authors looking to draw inspiration from their own experiences, this episode is packed with practical insights, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. 
 
Sandy Malone
https://sandymalone.com
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Where is the line between true crime and crime fiction? What can fiction reveal that the facts alone cannot? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland speak with crime novelist and former barrister Simon Michael about drawing inspiration from real criminal cases and why the most compelling stories often emerge not from what happened, but from understanding the people behind the events.
Drawing on nearly four decades in the courtroom, Simon shares stories from some of Britain's most intriguing criminal cases and explains why, despite having such remarkable source material, he chooses to fictionalize these events rather than simply recount them. Along the way, he offers valuable insight into authenticity, research, character development, and the unique ability of fiction to illuminate aspects of a story that the historical record can only hint at.
 
Simon Michael
https://www.suchangauthor.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

This week on Fully Booked, we speak with author Su Chang about the personal and political risks of telling stories that challenge official history. Writing under a pen name and appearing masked to protect both herself and her family, Su discusses how fiction can preserve truths that institutions often try to reshape or erase entirely.
Our discussion explores the realities of publishing politically sensitive work in today’s world, from self-censorship and historical memory to the emotional weight of writing about real trauma while protecting the people closest to you. As modern media, technology, and political influence continue to shape public understanding of history and truth, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at storytelling in the modern age, and the courage and responsibility some authors carry when fiction intersects with reality.
 
Su Chang
https://www.suchangauthor.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with debut novelist Marc S. Perlman to explore how setting can become far more than a backdrop. Inspired by a real journey through an ancient forest on the border of Poland and Belarus, Marc discusses how the eerie landscape at the center of his thriller evolved into a living presence within the story itself. From hidden dangers in the woods to the tension of crossing political borders, the conversation dives into the power of atmosphere and the role setting plays in shaping suspense, emotion, and character.
Marc explains how he used weather, isolation, borders, and the smallest sensory details to transform the emotional tone of his scenes, and how those elements can make a setting come alive on the page. The discussion explores why forests have traditionally carried an ominous presence throughout storytelling history, and more broadly how real world locations can inspire richer fiction. While a gripping plot and compelling characters may hook a reader, it is often atmosphere that keeps them turning pages long into the night. 
 
Marc Perlman
https://marcsperlman.com/
 
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast