Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP130: Don't Overthink Your Self-Publishing Journey

On this week's episode of Fully Booked, we're focusing on overcoming the hurdles often faced by aspiring authors. Author and family mediator Rosemary Gattuso shares her journey of writing and self-publishing her self-help book, "It's Not You, It's Me: A Chronic Overthinker's Guide to Self-Reflection." Rosemary's path to self-publishing offers a unique perspective on how overthinking can impede the writing process. However, her background and experience enabled her to develop strategies for pushing past these mental roadblocks.
The challenges Rosemary faced with traditional and assisted self-publishing highlight the importance of connecting with industry professionals and leveraging available resources to make informed decisions about your publishing path. After finding empowerment in self-publishing, Rosemary identified key overthinking tendencies and ways to stay productive, which she shares with us as both a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration for other authors looking to take control of their publishing destiny.
 
Rosemary Gattusohttps://www.rosemarygattuso.com/
 
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP129: Building Believable Fantasy Worlds

When writing a fantasy novel, one of the most daunting tasks is creating the world in which your story takes place. Fantasy world-building isn't just about imagining new physical geography; it also involves developing magic and belief systems, culture, general mood and atmosphere, and the power structure of your society. Getting these complex and intricate details right leads to a captivating and credible fantasy world, which is why we've invited author and editor Judy Ellis to guide us through it all.
Judy, who also writes as J.H. Ellis, brings a wealth of experience not only as a YA fantasy author but also as the creator of an online course on world-building. In today's episode, Judy takes us through all the factors mentioned above, along with practical advice on maintaining the integrity of the world’s rules and advice on using tools to track details and avoid common pitfalls.
If you've been holding off on writing that fantasy epic because you feel overwhelmed, the valuable tips and insights from Judy will have you mastering the art of fantasy world-building in no time!
 
Judy Ellis
https://daybreaklit.com/
 
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP128: How to Add Authenticity to your Romance Stories

In today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are discussing the different ways that authors can infuse genuine romance and emotional realism into their stories. Both hosts are romance novelists themselves, but are lucky enough to be joined by Caroline McIntosh for this episode - who is not just an accomplished romance author, but also a writing coach who excels at helping other authors bring compelling and heartfelt relationships alive on the pages of their stories.
Caroline shares her journey from writing YA and fantasy to discovering her passion for romance novels. She emphasizes the importance of structure and emotional depth in writing about love and relationships, and also goes through a variety of essential key elements for writing a successful book. These include the “meet cute” first meeting, the hero’s grand romantic gestures, the all-important happy ending, and the significance of small, intimate moments that leverage the power of slowing things down to build genuine connections between characters.
Caroline's practical advice offers writers of all genres insight into how they can incorporate believable love stories into their work, making both their characters and the relationships they have authentic and unforgettable.
 
Caroline McIntosh
https://www.carolinemcintoshbooks.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP127: Can Poetry Still Make an Impact in 2024?

It’s rhyme-time in this week's episode of Fully Booked, as Craig and Roland explore the enduring power of poetry even in today's fast-paced digital world. Their guide through the evocative world of rhythm and flow is Viral Gor, spoken word performer and author of "Poetry is Motion: Mind, Body, and Soul." 
Virus the Poet shares his insights on how poetry remains a vital form of expression and connection in the modern age, even as social media and technology increasingly dominate our lives. He argues that poetry continues to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions in our rapidly changing world through its ability to resonate with a diverse audience and adapt to contemporary platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 
Virus also argues for the therapeutic benefits of poetry, emphasizing how it serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and emotional healing for both creators and consumers. So whether you're new to the genre, or have been waxing poetic for years, this discussion on the techniques and timelessness of poetry has something for everyone.
 
Virus the Poethttps://virusthepoet.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP126: Weaving a Story within the Fabric of a Memoir

In this episode of Fully Booked, we delve into the world of memoirs, exploring why we write and read them, along with the techniques involved in researching, structuring, and crafting these personal narratives. Our guide for this journey is Becky Ellis, author of a captivating memoir that intertwines her childhood experiences with her father's service in World War II. Becky's extensive background in publishing, combined with her own writing experience, provides valuable insights into how memoirs can deeply resonate with readers by capturing the intricacies of personal and family histories and skillfully balancing truth with storytelling.
As Becky shares her memoir writing journey, she highlights the emotional challenges and transformative power of recounting one's life story. These feelings are common among memoir authors, as they arise from the deep authenticity required during the meticulous process of distilling vast life experiences into a coherent narrative. Through practical advice for aspiring memoirists, including tips on scene setting, handling backstory, and the psychological excavation necessary to create a genuine and compelling memoir, Becky provides a rich perspective on the art of memoir writing, valuable to anyone interested in this type of personal storytelling.
 
Becky Ellishttps://beckyellis.net/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP125: Unveiling the Secrets of Discovery Writing

In this episode of Fully Booked, we dive into the fascinating world of discovery writing, featuring returning guest KimBoo York. KimBoo, an accomplished author, librarian, technology historian, and former IT project manager, brings a unique perspective to the art of "pantsing" — writing without an extensive outline. In fact, she's written a book on the subject: "By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing." Today, KimBoo takes us through the contrasts and overlaps between plotting and discovery writing, highlighting the freedom and creativity that come with embracing a more spontaneous approach to storytelling.
There are a variety of techniques and mindset shifts necessary for successful discovery writing, such as relying more heavily on intuition or embracing the concept of reverse outlining, but KimBoo provides some intriguing exercises that can help writers develop these and other discovery writing skills. So whether you're a seasoned plotter looking to incorporate more spontaneity into your process or just curious about the world of pantsing and discovery writing in general, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your writing journey.
 
KimBoo Yorkhttps://houseofyork.info/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP124: How Can Authors Define Their Target Market?

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into a crucial, but often overlooked aspect of author success: defining your target market. Joined by seasoned publisher and author Ann Aubitz, they explore the significance of understanding who your readers are, why it's essential to know your audience before you even start writing, and how this knowledge can shape both your writing and marketing process.
Much like advertisers invest heavily in understanding their target market, authors need to be keenly aware of who they are writing for so that they can adjust their marketing strategies to reach the right readers and create a deeper connection to them. For authors seeking ways to better target and engage with their market, the insights and ideas discussed in this episode are invaluable.
 
Ann Aubitzhttps://www.kirkhousepublishers.com/about
 
Hidden Gems
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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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
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