Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP113: Where Do Writing and AI Intersect?

On this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland welcome Jennifer Lewy to the podcast. Jennifer, a seasoned author with considerable AI experience, shares her insights and experiences on the many innovative ways authors can take advantage of Artificial Intelligence tools in their self-publishing career, while at the same time staying aware of the potential pitfalls and problems this new technology might pose in the future.
Drawing on her extensive background in the tech industry, Jennifer provides a distinctive perspective on the role of AI in the writing and publishing process, with first-hand knowledge on a variety of tools such as Sudowrite and Novelcrafter. She advocates for the use of AI not as a replacement, but as a means of amplifying creativity, overcoming obstacles, and expanding reach. Whether you are already incorporating AI into your writing regimen or are simply intrigued by its prospective impact, today's discussion sheds light on the many ways authors can take advantage of everything AI has to offer.
 
Jennifer Lewyhttps://jenniferlewy.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

Fully Booked EP112: Podcast Launchpad: Propelling Your Book into the Spotlight

While many people complain that podcasting has become an oversaturated industry, there are millions of daily listeners who’d say something different. Podcasting still offers a powerful platform for those with specific and niche interests to build an audience, and getting featured on those podcasts is a wonderful opportunity for authors to reach new readers.
But how does one get started making guest appearances on podcasts? That’s a question that Craig and Roland posed to this week’s guest, “THE Podcast Matchmaker” Michelle Glogovac.
Michelle specializes in connecting authors with podcasts, and in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, she explains how that process works, offers advice on how to market yourself as an attractive podcast guest, and talks about the value of leveraging this popular form of entertainment. If you’re looking to expand your readership organically, you’re going to find this episode really valuable. 
 
Michelle Glogovac
https://michelleglogovac.com/
https://themlgcollective.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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP111: Building Believable Science Fiction Universes

The term “Space Lawyer” might sound like something out of science fiction, but that’s the real life career of attorney Laura Montgomery, whose practice “Ground Based Space Matters” specializes in regulatory space law and Outer Space Treaties.
All of which provides ample inspiration for Laura’s other specialization - writing and self-publishing science fiction! Her knowledge of space, and the laws that govern it (or lack of them,) have enabled her to create incredible fictional universes rooted in believable science, set both in the near future and eons ahead of us.
In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Laura talks to Craig and Roland about how to approach building a believable science fiction universe - and how to introduce it as the backdrop for your stories without giving readers a daunting exposition dump to plough through. 
If you’re a science fiction or speculative fiction author, there’s a lot to learn from this discussion - mostly about writing, but also about the practice of “space law” itself! 
 
Laura Montgomeryhttps://groundbasedspacematters.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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP110: How Can Authors Best Represent Disability in Fiction?

On today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland explore the portrayal of disabilities in literature, with a focus on the often misunderstood realm of invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities refer to conditions that aren't obvious when simply looking at a person, yet still deeply affect the lives of individuals that have them. To help them navigate these tricky waters, they’re joined by author Michael Coolwood, who shares his personal journey of writing with and about his own disabilities.
Michael explains the intricate balance authors must strike between authenticity and the expectations of a market that may not fully grasp the realities of mental and neurological diversity. Invisible disabilities in particular are often uniquely experienced by the individuals they touch, challenging the cookie-cutter perceptions that often pervade popular fiction. Michael takes us through various approaches to handling these challenges, along with the potential pitfalls of each. While self-publishing offers the chance for a more authentic portrayal of the disabled experience, it must be handled with care to achieve a balance between genuine representation and commercial success.
 
Michael Coolwoodhttps://coolwoodbooks.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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP109: Kickstarting the Creative Process

In today's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by indie filmmaker and writer Andrew Schrader to explore the nuances of igniting and sustaining the creative spark. The source of creative inspiration is as individual to every writer as a fingerprint, and leveraging that inspiration often takes a variety of diverse techniques, habits, and intuitive actions that are unique to every author. Andrew explains how he employs an array of motivational tactics and personal rituals to fan the flames of his own creativity, and helps outline how to get started using many of these techniques. From accessing his subconscious to solve creative blocks, maintaining lists of inspiring ideas for freewriting sessions, and the importance of relying on your own intuition, there are so many approaches that authors can pick and choose from to find the ones that work best for them.
Andrew credits literary icon Ray Bradbury for the inspiration behind his disciplined yet fluid daily creative routine, which involves a healthy dose of both reading and writing. This practice not only sharpened his prose, but established a habit that transformed him into a prolific writer, having now published four short story collections of his own. Regardless of one's unique lifestyle or passion, daily routines can be tailored to fit even the busiest of schedules, fostering increased inspiration and creativity—a boon for any author.
 
Andrew Schraderhttps://www.andrewjschrader.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
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Fully Booked EP108: The Writer's Roadmap: Using the 3-Act Structure to Drive Your Stories Forward

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, hosts Craig and Roland delve into the world of story structure with Mel Mattison, author of gripping financial thrillers that he builds using one of the most resilient story frameworks of modern literature - the three-act structure.
Mel leads the discussion through the intricate art of crafting compelling narratives using this structure, dissecting the nuances of plot development, character arcs, and pacing within the context of self-publishing. From laying the groundwork in the setup phase to delivering satisfying resolutions in the final act, this episode offers a comprehensive roadmap for writers seeking to harness the power of the three-act structure in their creative endeavors. 
 
Mel Mattison
https://www.melmattison.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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP107: The Pen vs the Algorithm: AI's Place in the Writer's Studio

As the dust settles on the initial awe and apprehension surrounding artificial intelligence, the discussion now turns to its practical role. But how can authors harness AI to enhance their craft? In today's episode of Fully Booked, we discuss this question with Patrick Greenwood, a writer and seasoned cybersecurity expert with 28 years in the field. Greenwood guides us through the evolution of AI from a simple data processing tool to the more sophisticated chatbots that we're more familiar with today, and outlines how major corporations are using it to shape the future of their industries.
As AI has matured, we've already begun to see a tendency toward over-reliance as organizations rush to outpace competitors, occasionally at the cost of informed decision-making. As a result, Greenwood points to a growing "Crisis of Trust" around AI content creation, with questions arising around the authorship, authenticity and legalities of what is being produced. However, as the technology has become so widely entrenched in our lives, it seems increasingly unlikely that any of these concerns will make it go away. That's why continuing to ignore AI isn't the solution. Instead, authors should take a balanced approach, engaging with it as a collaborative tool or assistant rather than as a substitute to creativity. Not only will this strategy serve to preserve and invigorate their artistry, but it will also enable them to survive and flourish in this new era of digital integration.
 
Patrick Greenwood
https://cyclewriterllc.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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP106: Polish Your Prose: The Journey from Draft to Masterpiece

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland delve into the detailed process of book editing and revision with special guest S.G. Blaise, a seasoned author with five novels and a decade of storytelling experience behind her. 
Blaise helps lead the discussion through some of the essential steps that transform a rough draft into a literary masterpiece, including gathering feedback from beta readers, iterating through revisions and rewrites, and selecting an editor who understands both your genre and your personal writing style.
If the first draft is step one of your publishing journey, and the finished, polished draft your final destination, then the revision process makes up the rest of the way. Blaise offers guidance on interpreting reader feedback, determining the right time to finally stop rewriting, and when to move forward with a professional edit. This final process can improve your story, enhance its finer details, and add a layer of polish that, with the right editor, can elevate a good book into an exceptional one.
 
SG Blaise
https://sgblaise.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

Fully Booked EP105: Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Serialization

In the ever-evolving landscape of self-publishing, the rise of the subscription and serialization model has opened new opportunities for writers and readers alike. This week on Fully Booked, we delve into the intricacies of crafting compelling serialized stories with the insight of Kimboo York, a seasoned author and podcaster with extensive experience in the subject. Her latest book, "Become an Unstoppable Storyteller: How to Craft Compelling Serials," sheds light on the art of creating engaging serialized story arcs that keep readers hooked across multiple installments. 
Our conversation explores the merits, challenges, and practicalities of serialized storytelling, along with strategies for maintaining reader interest even in stories that don’t have a definitive final installment in sight.  With details on some of the new and exciting platforms that have emerged in this space, along with their compensation models and limitations, this episode is essential listening for any author seeking to take control of their career and connect more directly with their audience through serialization.
 
Kimboo York
https://houseofyork.info/
Kimboo's Serialization Outline Spreadsheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E6I6Z4TwKgVtUTaid28J2ng_tSxU0HjauV9OievkcTE/edit#gid=0
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
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP104: The Story and Services of Hidden Gems

In today's special episode of Fully Booked, co-hosts Craig and Roland take a moment to step back and reflect on the journey of HiddenGemsBooks, a platform that offers a variety of services and resources for aspiring and established authors alike. They explore everything from the weekly author podcasts and blogs to the suite of practical tools and services designed to assist authors on their publishing journey from manuscript to market.
Craig and Roland share insights from their own writing paths, shedding light on the passions that drive their work before delving into the array of services and tools that Hidden Gems has launched over the past decade. These include tailored one-on-one consultations, professional blurb writing, in-depth beta reading, and the pioneering industry-leading ARC review service. With a significant new update to the ARC service on the horizon, Craig provides a sneak peek at what's to come and discusses how the enhancements were thoughtfully crafted to improve both the author and reader experience, as well as to adapt to the ever-evolving literary landscape.
 
Hidden Gems Author Services
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast