Episode 123 - Karen Baum Gordon - On Surviving the Surviving

Brenda Meller is an entrepreneur, author and social media coach who helps people maximize their presence on LinkedIn. She is the author of Social Media Pie: How to enjoy a bigger slice of the LinkedIn Pie and host of the Enthusiastically Self-Employed podcast.

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Brenda about her book and the evolution of her career. She talks about her writing process, including how she wrote the book in just 30 days, and why she opted to self-publish. They talk about the ever-evolving nature of social media, which demands periodic updates to the book along with plans for future books.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Brenda discuss: 

• The story behind the book title

• Her writing process and the power of writers conferences

• Committing to daily writing

• Creating a community-focused book with shoutouts to readers

• Self-publishing with help 

• Creating an audiobook 

• The benefits of multiple book formats 

• Working past retirement age

 

Links and Resources: 

• Social Media Pie: How to Enjoy a Bigger Slice of the LinkedIn Pie

• Enthusiastically Self-Employed

• Rochester Writers

• How to write a book in 30 days by Don Staley

• NaNoWriMo

• Scotia Road Books

• Dave Stokes - audiobook coach

• Boot Camp with Brenda

 

Find Brenda Meller:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

• Episode 21 – Brenda Meller – All About Pie

• Episode 25 – Crosby Noricks – Perfect PR Moments

• Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again

• Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books

• Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books

 

Patrick Hicks is an Irish Catholic writer from Minnesota who has a deep fascination with the Holocaust. He has written three Holocaust novels and has conducted extensive research on the subject, visiting twelve different concentration camps and speaking with survivors. Patrick is also a professor at Augustana University in South Dakota, where he teaches writing and literature.

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Patrick about his newest book, Across the Lake. In his second time on the Make Meaning Podcast, Patrick explains what inspired this novel, driven by research on gender and violence. He reflects on the impact of writing about such a dark period in human history and the importance of standing up to fascism at any time, especially today. The interview concludes with a discussion on topics that engage students today and a look at the future of writing.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Patrick discuss: 

• Inspiration for  Across the Lake

• Braided narratives

• How to create compelling characters that are starkly different from the author

• Challenging yourself as an author

• Why it’s so important for an Irish Catholic novelist to write about the Holocaust

• Character development and story visioning

• The art of naming characters

• Gender differences in violence during the Holocaust

• The impact on the author of writing about the Holocaust

• The importance of addressing fascism and hatred in fiction

• Contemporary students' interest in equality and progressivism

 

Links and Resources: 

• Patrick’s first interview on the Make Meaning Podcast, episode 102

• In the Shadow of Dora

• Ravensbrück concentration camp

• PBS: Public Broadcasting Service

• Hitler's Furies by Wendy Lower

• Aufseherin

• B17 bombers

• Augustana University

• Patriot Front

 

Find Patrick Hicks:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically 

Episode 123 – Karen Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving

Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again

Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction

Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – H ow to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist

Episode 61 – Merle Saferstein – How to Leave a Legacy Through Journaling

 

Qin Sun Stubis is a Chinese-American author of the book Once Our Lives: A Memoir of Shanghai, Teahouses, and Three Generations of Family, which tells the story of four generations of Chinese women in Shanghai, China during the Great Famine, navigating war and revolution.

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Qin about her early life, China’s Cultural Revolution and her love of words and storytelling. Qin explains how the loss of her parents inspired her to write a memoir that brings to life her family’s stories and a fascinating part of China’s history. She also discusses her writing process and the challenges she faced as a first-time author. Qin has received awards for this beautiful book and continues to write essays and short stories.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Qin discuss: 

• Growing up in poverty and how that influenced her writing

• A mother's influence on her love of words

• Early memories of writing – quoting Mao Zedong’s quotations

• Attending the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages

• Being a late-blooming writer 

• A mission to preserve family stories and reputation

• Why history and humanity is the same around the world

• First-time author challenges along the publishing journey

• The importance of the first sentence and first chapter

• Forming a support group for older women writers

• Her column for the Santa Monica Star

 

Links and Resources: 

• Chinese Cultural Revolution

• Thomas Hardy

• Shakespeare’s Sonnets

• Louisa May Alcott

• Bessie Streeter Aldrich

• Tess of the d’Urbervilles

• F. Scott Fitzgerald

• The Great Gatsby

• Nonfiction Author Association

• Miami Book Fair

• PenCraft Book Awards

• Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes

 

Find Qin Sun Stubis:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 156 – Blair Fell – Original Storylines & Unique Characters

Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen – Writing through Family

Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction

Episode 139 – Desiree Cooper – Being “Genre Agnostic”

Episode 131 – Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai

 

Elizabeth Conte is an author with a passion for bringing 19th-century literature to the 21st-century reader. She is the author of Finding Jane, a time travel historical novel, and Chosen Mistress, a scintillating story set in Victorian England. Elizabeth is the founder of Jane Writes Press, a hybrid publishing house for writers who don't fit into traditional publishing boxes.

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Elizabeth about her debut novel, Finding Jane, her inspiration for the book and the challenges she faced while writing and editing it. Elizabeth also talks about her marketing strategies and the success she has achieved as an indie author. She introduces her next book, Chosen Mistress, which explores the dark side of Victorian life and women's roles during that time. She also explains her decision to self-publish and her vision for her imprint, Jane Writes Press.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Elizabeth discuss: 

• The story behind Finding Jane, an homage to Pride and Prejudice

• Making 19th century literature more accessible

• What it means to "do really well" with book sales

• Book marketing strategies 

• The importance of consistent marketing efforts

• Pitching media outlets for author interviews

• The purpose of writing & target audience

• Perspectives on adverbs – listen to a fierce debate on adjectives & adverbs around the 10-minute mark!

• The indie author’s journey

• Frustrations with fitting into traditional publishing categories

• Starting a publishing house

• The importance of professional editing

• Creating a new category called Literary Romance

• What is the purpose of your writing & how do you want people to know you?

 

Links and Resources: 

• Pride and Prejudice

• Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Writing Coaching

• Woman of Valor

• The Los Angeles Times article about Elizabeth Conte

• Lynne’s class, Demystifying Show, Don’t Tell

 

Find Elizabeth Conte:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

TikTok

Blog

LinkedIn

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives

Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction

Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way

Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series

Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books

 

Ana Veciana-Suarez is a journalist and author. She has written for various publications and has published several books, including her latest novel, Dulcinea, which was inspired by her reading of Don Quixote in high school. Known for her meticulous research and attention to detail, Anna spent many years digging up the information she needed to focus on the Spanish Inquisition. 

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ana about her writing process, the challenges of researching historical fiction, her experiences with marketing her book, and her insights into the changing landscape of the writing community.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Ana discuss: 

• Juggling writing as a journalist and author

• Process of writing her novel, Dulcinea

• Marketing and response to the book

• Different challenges, writing fiction as opposed to journalism

• Balancing writing with life and work

• Advice for aspiring writers: read and have self-discipline

• Finding historians who are subject matter experts in the era you are writing about

• Focusing on the characters at the edges of a story

• Golden Age Spain

 

Links and Resources: 

• Don Quixote

• Miguel de Cervantes

• The Miami Herald

• Readers Digest

• O magazine

• Woman’s Day

• The Washington Post Magazine

• Goodreads

• Women's Fiction Writers Association

• Michigan Writers

• Catalonia

 

Find Ana Veciana-Suarez:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction

Episode 136 – Tammy Pasterick – Writing & Publishing Your Way

Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction About Place

Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically

Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living its Stories

Jonathan Whitelaw is a Scottish author and journalist now living in Canada who wrote his first novel at the age of 17. He’s since published several books in the cozy crime genre, including Morbid Relations and the popular Bingo Hall Detectives series.

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Jonathan  about the cozy crime genre, why he’s drawn to it and the genre’s emphasis on humor, character, and setting. Plus, they discuss his publishing journey, from his first horrible book to being published by a small independent publisher to getting an agent and taking the plunge to become a full-time author. They also explore the differences and similarities between the publishing industry in the UK and Canada and how Jonathan has adapted his marketing to reach a North American audience while still appealing to his loyal UK readers. 

 

In this episode, Lynne and Jonathan discuss: 

• Why you can write at any age

• Audience differences between Canada and the UK

• Genre talk

• The expansiveness of writing and publishing

• The popularity of cozy crime during times of crisis

• The challenge of writing humor

• Inspiration from in-law relationships

• The need for luck and endurance in the author journey

• Writing practice & daily routine

• Juggling writing, parenting and income-earning

• Importance of a supportive family and the "village" of the publishing industry

• Book cover differences between countries

• Lynne’s writing sabbatical in Nova Scotia

• Finding your audience in different geographical locations

 

Links and Resources: 

• The Hobbit

• Die Hard

• Lynne’s Writing Classes & Programs

• Nova Scotia Retreat

• When Words Collide

• Cozy Mystery

• Agatha Christie

• Terry Pratchett

• The Bingo Hall Detectives

• Ringwood Publishing

• Harper North

• Harper Collins

• The Village Hall Vendetta

• LJ Ross

• Indigo

• Colleen Hoover

 

Find  Jonathan Whitelaw:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 158 – Suzanne Nugent – On Character Development

Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen – Writing Through Family

Episode 134 – Andrew McDiarmid – Simply Scottish

Episode 132 – Merryn Glover – Literary Fiction about Place

Episode 70 – Elena Reads – How to Stoke a Love of Reading in Kids

 

Finding an agent and publisher was easy for April Davila, an award-winning author who quit her job in 2016 to write  full-time. Her debut novel, 142 Ostriches, won the WILLA Literary Awards for Women Writing the West.

In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with April, a fourth-generation Californian who studied marine biology before being called to the written word. She honed her skills in marketing and technical writing jobs, dedicating early mornings to crafting fiction until she could finally make the transition to writing full-time. In this episode, Lynne and April discuss the lessons she learned along the way and why she pairs meditation with writing.

 

In this episode, Lynne and April discuss: 

• The inspiration behind 142 Ostriches

• Handling rejection

• Celebrating accolades

• Being a mindful writer

• Writing as a meditation

• How meditation helps writers

• Aligning entrepreneurship with writing 

 

Links and Resources: 

• 142 Ostriches

• Kensington Books

• Mindfulness at Berkeley

• Write with Lynne

 

Find April Davila:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 96 – Jim Rajan – How to Leave Everything Behind

Episode 52 - Stacy Dockins - Journey to the Self

Episode 50 - Gautam Jain - Strengthening Intellect 

Episode 47 - Linda Makowski - Quieting the Mind

Episode 18 - Amy Haimerl - Shady Ladies & Detroit Hustle

Suzanne Nugent, author of Brunch and Other Obligations and host of the Character Development podcast, uses humor to confront life’s darkest moments. She navigates between various storytelling mediums, from novels to screenplays, finding the right narrative platform for each project.

 

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Suzanne about her creative career and how writing has shaped her as a person. She shares her inspiration for her novel Brunch and Other Obligations and her journey to publishing. Suzanne also talks about her love for storytelling across platforms, including screenwriting and podcasting.

In this episode, Lynne and Suzanne discuss: 

• How writing helps Suzanne process her thoughts

• How to keep voice and focus consistent in writing

• How a first job writing obituaries sparked interest in finding humor in sad situations

• How to decide on a book publishing path 

• How hiring a book coach motivated Suzanne to write her novel

• How to set long-term author career goals 

• How to adapt novels to film

• How to create an audiobook

 

Links and Resources: 

• Lynne’s 2023 Nova Scotia Writers Retreat

• Ghost tour of Lunenberg

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Scotia Road Books

• Woman of Valor

 

Find Suzanne Nugent:

Website

Podcast

 

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 151 – Rochelle Weinstein – Writing Best-Selling Novels

Episode 150 – Lisa Peers – First Novels & Writing Friendships

Episode 148 – Woman of Valor – Katie Scott interviews Lynne about her first novel!

Episode 143 – Annie Cathryn – Dreams Come True: The Friendship Breakup

Episode 135 – Camille Pagan – Making Writing Your Career

 

Blake Kimzey is the founder of writingworkshops.com, a global community offering writing classes taught by experienced instructors, like Make Meaning Podcast host Lynne Golodner. Blake is also an author, screenwriter and hands-on dad of three. In this episode, Blake recalls a pivotal moment in sixth grade when he wrote a King Arthur rip-off. He and Make Meaning Podcast host Lynne Golodner also talk about his journey as an author, the inspiration behind WritingWorkshops.com and the surprising and very winding journey of becoming an author.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Blake discuss: 

• Going from short stories to writing a novel

• Submitting novels and receiving rejections

• Transitioning to screenwriting

• Writing a novel while working at an engineering firm

• Embracing the long-term nature of a writing career

• The importance of supporting women authors over 40

• WritingWorkshops.com's explosive growth

• Offering online classes during the pandemic and beyond

• Being in it for the long haul and why “first” novels are often third, fourth or tenth projects

• Publishing later in life

• Coming into your voice

• Creating stakes, tension and care for characters

 

Links and Resources: 

• King Arthur

• MFA

• George Saunders

• Austin Film Festival

• David Benioff

• Liz Hannah

• D.B. Weiss

• “A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”– Richard Bach

• Elizabeth George Foundation

• Carrie by Stephen King

• On Writing, Stephen King

• ASJA Virtual Annual Conference

• Scotia Road Books

• Edan Lepucki

• Writing Coaching

• Lynne’s Writers Retreats

• Sackett Street Writers

 

Find Blake Kimzey:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

 

Find writingworkshops.com:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Blog

 

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 144 – Danny Hankner – Founding Story Unlikely

Episode 142 – Announcing Scotia Road Books

Episode 79 – Laura Munson – How to Find Refuge in Writing

Episode 73 – Jim Reese – Why Teaching Writing in Prisons  Helps Everyone

Episode 1 – Norman Cohn – the Best Business Advisor

 

While fiction is born from imagination and creativity, many authors explain how they came to the stories they create through lived experiences. This is definitely true for Blair Fell, author of The Sign for Home, whose work in the deafblind community taught him about nuances, details and issues facing that community. This debut novel takes readers on a journey through a fascinating community and the lives of compelling characters.

In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Blair about his writing process, the importance of research and the value of participating in a writing group. He discusses his background as a playwright and television writer, and how he transitioned into writing novels. Plus, Blair offers advice for writers, emphasizing the need to just write, join a writing group, and prioritize writing amid perpetual other commitments.

 

In this episode, Lynne and Blair discuss: 

• Finding inspiration in your work and relationships

• Researching and interviewing deafblind individuals 

• Finding an agent and a publisher

• Writing a second book after a celebrated first book

• Working through a horrible first draft

• Motivation from setting deadlines and fear of disappointing others

• Building a successful writing career

• Why so many writers have a day job

• Authors who find success later in life

• Audiobook opportunities

 

Links and Resources: 

• John Lee Clark

• Protactile movement

• James Hannaham

• Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta

• Doug Stewart

• Sterling Lord Literistic

• Cloud Atlas

• The Silver Linings Playbook

• American Dirt

• “Take care of the sense, the sounds will take care of themselves” - Alice in Wonderland

• Writing group with Marian Fontana & Louise Crawford

• David Groff

• PEN/Faulkner 

• Delicious Foods

• Simon & Schuster 

• Where the Crawdads Sing 

• The City College of New York

• Woman of Valor by Lynne Golodner

 

Find Blair Fell:

Website

Facebook

TikTok

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:

Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives

Episode 150 – Lisa Peers – First Novels & Writing Friendships

Episode 145 – CL Walters – Young Adult & New Adult Fiction from Hawaii

Episode 143 – Annie Cathryn – Dreams Come True: The Friendship Breakup

Episode 139 – Desiree Cooper – Being “Genre Agnostic”