writing

Episode 155: Writing your passion with Julie Carrick DAlton

by Connie B. Dowell
December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

This week we talked about writing your passion with Julie Carrick Dalton. Julie writes powerful stories that deal with climate issues. We talked about the value of writing your passion, creating characters readers connect with, and so much more! About… Read More »

Episode 149: Podcasting (and being a guest) for authors with Kitty Felde

by Connie B. Dowell
October 19, 2022October 19, 2022

This week on the show, I chatted with author, podcaster, and veteran of public radio Kitty Felde. We had a wonderful chat about her middle grade mysteries and her podcasts as well as podcasting for authors. Being a guest is… Read More »

Episode 136: Sales Page Critique #1

by Connie B. Dowell
February 25, 2022February 25, 2022

This week, I’ve got something a little different on the show, the first book sales page critique. Author Sean kindly volunteered to go first. I go over his book’s sales page from cover to description to categories. I hope you… Read More »

Episode 130: Word of the year and critiques

by Connie B. Dowell
January 7, 2022January 8, 2022

It’s a shiny, new year, and you probably have some new writing and personal goals to go with it. Yay! Jump into those goals, but remember to do so in a sustainable way. In fact, sustainable is my word of… Read More »

Episode 118: Author, take your own advice

by Connie B. Dowell
September 16, 2021September 16, 2021

Since September’s theme is stretching out of our comfort zones, today’s episode is about the advice you’d give to another writer that you aren’t doing yourself. Think about it for a bit. I bet there’s something. It’s probably something you… Read More »

Episode 63: Conveying Emotion in Your Writing with Forest Wells

by Connie B. Dowell
August 5, 2020August 5, 2020

Conveying emotions can be a struggle for some writers. How do you get the reader to feel what the character feels? That’s what we’re covering in today’s episode with Forest Wells. We talk about where writers go wrong, how to… Read More »

Episode 53: Diversity in children’s books and supporting diverse books and authors with Tonya Duncan Ellis

by Connie B. Dowell
May 20, 2020May 19, 2020

Hi, folks. Today on the show, I chat again on the importance of diversity in fiction with prolific children’s author Tonya Duncan Ellis. We talk about the importance of children seeing diverse representations in their fiction as well as how… Read More »

Episode 52: The importance of diversity and writing outside your identity with ACF Bookens

by Connie B. Dowell
May 13, 2020

Today I chat diversity in fiction and writing diverse characters outside your identity with fellow cozy mystery author ACF Bookens. Diversity in fiction is a topic that is close to both of our hearts. We talked about why representation is… Read More »

Episode 51: Reader expectations in cozy mystery with Traci Hilton

by Connie B. Dowell
May 6, 2020May 5, 2020

Hi, folks. This week on the show, we’re taking a deep dive into reader expectations in the cozy mystery subgenre in my chat with author Traci Hilton. Have you ever wondered just what the difference is between cozy mystery and… Read More »

Episode 50: Reader Expectations

by Connie B. Dowell
April 29, 2020

Hi, folks! It’s a busy, busy week here at the Dowell household, but at last we’re ready to move onto a new topic: reader expectations. This week’s episode is an introduction to reader expectations in terms of story, genre, and… Read More »