young adult fiction fangirl

Sometimes, life puts you on vocal rest and makes you consider alternative solutions.

On this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan's husband Chris is flying solo. Tune in to hear what a day in the life of a writer's spouse is like and how Chris contributes to the business.

How many names does it take to build a world?

In this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan digs into how big a world Ilbrea has become and how the expansive nature of the Ena of Ilbrea series impacts the creation of the upcoming Ilbrean audiobooks.

2020 taught us never to get cocky in our plans. 2021 seems determined to reinforce this lesson. 

In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan digs through her plans for 2021, exposing some...mistakes, and some awesome achievements (can you say more audio?) Great things happen when you learn to accept the gifts the world smashes into your face.

Hiring a narrator for an audiobook means turning over control of your characters. From how your protagonist is portrayed to how that laugh line lands, your audiobook listeners' journey through your story will be dictated by your narrator's performance.

In the case of Ena of Ilbrea, her journey through a society that holds onto negative stereotypes of strong women could end in triumph or disaster depending on how the narrator depicts her battle against the Guilds.

How many words does it take to complete a character arc with integrity while contributing to the greater narrative? How many miles can a rowboat travel along a coast in one day? How much backstory will your readers need, when do they need it, and what's the most efficient and entertaining way to offer that world building?

All of these questions become monumentally important when orchestrating an epic fantasy narrative. 

On this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell walks through her triumphs and terrors in the writing and editing process for Myth and Storm, book two in the Guilds of Ilbrea series.

Planning on making that move through the wardrobe a permanent one? Here's a helpful list of questions to ask before deciding to apply for citizenship in a new fantasy world.

It's release day for Soul of Glass, book two in the Heart of Smoke series!

In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan shares the top four reasons you'll want to escape into this paranormal dystopian with chemically induced vampires...as if chemically induced vampires weren't enough of a reason.

Did you know the love interest dies on page 235?

Did you want to know long before you hit the tragedy that destroyed the hero's heart?

Whether you like to know the trauma ahead or want to be surprised as you turn the page, spoilers can ruin or (allegedly) improve the reader's experience.

Dive into the pros and cons of knowing the plot twist in advance in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream.

From fonts to story formula, branding has a huge impact on how readers perceive authors.

Whether an author presents a chipper personality or offers a stark website, every interaction with readers fosters a future relationship.

As an author, it's your job to create a consistent brand that clearly tells your readers what to expect. As a reader, you (often subconsciously) interpret these cues to decide which books to adore and which to pass over.

Peek inside the making of an author brand in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream.

700 years ago, the Great King of Inisvarden did...a bunch of stuff you won't need to know about until book six, but the author is dumping the information in the first part of book one.

If you've ever come across moments like this while reading, you're not alone. If you've ever come across moments like this while writing...you're NOT alone. The good news? There are many ways to avoid these info dumps.

Learn the tell-tale signs of a dreaded info dump and how to avoid them in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream.

To free, or not to free...

Offering the first book in your series for free can be a powerful marketing tool, but the method is neither foolproof nor danger-free.

From negative stereotypes to being lost in the chaos, this episode of A Book and A Dream will give you a crash course on navigating the free-books waters.

Reviews can make or break a book, but how does an author capture these illusive unicorns?

From searching for help to begging online, there are many mythical paths to reviews. But the way is dangerous. 

Take the tale of my woe with you. It's dangerous to go alone!

Are you beginning to build your writing career?
Do you find humor in the unfortunate mistakes others have made?
Either way, this episode of A Book and A Dream is right for you. 

From learning what advice invites chaos to the importance of building a digital home base, these are the top five things Megan O'Russell wishes she'd know when she was just beginning her journey as an author.

From sacrificial bleaching to rebellious chopping, hair changes have long been a way of outwardly displaying internal transformations.

From the sexist to the meaningful, it's time to dive back into a discussion full of tropes and truths.

Nurturing readers from buyers into fans is a long process filled with many perils.

But those special fans who become advocates for their favorite books can help keep authors from feeling like they're screaming into the void.

From Bookstagramming to creating social proof, dive into how unicorn readers can change an author's outlook and career.

When travel isn't possible, technology can save the day.

From virtual reality to obscure documentaries, there are many possibilities for doing worthwhile research from home and exciting possibilities for readers who want to dive further into their favorite stories.

Legacy. What is a legacy?

The words of an author can last long after they are gone, continuing to resonate with readers for generations. Or centuries.

The concept can seem surreal. But the passing of an author, reminder of copyright law, and durability of print books can make the question of a legacy panic-inducing and immediate.

A community of book lovers, a few curses, and some wardrobe issues. 

What do these have in common? Thousands of views on social media.

For this week's episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan takes a dive into the world of TikTok and the strange encounters and epic viewership that can nurture a bridge between author and reader.

As mentioned in the episode, you can order your copy of Heart of Smoke by visiting https://books2read.com/heartofsmoke

You can also view all of Megan's controversial(?) TikTok videos by visiting her TikTok profile here: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganorussell?

Looking for your next read? Amazon categories will guide you even if you don't shop in the Kindle store. 

From some of the unfortunate mistakes authors make to how categories affect your next book binge, peek behind the curtain and see the nuts and bolts behind this literary love story.

Immense changes can be necessary between when the author feels a manuscript is ready and when the readers finally receive the book.

From standing up to an editor to preserve the heart of your story to adapting how you lure your reader into the world you've created, there is a fine line between what's worth fighting for and when you should simply hit delete.