In this week’s episode of Author Culture, we’re closing out the year with a cozy, chatty, vlog-style roundup of everything that happened in Quarter 4 — from the stories I wrote, to the silly behind-the-scenes moments, to the fun surprises coming in 2026.

Yep, we’re talking books, Christmas cards, new tech, creative momentum, and a big reminder to breathe as we wrap up another whirlwind year in publishing. I also share the temporary (and delightfully chaotic) stand-in cover for my upcoming release… and tease the shiny, real one coming soon. 👀✨

In this episode, we’ll explore:

* A quick refresh of the books I wrote this year

* A sneak peek at my Christmas cards for readers, fans, and clients

* The new tech I picked up — and how it’s helping me work smarter

* A first look at what’s coming to Author Culture and my fiction lineup in 2026

* Why this season is the perfect time to rest, reset, and celebrate your own wins

* A silly temporary book cover reveal (yes, really) and hints about the official one

PLUS a gentle reminder: you’ve done more this year than you think. Take a breather. Celebrate your progress. And as always… go forth and be awesome.

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___Music by: https://bluefoxmusic.com

In this week’s episode of Author Culture, we’re talking about something invisible, essential, and shockingly easy to overlook: the “air” of modern storytelling.

Yep—we’re diving into gratitude, communication, author discouragement, and the absolute sci-fi-level miracle that lets you write a book in your living room and have someone across the globe read it.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt behind, discouraged, or pressured to constantly optimize, grow, expand, and hustle harder—because sometimes, the key to joy in your author life starts with remembering what you already have.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

-Why modern communication is basically superpowers for authors

-Why writing and sharing stories is worth celebrating—even on the quiet days

-Remembering the miracle of reaching even one person

Free Resources & Links

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free World Building Check-Up Guide + Social Media Cheat Sheet: Subscribe Here

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Get Creative with Weird Writing Prompts: Weird Writing Prompts

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Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Substack: Author Culture

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YouTube: @JaneenIppolito

___Music by: https://bluefoxmusic.com

Author Culture is a reader-supported publication that offers tips for sustainable success for fiction authors like you - plus plenty of fandom joy. To receive new posts and support my work, become a free or paid subscriber.

In this week’s episode of Author Culture, we’re diving into Jurassic World: Rebirth — why critics were mixed, why audiences still showed up in droves, and how this “popcorn movie” gives us a surprisingly useful lesson in how to use a simple concept to please fans.

Yep, we’re talking dinosaurs, audience expectations, story promises… and the magic of writing a quick proto-blurb to see if your idea actually works.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

-Why predictable “assignment-fulfilling” stories still connect with long-term fans

-What Jurassic World: Rebirth teaches us about delivering on your genre promises

-The power of a proto-blurb for testing your idea (before the outline spiral hits)

PLUS a tiny tease: next week, I’m launching the Blurb Your Story Toolkit, a short, powerful course to help you clarify your concept, pressure-test your story idea, AND figure out your marketing copy - before the book is even written.

Just in time for Black Friday. Wo0t!And if you’re subscribed to Author Culture, then you’ll get access to the toolkit FIRST (along with all my other Black Friday deals).

___Free Resources & Links

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free World Building Check-Up Guide + Social Media Cheat Sheet: Subscribe Here

Grab World Building Made Easy series on Amazon: Get the Series

Get Creative with Weird Writing Prompts: Weird Writing Prompts

___

Connect with me:

Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Substack: Author Culture

Facebook: Janeen Ippolito Author

YouTube: @JaneenIppolitoMusic by: https://bluefoxmusic.com

In this week’s episode of Author Culture, we’re talking about what happens when writing stops being fun — and how to bring the joy (and curiosity) back to your creative process.

Whether it’s burnout, pressure to “get serious,” or just the grind of expectations, it’s easy for writing to start feeling like drudgery. You start thinking, “well, this is just what professionals do,” and before you know it, you’re approaching your story like it’s a tax form instead of an adventure.

In this episode, we’ll dig into:

-How to spot when you’ve swapped curiosity for cynicism-The subtle mindset shift that reignites your love of storytelling-The role of faith, purpose, and permission in reclaiming your joy

You get to have fun with your words again — even when life’s hard, deadlines loom, and your playlist’s on repeat.

So today, join me for a reminder that your writing doesn’t have to be all grind and grit. You can still choose curiosity, play, and purpose — and your words will thank you for it.

Free Resources & Links

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free World Building Check-Up Guide + Social Media Cheat Sheet → Subscribe Here

Grab the World Building Made Easy series on Amazon → Get the Series

Get creative with Weird Writing Prompts → Weird Writing Prompts on Amazon

Connect with me:

Instagram → @janeen_ippolito

Substack → Author Culture

Facebook → Janeen Ippolito Author

YouTube → @JaneenIppolito

References for this episode: Jon Acuff - One Word to Sextuple Your Success: https://jonacuff.com/atg252

Changing Habits: https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/The

Psychology of Habit Formation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/

Music by: https://bluefoxmusic.com

C.S. Lewis didn’t plot out the entire Narnia saga. He didn’t number the books. He wrote the second one first. And somehow, it all worked.

This week’s episode continues our celebration of the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We dive into the final three “impossible reasons” The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe works, including:

-How Lewis survived brutal critique from his own writing group-Why the story became a series without a master plan-How the books remain readable out of order

Next week, we’ll pivot to another story with actionable writing tips and encouragement — don’t miss it.

Free Resources & Links

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free World Building Check-Up Guide + Social Media Cheat Sheet: Subscribe Here

Grab World Building Made Easy series on Amazon: Get the Series

Get Creative with Weird Writing Prompts: Weird Writing Prompts

Connect with me:

Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Substack: Author Culture

Facebook: Janeen Ippolito Author

YouTube: @JaneenIppolito

___Music by: https://bluefoxmusic.com

C.S. Lewis basically said: “what if I mixed literally every mythology and Santa Claus into the same world?”

By modern standards, that should be a world-building disaster — and yet it still works.

This week’s episode celebrates the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We’re exploring the first two of five “impossible reasons” this classic story works, and what authors can learn from it:

Next week, we’ll explore the final three impossible reasons The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe works—don’t miss it.

Free Resources & Links

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free World Building Check-Up Guide + Social Media Cheat Sheet: Subscribe Here

Grab World Building Made Easy series on Amazon: Get the Series

Get Creative with Weird Writing Prompts: Weird Writing Prompts

Connect with me:

Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Substack: Author Culture

Facebook: Janeen Ippolito Author

YouTube: @JaneenIppolito

You’ve got the idea. You’ve got the vibe. What you don’t have? A clue where to start.

That’s okay—today we’re breaking down five approachable ways to begin your book, depending on your creative instincts and mood.

Inside this episode:

* Why your starting method shapes your story (and sanity)

* The pros and pitfalls of each starting approach

* How to match your method to your project’s needs

Whether you’re a plotter, a dreamer, or an emotional chaos gremlin, there’s a way to start that fits you - and mixing, matching, and mash-ups are totally welcome.

Sometimes “cozy” sneaks up on you. A book about war mages? Comforting. A gentle fantasy romance? Overstimulating. Go figure.

In this episode, I’m unpacking my latest reading round-up and diving into how we find comfort in stories that weren’t built to be cozy—and what that says about our brains, habits, and creative needs.

Plus, I’m talking books. Because books are fun.

👉 Inside this episode:

* What makes a book feel cozy even when it isn’t labeled that way

* How personal context changes what seems relaxing

* Why “comfort reads” can look different for every reader

This episode of Author Culture is cozy meets chaos, with plenty of book chat in between.Want more fun author help? Check out my website: https://jiauthor.com/