We see the accolades when someone “makes” it as an author. They come in the form of bestselling lists, press features, book club picks by well-known celebrities and experts, book deals from multiple publishers, and plots of movies.

But I wanted to cover the less examined stories of how authors do it. How do they write a 200+ page novel? What do they do when their book gets rejected? How do they take feedback? How do they advance the plot? What's the publishing progress?

It’s an intriguing industry, but what’s more intriguing are all the bold moves writers make to become authors.

There’s no one more exciting to talk with about this topic than New York Times bestselling author, Andrea Bartz, who wrote four highly acclaimed books with one on the way – and who has received all the aforementioned accolades and then some.

If you have a dream of writing – whether that’s to become an author or as a creative practice, you can’t miss this episode!

Andrea gives us a view of her world, where she is consistently making bold moves to create a life as an author beyond her wildest imagination:

[0:57 ] Meet Andrea Bartz

[02:40 ] Andrea's Writing Journey

[09:25 ] Facing Rejection

[12:20 ] The Power of Feedback

[18:35 ] Andrea's Writing Habits and Tips

[25:45 ] Unexpected News: Reese's Book Club Pick

[29:40 ] Netflix Adaptation and Staying Grounded

[32:31 ] Andrea’s Boldest Move: Writing 'The Spare Room'

[40:35 ] Navigating the Publishing World

[46:15 ] Advice for Aspiring Authors

Connect with host Kristen Rocco

Join Bold Moves Podcast Club: https://www.kristenrocco.com/bold-moves-podcast-club

Website: kristenrocco.com

LinkedIn: /kristenrocco

Instagram: @kristenrocco

Help me create a great show and take the "Bold Moves: How Did You Know” podcast listener survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgwwN2dxCqdnGSgIhpiZagKGXdBVEWi4vaoYRXrx_O6e83LQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Connect with guest Andrea Bartz

Website: https://www.andreabartz.com/

IG: @Andibartz

Substack: https://andibartz.substack.com/

Threads: Andibartz

Read her books: The Lost Night, The Spare Room, We Were Never Here, The Last Ferry Out (May 2025)