Read And Write With Natasha

A promise made to a mom at graduation turned into a time capsule of war, grief, humor, and survival. I sat down with author Don Eggspuehler, a former US Marine Corps pilot and Vietnam veteran, to talk about Letters to Mom, a book built from real letters he mailed home week after week, long before email, texts, or video calls existed. Those pages weren’t written with hindsight or a public audience in mind, which is exactly why they land with such force today. Doug walked us throug...

A lot of people dream about “extra income,” but they get stuck on one question: what do I actually buy, and where do I sell it? I’m joined by Aaron LaPedis, award-winning author of The Garage Sale Millionaire and How To Become A Garage Sale Millionaire, to break reselling down into simple moves you can repeat, even if you’re starting with almost no money. Aaron explained why eBay is built for selling (especially when you use completed listings to price realistically) and why Faceb...

Great writing doesn't sell books. Most writers find that out too late. My guest this week is Terry Whalin — editor, former literary agent, acquisitions editor, and author of more than 60 books. He's sat on both sides of the desk, and he's blunt about what new authors get wrong. We start with the myth that a book makes money. Terry's case: most authors need a bigger definition of success — authority, speaking gigs, career leverage — because the royalties are usually modest. Then we get practic...

How do you turn a life-changing experience into a memoir readers can't put down? In this episode, author Melinda Lee Schmidt shares the story behind The Rebel Hugger and how a simple idea—asking strangers for permission to hug them—became a powerful memoir about connection, boundaries, belonging, and self-worth. Melinda takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal journey into a compelling story. We also discuss the realities of self-publ...

“Bestseller” has become one of the easiest words to fake in publishing, and it’s costing authors money and readers' trust. I sit down with publishing expert Michele DeFilippo, who brings decades of real-world experience helping authors produce high-quality books without giving away control, rights, or royalties. We talk about why self-publishing no longer carries the old vanity-press stigma, and why the power has shifted now that Amazon and print-on-demand make global book distribution...