Ink and Magic

Join us on this week’s podcast as we dive into the process of revising your manuscript, from the rough beginnings of the "dirty draft" to the final, polished version. We've got the expert tips and practical advice to help you tackle each stage with confidence. Tune in to learn how to transform your writing with each pass through your manuscript, ensuring that what you eventually submit or publish is the best possible version of your work.  Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Holly Lisle’s courses: https://hollylisle.com/category/writing-classes/  Writing into the Dark with Dean Wesley Smith: https://deanwesleysmith.com/a-great-take-on-writing-into-the-dark/  Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener  Emotion Thesaurus: https://amzn.to/4fMIjhr  Margie Lawson’s EDITS System: https://www.margielawson.com/  Holiday in Handcuffs: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938666/ Leslye’s Revision Workshop: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/courses/revise-your-novel   Get ready for Storm Echo, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/41dUro6    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

01-10

34:57

In Last Guard, we meet a hero with a mobility disability and a heroine grappling with mental health challenges. Together, they navigate a world filled with obstacles, both external and internal, finding strength and love in each other's company. In the episode, we'll explore how Nalini Singh skillfully portrays complex characters breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes within the framework of a deeply moving romantic narrative.    Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Recursion by Blake Crouch: https://amzn.to/3BSJWfs Illona Andrews The Hidden Legacy series: https://amzn.to/406h2kj    Get ready for Storm Echo, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/4j4ukGD   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

01-03

35:37

Get ready to tackle your goals for 2025 in this week's episode of our podcast. We’ll help you start the year off smart—that's Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. We also talk about how to effectively use both paper and digital planners to keep you on track. Join us as we provide tips, tricks, and insights to help you organize your writing life, maximize productivity, and turn those big dreams into achievable realities.    Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Sarra Cannon’s HB90 Course: https://heartbreathings.com/tag/hb90-method/  Leslye’s Decision Matrix: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/enter-the-matrix-free-your-mind-and Profit First: https://amzn.to/4iW18BA  YNAB: https://www.ynab.com/    PAPER PLANNERS Erin Condren Daily Duo: https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/inesjohnson/1 *This is Ines’ Referral Link. It should get you a discount with your first purchase. Agendio: https://agendio.com/referrals-welcome/jy789Y_1606242292 *Leslye’s referral link Ink and Volt: https://inkandvolt.com/  Twelve Month Wall Calendar: https://amzn.to/3P6g6aw    DIGITAL PLANNERS Trello: https://trello.com/  Clickup: https://clickup.com/  Todoist: https://todoist.com/    Leslye’s Favorite Gluten Free Flour: https://shop.jessicasnaturalfoods.com/products/gluten-free-all-purpose-flour Brownie Recipe: https://www.food.com/recipe/betty-crocker-fudge-brownies-homemade-496992 Ines’ Kickstarter: https://ineswrites.com/Kickstarter    Get ready for Last Guard, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/41dUro6    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12-27

38:38

Join us on this week's episode as we break down Alpha Night, where a female alpha wolf and a Psy male with a ticking time bomb in his head get insta-mated in the first chapter!  Gird your loins, listeners, in this wild ride as of an unconventional pairing, the challenges of navigating differing societies, and the power dynamics involved with skin-privileges. The stakes are high and the passion fiery in a story that combines psychic intrigue with raw, animal magnetism!   Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers: https://amzn.to/49fpv8I  The Deadlands series by Kati Wilde: https://amzn.to/3ZoIB7L Darkness Dawns by Diana Duvall: https://amzn.to/3OJarqG Lothaire by Kresley Cole: https://amzn.to/3AUBM60  Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise: https://amzn.to/49dF3tN    Get ready for Last Guard, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/41dUro6    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12-20

41:15

In this week's episode hosts Leslye and Ines are joined by their mastermind partner, Cerece Renee Murphy. Not only will they discuss the invaluable benefits of participating in a mastermind group, but they will also give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how they run their own. Listen in to learn how a mastermind can elevate your skills, broaden your perspective, and significantly level up your projects.  Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Ali Hazelwood Knotting Book is Bride: https://amzn.to/49l4HNb Wanna see Ines’ Book Boxes with BOB? https://shop.ineswrites.com/collections/book-boxes-with-bob Indigo by Beverly Jenkins: https://amzn.to/3VgpITr      Get ready for Alpha Night, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3ZPDAqB   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12-13

01:03:26

Singh's foray into thrillers is on display in this gripping entry into the Psy Changeling world. In Wolf Rain we meet a hero who sees himself as a rogue wolf destined to be alone and a Psy woman convinced she's a monster beyond redemption. Together, they discover that their beliefs about themselves are profoundly mistaken. Suspense blends with heart-wrenching romance as Singh proves once again that she is a powerhouse in the genre with a thrilling romance about finding each love, finding yourself, and touching the hearts of all readers.    Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE High Noon by Kati Wilde: https://amzn.to/41nkl8K   Get ready for Alpha Night, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3VijC4K    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12-06

43:03

This week you get a masterclass in worldbuilding in a romance novel from expert Leslye while Ines listens in. We explore how setting is not just the backdrop against which a story unfolds, but a dynamic element that enriches the narrative through its integration of culture, language, and politics. The discussion reveals how these broader world elements can be strategically used to increase conflicts and strengthen emotions, making the romance more intense and the stakes higher. Tune in to discover practical tips and insightful strategies on crafting a vivid, immersive world that enhances the romantic journey and captivates readers from the first page to the last. Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Lisa Kleypas’ The Wallflowers series: https://amzn.to/3OAdhOI  A Court of Mists and Fury by Sarah J Maas: https://amzn.to/4iq124W  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: https://amzn.to/3VjeDRo Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/3AUlnhW The Hating Game by Sally Thorne: https://amzn.to/3ZwwOFX  Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James: https://amzn.to/49doxKj  The Cupid Guild by L. Penelope: https://amzn.to/4fTxXgk  Alpha’s Temptation by Renee Rose and Lee Savino: https://amzn.to/4gfyf18 A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Mila Vane: https://amzn.to/3B6IbuN    Get ready for Wolf Rain, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3NswRvq    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12-02

44:26

A security specialist with a life-threatening brain chip. A changeling chef with her own guarded secrets. Bowen and Kaia’s love story starts off as a slow burn in “Ocean Light,” but things heat up and combust before the tale is over. This book not only explores the romance and challenges between Bowen and Kaia but also serves as an intense lesson for authors on how to continuously raise the stakes throughout a novel. It is a masterclass on how to maintain suspense and tension all the way to the last page.  Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo: https://amzn.to/4hFSfeQ The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell: https://amzn.to/3NXmrnN  Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta: https://amzn.to/3AFsSJa Lothaire by Kresley Cole: https://amzn.to/3Ay2Vez   Get ready for Wolf Rain, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3NswRvq    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/   Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

11-22

49:33

In this episode, we tackle the "messy middle" of the second act. One of the solutions we offer involves a series of Try Fail cycles, where the protagonist encounters a carefully designed obstacle course that tests their resolve and pushes the plot forward. Ines emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to these cycles, suggesting that each cycle should include a plan, an obstacle, a setback, a scene of growth, and a regrouping phase to maintain narrative momentum and character development. While Leslye insists the best way to get out of the middle is with the "Yes, But" or "No, And" formula. This method ensures that each scene contributes to escalating the stakes—when a character succeeds ('Yes'), there's a complicating factor ('But'), and when they fail ('No'), the situation worsens or changes direction ('And'). This episode is packed with practical advice and approaches to help authors refine their storytelling skills, keep readers engaged through the mid-point of their books, and effectively develop their narratives towards a satisfying climax.    Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   BOOKS and SHOWS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Write your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell: https://amzn.to/3A2KWg7  Save the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4882ELO  Save the Cat Strikes Back by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/3YmeNJU  Save the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/3NmAmDQ  Lisa Daily’s Youtube Channel where she talks about Three Dates and a Disaster: https://www.youtube.com/@BestsellingAuthorLisaDaily  Leslye’s watching Love Is Blind on Netflix. Ines binge watched Nobody Wants This on Netflix.   Check out Leslye’s podcast where she discusses the messy middle on her Substack. You can find Ines’ substack at https://ineswrites.substack.com/    Get ready for Ocean of Light, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/487ZAPO    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

11-15

39:46

We’re back!!!! Season 2 of the podcast is live and in full effect. We’re jumping into the second season of the Psy-Changeling world with Nalini Singh's "Silver Silence," book one of the Psy-Changeling Trinity series.  We meet bear changeling Alpha, Valentin Nikolaev, whose life is a whirlwind of loyalty, affection, and disorder—everything that Silver Mercant, a Psy woman of control and precision, believes she doesn't need.  Silver, the cool, collected director of a global emergency response network, finds her life turned upside down not just by an assassination attempt, but by her unexpected plunge into the chaotic world of the StoneWater bears.  Join us as we discuss how Singh masterfully blends romance, suspense, and the complexity of clan, psy and human politics in this grumpy-sunshine novel!   Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Get ready for Ocean of Light, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/487ZAPO    Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/    Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

11-08

52:03

Join us as we chat with Melanie Harlow about crafting found family in small town romances. Find out how this plot device isn’t just about banding a bunch of brothers together, it’s all about the worldbuilding of characters in a tight-knit unit that makes readers want to return again and again! To check out Melanie’s books, go to: https://www.melanieharlow.com/   JOIN US AT THE INK & MAGIC WRITING RETREAT! If you are an aspiring or experienced author, please consider coming to hang out with us! November 1-3, 2024 outside of Baltimore, MD. Learn more at https://inkandmagicretreat.com/.  Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License..

06-28

53:46

In today's episode, we celebrate the grand finale of season one of the Psy-Changeling world with "Allegiance of Honor." This novel is a heartfelt nod to fans, masterfully weaving together the lives of beloved characters from previous books, tying up loose ends, and paving the way for exciting new adventures in season two.    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT We would love to announce the Ink & Magic Writing Retreat! If you are an aspiring or experienced author, please consider coming to hang out with us! https://inkandmagicretreat.com/  Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP   Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

06-21

35:40

Forget Beetlejuice! Jessica Cage will show readers how to summon a hot demon boyfriend, gain traction on social media, and build a tribe of loyal fans. With advice like decide your boundaries, batch your content, and be yourself, this episode is a treasure trove of killing it on social media and at live events. Check out Jessica’s bestselling book How I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend - ​​https://amzn.to/4aZh8xs.   Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP Get ready for Allegiance of Honor, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3Ve3G4b    Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

06-14

57:52

In today’s episode, we watch the push and pull as two emotionless Arrows fall hopelessly in love! In Shards of Hope, as Aden and Zaira find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, they begin to navigate the unfamiliar waters of emotional attachment and romantic love, challenging everything they have been taught to believe about strength and vulnerability.  Nalini Singh masterfully depicts the journey of two hardened warriors learning to embrace their feelings, revealing the redemptive power of love and the struggle for a new identity in a world that no longer demands conformity.  BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer https://amzn.to/3wWHAK2 Witch Queen of Halloween by Kresley Cole https://amzn.to/4e1V6Ni    Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP Get ready for Allegiance of Honor, coming in 2 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3Ve3G4b    Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

05-31

52:08

Get ready to bust a gut because this week we have on Fantasy RomCom author Kimberly Lemming. We’ll chat about her hit series, the Mead Mishaps. Kim will tell us about her inspiration for the series, how she makes sure it’s funny, and recap her interactions with a Savannah ghost!   BOOKS MENTIONED That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon - https://amzn.to/44T9S4y That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf - https://amzn.to/3yz83Op That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human - https://amzn.to/44WNgAv   Sign up for author Nalini Singh’s newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP Get ready for Shards of Hope, coming in 1 weeks! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/3WGuScI    Find the hosts online at: Leslye Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.