Send us a text Ever wonder how the public got Miranda Rights, the right to remain silent when arrested? In his historical novel, Flynn and Miranda, Joe Wallenstein recreates the story of a crusading attorney, John J. Flynn, who took an anonymous criminal denied counsel and changed the lives of Americans and police enforcement. Wallenstein bases the book on his many conversations with Flynn. Ready to level up your manuscript? Subscribe to Talking Book Publishing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or ...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Naomi Kim Eagleson, writer, editor, and founder of The Artful Editor, for a deep dive into the full editing journey—whether you’re self-publishing or going the traditional route. Naomi takes us through her four-phase editing model and explains why many manuscripts spend too long in “line-edit purgatory” when what they really need is a developmental overhaul. We talk manuscript critiques vs. deve...
Send us a text In this insightful episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna welcome Mary Vensel White, author, editor, publisher, and Orange County president of the California Writers Club. Mary shares her multidimensional expertise in publishing and digs into one of the most elusive topics for authors: book marketing. She brings a refreshingly honest and practical perspective on the importance of market research, knowing your genre, identifying comparable titles, and how ...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with one of the industry’s most respected voices in author publicity and media coaching: Kim Dower. As the founder of Kim-from-L.A. Literary & Media Services, Kim has spent over 40 years helping writers become not just authors, but compelling public speakers. She’s also an award-winning poet and co-author of Life is a Series of Presentations, the book that introduced the 8 Presentation Practices—...
Send us a text In this jam-packed episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty sit down with book marketing powerhouse Penny Sansevieri for a revealing discussion on how Amazon's evolving landscape affects authors today. Penny, a longtime expert in Amazon optimization, returns to the podcast with timely insights on her latest release, The Amazon Author Formula Workbook, and the strategic changes every author needs to understand—especially in light of Amazon's ...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty chat with William Ramsey — true crime author, documentary filmmaker, and host of the top-ranked podcast William Ramsey Investigates. With over 1,300 episodes and five books to his name, William knows a thing or two about building a platform. He shares how he turned podcast guest spots into a thriving network, built his own show, and used it all to boost book sales and connect with new readers. ...
Send us a text In this eye-opening episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Ross Rojek, editor and publisher of City Book Review, to explore the inner workings of the book review industry. Ross shares the journey of launching City Book Review in Sacramento in 2008 and evolving it into a network of review sites across eight U.S. cities, plus a special platform for young reviewers, Kids Book Buzz. With candor and humor, he explains the real work behind publish...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with memoir expert Wendy Dale to explore the art and architecture of writing memoirs. Wendy introduces her transformative approach to storytelling through her "Memoir Engineering System," which emphasizes writing with structure and clarity from the very first draft. Listeners will discover the essential difference between scenes and transitions and how mastering these two components can dramatically ...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with renowned entertainment attorney Clair Burrill, whose new book Attorney to the Stars offers an inside look into his decades-long career representing some of the biggest names in music, film, and television. From his early days as a musician to becoming a top entertainment lawyer, Clair shares captivating stories about his clients, including John Candy, Robin Williams, Waylon Jennings, and The Rol...
Send us a text In this gripping episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Jane Howatt, author of Jigsaw and Jane: 13 Years of Murder and Mayhem with Badge Number One. Jane shares the incredible story of how a single newspaper article led her into the world of homicide detective John St. John, the LAPD’s legendary investigator known as "Jigsaw John." What started as an ambitious attempt to write a book turned into a transformative journey that brought Jane fa...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty sit down with branding and marketing expert Jeniffer Thompson to discuss how authors can build a strong brand, navigate social media, and boost visibility in a crowded marketplace. Jeniffer, the founder of Monkey C Media, shares how to identify your audience, leverage influencers, and create a sustainable social media plan using tools like Canva, Buffer, and Hootsuite. She also discusses the i...
Send us a text On the first anniversary of indie-press Curious Corvid Publishing, Kathleen talks with founder Ravven White. They cover how the house came to be from Ravvens's self-publishing dreams and what made her decide to open the imprint to submissions. The fledgling Curious Corvid has published an astonishing twelve works, from literary journals, Syfy/fantasy to poetry and a lovely collection of gothic works. There's a little sneak peek into the upcoming year, with at least a book a mon...
Send us a text Join Kathleen and Adanna as they chat with the incredible Theasa Tuohy. From her groundbreaking work as one of the early women in journalism to her remarkable journey into fiction writing, Theasa’s story is full of inspiration and adventure. Her novels, including Flying Jenny and Five O’Clock Follies, reflect her rich life experiences, which she masterfully weaves into her fiction. In this episode, Theasa shares fascinating insights into her Paris Backstage Mysteries series and...
Send us a text Kathleen and Adanna welcome award-winning cover designer Eric Labacz to Talking Book Publishing for an engaging discussion on the art and strategy of book cover design. From his beginnings in graphic arts to becoming a trusted designer for publishers and indie authors, Eric shares how his experiences shape his unique approach to every project. This conversation explores why a book's cover is often its most critical selling tool, especially in an online-dominated market. Eric di...
Send us a text Hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Victoria Strauss, co-founder of Writer Beware, to uncover the alarming and evolving world of author scams. For over 25 years, Victoria has been critical in exposing fraudulent schemes targeting writers, from fee-charging literary agents and deceptive vanity publishers to dubious marketing offers. In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, she reveals how AI and other tools have made these scams harder than ever to detect, sharing essenti...
Send us a text Hey friends! In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna sit down with indie author and Amazon ads expert Sonja Dewing. Trust us—you don’t want to miss it! Sonja spills all the details about her journey from traditional publishing roadblocks to thriving as a self-published author. She shares how her first book, Toy of the Gods, overcame early rejection to become a hit, and she’s here to help you navigate the world of Amazon ads. Sonja's got you covered if yo...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, your hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty, both seasoned professionals in the publishing industry, invite you into a fascinating conversation with renowned crime novelist and screenwriter Duane Swierczynski. From his early dreams of writing horror to becoming a celebrated mystery author, Duane shares the emotional rollercoaster of his journey—filled with ambition, setbacks, and unexpected successes. He opens up about what it’s li...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Leslie Lehr, an experienced author and writing consultant, to demystify the art of crafting effective query letters. Leslie, a successful author with a diverse career journey, shares her insights and experiences, from novel and screenwriting to becoming a well-known expert in developing compelling query letters that capture the attention of literary agents. She discusses the importance of unders...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna engage in a delightful conversation with accomplished author Ilona Joy Saari. Ilona discusses her latest release, The Wrong Station, the third book in the Mystery Chronicles of New York Women series. The story follows the adventures of Lorna, a videographer who finds herself in a precarious situation after accidentally getting off at the wrong station late at night. What she discovers is chilling and sets the...
Send us a text In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, co-hosts Kathleen and Adanna engage in a captivating conversation with accomplished author Robin Gerber. Robin, renowned for her works on Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Graham, and Ruth Handler, shares her unique journey from writing columns to becoming a published author and renowned speaker. The conversation delves into how Robin's book on Eleanor Roosevelt transformed her career and her perspective on leadership and resilience, makin...