Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP123: Embracing the Challenges of Writing Comic Books

This week on Fully Booked, we delve into the process of writing comics and graphic novels with accomplished comic writer and publisher, Adam Wilson. What began as a fun hobby of creating mini comics during his college years evolved into a full-time passion and business when Adam co-founded Read Furiously with his partner S. Atzeni, a company specializing in various forms of illustrated narratives..
Authors new to this medium will discover both similarities and differences between scripting comics and writing traditional novels, alongside unique challenges such as collaborating closely with artists to bring their stories to life while ensuring those artists are fairly compensated.
Adam provides practical advice on these topics, and many others, while also highlighting a variety of useful industry resources. With Adam's invaluable insights into navigating the various forms of visual storytelling, this episode is essential for anyone looking to embark on a career in the world of comics and graphic novels.
 
Read Furiouslyhttps://readfuriously.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP122: Is Mindset an Author's Most Valuable Asset?

What’s a self-published author’s most valuable asset? Their writing experience? Their marketing expertise? Their ability to create vivid and engaging characters? All of those attributes are undeniably important - but former Air Force fighter pilot and USA Today bestselling author Steve Pieper argues that the most important asset an author has at their disposal comes from within - their mindset.
It’s mindset that has set Steve up as a pioneer in direct sales of his self-published books, and seen him lead dozens of other authors to similar success. He argues that mindset values such as grit, determination, self-awareness, and self-belief play a pivotal role in a self-published author’s eventual success - and in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, he provides Craig and Roland with some actionable techniques that authors can use to help cultivate their own winning mindset. 
 
Steve Pieperhttps://app.stevepieper.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP121: AI and the Realities of Copyright Law

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, we explore the complicated issues around Intellectual Property (IP) laws as they collide with the advancing frontiers of artificial intelligence. Join us as seasoned IP attorney Peter Nieves walks us through the often misunderstood realm of copyright law, fair use, and the contentious landscape of AI-related legal battles. With a background rich in handling patents, trademarks, and copyrights, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge that enables him to clearly explain the technicalities and potential legal ramifications of using AI as a writing or publishing assistant in terms everyone can understand.
Our discussion covers a wide variety of related topics such as the misuse of the fair use doctrine, the nuances of parody in legal contexts, and the pivotal lawsuits shaping the future of intellectual property in the AI arena. Peter's insights are particularly timely, given the high-profile AI-related cases currently progressing through the court system, which involve complexities surrounding digital content creation. So if you're an author looking to use artificial intelligence to help with your process, this episode will equip you with the essential knowledge needed to understand the evolving landscape of IP law in the age of AI.
 
Peter Nieveshttps://nievesip.com/peter-nieves/
 
Hidden Gems
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EP120: Enhancing Author Productivity with Sudowrite

In today's episode of Fully Booked, we're diving into the future of writing by taking a look at Sudowrite, an AI-powered tool designed to transform the writing process. In the past few years, Sudowrite has grown from a small experimental tool into a revolutionary writing assistant, expanding in capabilities as the dynamic needs of modern authors change and evolve. To walk us through all that it can do, we're joined by one of its co-founders, James Yu.
James not only takes us through specifics of how Sudowrite aids authors now, such as through detailed AI brainstorming and sophisticated outlining tools, but gives us some insight into what sorts of enhancements are coming up next. We also discuss Sudowrite's credit system and how it allows writers to select from a variety of AI models to best suit their project’s needs.
Regardless of whether Sudowrite is right for you, this discussion will demonstrate how the efficiency and creativity of AI can be harnessed to aid in the writing process, while still maintaining your unique voice.
 
Sudowritehttps://www.sudowrite.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP119: Helping Author's Find Their Own Story

Have you ever considered what truly defines you beyond the highlights of your resume? This week on Fully Booked, we engage in an enlightening conversation with author and columnist Brent Olson, who regularly challenges authors to strip back the layers of accolades and academics and instead focus on the raw and personal experiences that shape their essence.
Brent's own eclectic array of life experiences reads like a series of classic one-liner Chuck Norris jokes, such as "Of the ten most dangerous jobs in America I’ve dabbled in six." While most of us lead more mundane lives, we still harbor a treasure trove of defining moments waiting to be unearthed. These experiences, once recognized, serve as the bedrock for crafting stories that resonate deeply and authentically with our audience.
As Brent explains, the trick is simply learning how to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through the power of introspection and narrative, the tales most personal to you can become the ones that echo in the hearts and minds of readers everywhere, turning your own life into a legacy of adventure.
 
Brent Olson
https://www.brentolson.online/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP118: Diversifying Your Author Income

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the concept of diversifying your income stream beyond traditional book sales with our guest, Kendra Q. Drawing on her background in HR consulting and her transition to authorship and speaking engagements, Kendra guides us through the maze of opportunities available for authors eager to transform their literary passion into multiple profitable ventures.
An alternative to juggling a traditional job with writing on the side is for authors to bolster their income through avenues such as speaking engagements, workshops, or personalized consulting services. By leveraging their unique areas of expertise in a variety of ways, authors not only have an opportunity to enhance their financial stability but may find a broader audience for their writing. So if you're looking to expand your horizons and discover new ways to thrive in the competitive world of self-publishing, Kendra's tips can provide ideas and inspiration for monetizing your talents in ways you may never have imagined.
 
Kendra Qhttps://kendraqdodd.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP117: A Psychological Approach to Character Development

In today's episode of Fully Booked, we dive deep into the human mind for a unique psychological spin on character development. Caroline Dunford, novelist, lecturer and forensic psychologist, takes us through the profound impact of using psychological principles to shape memorable and multi-dimensional characters. As the author of over 20 mystery novels and an expert in the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior, Caroline provides a fascinating exploration of how an understanding of forensic psychology enriches the depth and authenticity of fictional characters.
Her expertise offers a roadmap for authors seeking to elevate their characters through balancing both their strengths and vulnerabilities, building rich backstories that explain current behavior, and using empathy to bring readers closer to not only our heroes, but our darkest villains as well. Applying an understanding of the human psyche to your characters will help humanize them, burning them into the minds of your readers and keeping them alive long after they've read your final page.
 
Caroline Dunfordhttps://caroline-dunford.squarespace.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP116: Old Stories, New Angles: Giving Classic Tales a Modern Twist

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with Jeanne Blasberg for an enthralling discussion on the transformative art of re-envisioning classic narratives for the contemporary reader. Blasberg is known for transforming age-old tales into contemporary narratives, such as in her novel "Daughter of Promise"—a modern retelling of a biblical tale. Through adapting and reimagining the classics, authors can refresh such stories to better reflect current societal norms and values.
As Blasberg explains, it is possible to reshape familiar plots with sensitivity and creativity, ensuring they resonate powerfully with today's audiences while still preserving the essence of the original. Many classic stories maintain their relevance through the ages but often get forgotten, lost, or discounted due to cultural shifts. Modern retellings can add layered dimensions that build upon these timeless tales, creating new narratives that maintain the original themes while broadening their appeal to a contemporary audience.
 
Jeanne Blasberghttps://jeanneblasberg.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP115: Steering Clear of Predatory Publishing Traps

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we delve into the murky waters of the publishing industry with a special focus on predatory publishing practices. Our conversation with Walter Broach, a spiritual and metaphysical author with a wealth of experience and insights, sheds light on a variety of traps that both emerging and established authors should be wary of. In attempt to help others avoid his mistakes, Walter shares his personal journey of navigating his way through a variety of questionable paid services that promised much more than they delivered.
Walter's candid recounting serves as a cautionary tale, but also moves on to discuss the more viable self-publishing alternatives available to authors. It is an important reminder about how much misleading information is out there, and how not all authors are aware that they can do almost everything needed to publish their book completely for free. It's simply a matter of doing your due diligence and spending time in the writing community where many of the answers are freely available, with your peers often happy to help point you in the right direction.
 
Walter Broachhttps://aboutspiritualenergy.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP114: Sister Act: Unveiling the Co-Authoring Experience

Collaborative writing can take many forms, and in this week's episode, we delve into the story of two authors who have defied the physical distance between them to co-author and self-publish an impressive array of novels. With a blend of romantic suspense, comedy, and second-chance romance, Charlene Tess and Judi Thompson have leveraged their distinct strengths and modern communication tools to become a cross-state writing powerhouse.
Unique challenges are inherent in any writing partnership, but when these obstacles are seen as opportunities, they can enhance the creative process. Blending the spontaneous instincts of Judi's 'pantser' mentality with Charlene's more structured 'plotter' foresight, the sisters have developed a collaborative strategy that has flourished over a decade of publishing success. 
To them, the essence of a fruitful writing partnership is in finding a balance in temperaments, honoring mutual creative freedom, and allowing your work process to evolve over time. Judi and Charlene are an inspiring model for collaboration that's both relatable and attainable, whether you're seasoned in co-writing or just starting out, and regardless of whether your writing partner is a family member or just a friend.
 
Charlene Tess & Judi Thompsonhttps://sisterswritingcrime.blogspot.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
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