Kingdom of Bones, the sixteenth book in James Rollins’ Sigma Force series, put the bestselling author to the test. From drafting the book during the rise of COVID-19 to managing the complexities of maintaining a long-standing series, he used decades of marketing and storybuilding experience to overcome the difficulties of writing and publishing a novel during the pandemic. James is the #1 NYT bestseller of international thrillers, best known for writing Sigma Force and six standalone thrillers. To preorder Kingdom of Bones, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 131 – Kingdom of Bones with #1 NYT Bestseller James Rollins”
Bestseller Carter Wilson never writes the same book twice. By choosing to write standalone novels instead of series, he keeps his worldbuilding skills sharp, forcing himself to write new, unique characters in new settings for each book. Carter is a bestselling author of eight standalone psychological thrillers, including The Dead Girl in 2A and Revelation. To preorder his latest book, The New Neighbor, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 130 – Sticking with Standalones with Carter Wilson”
Elissa Sussman knows how to keep her writing on schedule. Drawing from her past experience as a ghost writer and manager, she maintains a strict working regimen with set writing hours each day to maximize her productivity and availability. Elissa was a ghost writer of 15 young adult novels before writing adult novels under her own name. To preorder her latest book, Funny You Should Ask, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 129 – Staying on Schedule with Elissa Sussman”
Q&A Episode – March 2022
In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions.
J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned CARRIE on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.
Join New York Times best-seller, J.D. Barker, and indie powerhouses J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon as they pull back the curtain on some of the world’s most prolific authors. Where did they start? What is their process? The biggest names in publishing all have origin stories, all have a process, all have tips and secrets… What does it take to consistently top the bestseller lists? Get your notepad out. School’s in session. This, is Writers, Ink.
Join us on Patreon and ask a question guaranteed to be answered on the podcast!
https://www.patreon.com/writersinkpodcast
Questions asked:
- Probably one for JD; Do you think it is easier to sell a completed manuscript or screenplay assuming the same quality and all other things being equal?
- What are the arguments you check when deciding to pitch to a publisher versus publishing yourself?
- Curiosity question: Are you writing in silence or do you listen to music or sounds? If you listen to something, is it the same all the time or do you vary? And what are you listening to?
- How do you choose the right editor?
- How do you decide your WIP is done and ready to publish?
- How does a new author determine who their target reader is?
- If you provide author services and run an author business, as well as author books, what is a good ratio of time spent on either endeavor?
- For Zach: You’ve mentioned that the past two or three years have been your most successful. What are you doing to reach readers? How many books do you have out now?
- What are the best first steps for a FT indie author looking to branch out into the trad-pub world? What are the things that traditional publishers would be looking at in terms of platform and prior sales?
Gillian Flynn never expected GONE GIRL to become an international bestseller, or for the movie directed by David Fincher to become a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead of chasing trends or trying to anticipate the market, Flynn wrote the kind of story she wanted to read. It wasn’t supposed to work. And yet it did. Gillian writes with a cinematic flair, which translates well to adaptations. She fuels her passion for movies inherited from her father, and now passed along to her son. She’s going to need a bigger boat.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 127 – Lifelong Dedication and the Pursuit of Craft with #1 NYT Bestseller Gillian Flynn”
Book bans, terrorist plots, and topping the New York Times Bestseller lists. Brad Meltzer has seen it all. His newest book, “The Lightning Rod” explodes onto the page with thrilling action and complex characters, exactly what readers of the Zig and Nola Escape Artist series expect. Meltzer goes deep on his research, lending an unmistakable authenticity to his novels. In addition, Brad’s work for the History Channel has turned up artifacts believed to be lost forever. Get “The Lightning Rod” now from the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 126 – History, Thrillers, and the Secret Underground with #1 NYT Bestseller Brad Meltzer”
Emotion is Everything with Scott Steindorff
Producer Scott Steindorff knows that emotion is everything to any good book, show, or movie. By writing characters that are round, relatable, and emotionally involved, he commands the attention of his audience and keeps them coming back for more. Scott is a TV and film producer well known for projects like “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “Las Vegas,” and “Station Eleven.” To watch “Station Eleven” now, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 125 – Emotion is Everything with Film/TV Producer Scott Steindorff”
Q&A Episode – February 2022
In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions.
J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned CARRIE on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.
Join New York Times best-seller, J.D. Barker, and indie powerhouses J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon as they pull back the curtain on some of the world’s most prolific authors. Where did they start? What is their process? The biggest names in publishing all have origin stories, all have a process, all have tips and secrets… What does it take to consistently top the bestseller lists? Get your notepad out. School’s in session. This, is Writers, Ink.
Join us on Patreon and ask a question guaranteed to be answered on the podcast!
https://www.patreon.com/writersinkpodcast
Questions asked:
- What steps do you take to try to even out your cash flow over the course of the year?
- Do you think the idea of a solo writer in a cabin in the woods is outdated in this hyperconnected day and age?
- How do you structure your days and working times when you work on multiple books at the same time? What works well, what didn‘t work well in this regard?
- How would you recommend going about setting up an author website?
- Name at least one book which has influenced some of your writing and say what you got or learned from this book.
How to Pivot Your Story with Eliza Jane Brazier
Eliza Jane Brazier knows the benefit of pivoting your story at the right time. When her latest book, Good Rich People, wasn’t living up to her expectations, she put in the effort to rewrite her entire manuscript twice in order to achieve a rounder, more complex story that she could be proud of. Eliza is well known for her thriller, If I Disappear, and works as a screenwriter and journalist when she isn’t writing. To purchase Good Rich People, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 123 – How to Pivot Your Story with Eliza Jane Brazier”
Finding Time to Write with NYT Bestseller Jonathan Kellerman
Bestseller Jonathan Kellerman knows how to find time to write. From raising children for almost thirty-two years to practicing psychology professionally to maintaining a dedication to playing and collecting guitars, he still finds time in his schedule to pursue his love of writing. Jonathan wrote his first book, When the Bough Breaks, in 1985 and has published a bestseller every year since. His latest novel, City of the Dead, is available below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 122 – Finding Time to Write with NYT Bestseller Jonathan Kellerman”
Writing Complicated Characters with NYT Bestseller Gregg Hurwitz
Bestseller Gregg Hurwitz knows the importance of writing complicated characters. By blurring the lines of good and evil, choosing to write protagonists and antagonists rather than heroes and villains, and incorporating complex moral dilemmas into his plots, he creates characters whose moral vagueness is both interesting and relatable. Gregg is an international bestselling author well known for his Orphan X thriller series and for his role as co-president of International Thriller Writers. To order his latest Orphan X novel, Dark Horse, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 121 – Writing Complicated Characters with NYT Bestseller Gregg Hurwitz”
The Secrets to Success with #1 NYT Bestseller Dean Koontz
In this episode, legendary author Dean Koontz shares his secrets to success; from sticking to a rigorous daily writing routine to writing across genres, he shares his tried and tested tips and techniques for becoming a better author. One of the most well known authors in the world, Dean has been writing for over fifty years and has sold over 500 million copies worldwide. To order his latest novel, Quicksilver, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 120 – The Secrets to Success with #1 NYT Bestseller Dean Koontz”
Drawing Inspiration From Real Life with NYT Bestseller Lisa Gardner
Lisa Gardner loves to draw inspiration from real life when writing her books. Whether she’s using her favorite hiking trail as a setting, reading a fascinating true crime article, or interviewing field experts for accurate information, her commitment to the realistic and plausible makes her stories all the more thrilling. Lisa is a NYT bestselling author who is published in thirty countries and is well known for books like The Neighbor and Before She Disappeared. To order her latest novel, One Step Too Far, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!
J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned CARRIE on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to write everyday characters
- How physical activity can impact your writing
- The craft of writing a non-human character
- How to maximize danger within your setting
- The importance of excellent research
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Lisa Gardner – https://www.lisagardner.com/
One Step Too Far – https://mybook.to/OneStep
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
Scene Rubric – http://scenerubric.com
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Keeping Yourself Going with NYT Bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub
Wendy Corsi Staub knows how to keep things interesting after writing so many novels. By switching up her writing routine and process, branching out into areas like screenwriting, and reminding herself of why she’s writing in the first place, she maintains her enthusiasm for her work and always looks forward to conquering a new challenge. Wendy is a NYT bestselling author who has written over ninety novels and is well known for her Lily Dale mystery series. To preorder her upcoming novel, The Other Family, follow the link below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 118 – Keeping Yourself Going with NYT Bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub”
Supporting Local Bookstores with Elle McKenzie of Bookshop.org
Bookshop.org is an amazing way to support local bookstores through COVID-19 and beyond. By providing store owners with a unique way to market their books online and paying them 30% of each sale, Bookshop has raised millions to help support these small businesses through the pandemic. Elle McKenzie has been with Bookshop since its early days in May 2020 and has worked closely with the company as they’ve expanded across the states and into Spain and the UK. To visit Bookshop.org or contact Elle, follow the links below.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 117 – Supporting Local Bookstores with Elle McKenzie of Bookshop.org”
Behind the Scenes of WOOL with NYT Bestseller Hugh Howey
Bestseller Hugh Howey is fascinated by the behind-the-scenes production of the Wool TV series. With actors reshooting scene after scene, putting themselves on the line for stunts and fight scenes, and whole teams of designers and other specialists working to enhance the show, he’s gotten to see his writing adapted into something just as spectacular. Hugh is a NYT bestselling author who has published his work in over 40 countries and has won critical acclaim for his three serialized works: Wool, Silo, and Sand. For news on the Wool show, visit Hugh’s website using the link below.
From Amazon.com:
Hugh Howey is the author of the award-winning Molly Fyde saga and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling WOOL series. The WOOL OMNIBUS won Kindle Book Review’s 2012 Indie Book of the Year Award — it has been as high as #1 on Amazon — and 40 countries have picked up the work for translation. Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian are adapting the work for 20th Century Fox.
Continue reading “Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 116 – Behind the Scenes of WOOL with NYT Bestseller Hugh Howey”
Q&A Episode – December 2021
In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions.
J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned CARRIE on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.
Join New York Times best-seller, J.D. Barker, and indie powerhouses J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon as they pull back the curtain on some of the world’s most prolific authors. Where did they start? What is their process? The biggest names in publishing all have origin stories, all have a process, all have tips and secrets… What does it take to consistently top the bestseller lists? Get your notepad out. School’s in session. This, is Writers, Ink.
Join us on Patreon and ask a question guaranteed to be answered on the podcast!
https://www.patreon.com/writersinkpodcast
Questions asked:
- How does someone begin an email list when they don’t have any books written or any content on their website?
- Out of the 3 of you, who would be on Santa’s naughty list?
- Marvel movie fans or not marvel movie fans? If fans, to what level?
- What is the best way to rejuvenate your backlist?
- Travel back in time: What advice would you give your younger self about working on your very first book?
- Getting into NFTs for books early: is J crazy or brilliant?
- Given that FB is going into the metaverse, do you think that in the near future, your Avatar will walk along a metaverse road, see an advertising hoarding advert for a book, go into a metaverse bookshop and then buy the ebook version of the book you saw advertised? Discuss.
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction with Jason Porath
In Reckless Road, author Jason Porath unveils the true stories behind Guns N’ Roses. Through a collaboration with Marc Canter, a close friend of the band for many years, he used his writing expertise to turn an archive of photos, videos, and interviews into a captivating narrative history of the early days of one of rock and roll’s biggest bands. To check out Reckless Road, follow the link below.
Jason is the author of Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction as well as Mugshots: A Celebration of the Journey from Ruin to Redemption. He’s won multiple achievement awards for his work and his writing has been translated into eight languages. Jason’s background with multimedia storytelling spans a wide array of mediums including documentary films, photojournalism, mobile apps and technology startups. He was a pioneer with some of the first iOS storytelling apps to hit the market and founded Storycode, a storytelling mobile app development agency, which he sold in 2015.
Marc has entrusted Jason with his vast archive of photographs, recordings and stories to create entertaining and engaging products for generations of Guns N’ Roses fans around the world.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- If Jason ever predicted a GNR reunion
- How his collaboration with Marc came about
- How to internally deal with a pivot
- The Hero’s Journey of Guns n’ Roses
- How he built a narrative from Marc’s archive of content
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Reckless Road – https://mybook.to/RecklessRoad
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
The Art of Simplicity with Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is a master of keeping it simple. Whether he’s drafting in an ancient 70s terminal, writing concise newsletters, or living with a single minifridge, he uses simplicity as a method to stay calm, collected, and down-to-earth in his writing. Derek is well known as the founder of independent music website CD Baby. He was a musician for many years and currently publishes books independently. To purchase his latest book, How to Live, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
After making a living as a professional musician, Derek Sivers went looking for ways to sell his own CD online and ended up creating CD Baby, once the largest seller of independent music on the web with over $100M in sales for over 150,000 musician clients. Since 2008, Derek has traveled the world and stayed busy creating and nurturing creative endeavors, like Muckwork, his newest company where teams of efficient assistants help musicians do their “uncreative dirty work.” Derek writes regularly on creativity, entrepreneurship, and music on his blog: http://sivers.org/.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to stop getting angry
- Why How to Live is the best book Derek’s ever written
- How to cut 1,200 pages from your rough draft
- How Derek developed his minimalistic writing style
- Why brevity is key
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Derek Sivers – https://sive.rs/
J.’s ZIGGURAT by Mike Shinoda – https://ziggurats.xyz/#/gallery/90
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Writing About the Pandemic with NYT Bestseller Jodi Picoult
Bestseller Jodi Picoult didn’t back down from the challenge of writing a story set during the pandemic. In her latest novel, Wish You Were Here, she uses her excellent character writing skills and days of research and interview material to compel readers to relive the relatable confusion and chaos of early lockdown through the lens of two lovers separated by travel restrictions. Jodi is well known for bestselling novels like My Sister’s Keeper and Small Great Things. She has published 26 books, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. To purchase Wish You Were Here, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
Jodi Picoult is the author of twenty five internationally bestselling novels, including MY SISTER’S KEEPER, HOUSE RULES and SMALL GREAT THINGS, and has also co-written two YA books with her daughter Samantha van Leer, BETWEEN THE LINES and OFF THE PAGE. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children. Her most recent adult novel, A SPARK OF LIGHT first published in the UK on 30th October 2018, and was a #1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Jodi got through a 16-month quarantine
- How the pandemic changed her writing process
- How to settle on a setting for your story
- Why now is the best time to write about the pandemic
- The importance of writing yourself into your characters
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Dragons of a Different Tail: 17 Unusual Dragon Tales – https://books2read.com/dragonantho
Jodi Picoult – https://www.garygrossman.com/
Wish You Were Here – https://mybook.to/WishUWereHere
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.