Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author 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
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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
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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
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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
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All episode details and links: 
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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
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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? 
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All episode details and links: 
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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
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All episode details and links: 
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https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP103: Final Draft: Navigating Estate Planning to Secure Your Literary Legacy

In today's episode of Fully Booked, we delve into a topic that often goes unexplored because some find it uncomfortable to think about, but is crucial for any author: estate planning. With the expertise of estate planning attorney Sarah Marie Page, we unravel the intricate web of decisions and legalities surrounding the posthumous future of your literary assets. From understanding the rights of survivorship to the complexities of trusts and probate, this episode lays out the foundational knowledge every author should have to ensure their work is protected and passed on according to their wishes.
 
As we discuss with Sarah, the details matter as much as the broader strokes in estate planning. Whether it's choosing the right person to manage your publishing empire, knowing how to handle digital assets like KDP accounts and social media, or the importance of having your intentions (and passwords!) clearly documented, we cover it all. We dive into why it's vital to keep your estate plan updated amidst the fast-paced changes of the publishing industry and how to make these critical decisions in a way that honors your legacy and minimizes future burdens on your loved ones. For authors, your words live on; make sure they continue to tell the story you intended.
 
Sarah Marie Page
https://www.sarahpagestories.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP102: How to Weave Layers of Complexity into Your Scenes

Bestselling author Mary Carroll Moore has taught writing throughout the world, but this week she stops by to chat with us about the intricate craft of layering complexity into your scenes. The key to captivating and engaging readers is by transforming ideas into multidimensional experiences. As Mary explains, this can be done in a variety of ways, such as interlacing character arcs, plot twists and setting details together to enrich both your scenes and story as a whole.
Her hybrid approach of writing like a pantser after creating storyboards like a plotter can be useful to authors of either style, and is beneficial for staying on track and keeping consistency within your work. So if you’re looking to enrich your writing with depth and surprise, this episode will provide you with all the tools needed to add dimension and nuance to your creative work.
 
Mary Carroll Moore
https://www.marycarrollmoore.com/
Hidden Gems
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All episode details and links: 
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Fully Booked EP101: Authorpreneurship: Crafting First Impressions for Lasting Impact

In the competitive world of self-publishing, it's crucial for authors to embrace the role of entrepreneur, with each book representing a new and unique product. Attention to detail is key, as every aspect of your book must beckon to potential customers—your readers.
Join us on this episode of Fully Booked, where we explore the intricacies of authorship with guest novelist Tyler Snure. Tyler takes us through his concept of the "Reader Roadmap", a strategic guide for understanding the decision-making process of avid readers in search of their next adventure. 
While a captivating cover and a compelling blurb are key, it's the initial pages that often seal the deal. The opening lines are often where readers are won or lost. Tyler offers his expert insights on crafting those crucial first pages that ensure readers are not just hooked, but reeled in. Don't miss this exploration of the techniques that transform browsers into buyers, and writers into savvy authorpreneurs.
 
Tyler Snure
https://www.snurestories.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
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https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast