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  • Exciting Announcment! Our (Slightly) New Name

    Exciting Announcment! Our (Slightly) New Name
    2025/12/12

    (This is the audio version of our latest Substack.)

    In this post, you’ll find our 2026 preview, including:

    🎉 Our (Slightly) New Name

    📚 Book Club Picks for the first months of 2026

    🫶🏼 Mini Creativity Coaching sessions coming next year

    📖 January Book Club invite + Discussion Questions

    More details in our Substack HERE!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    8 分
  • Holiday Fiction & Weathering the Chills of Publishing with Matthew Norman & Emily Stone

    Holiday Fiction & Weathering the Chills of Publishing with Matthew Norman & Emily Stone
    2025/12/02

    Today we have a special holiday edition of the show for you. Our guests are Emily Stone, author of Yours for the Season, and Matthew Norman, author of Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon.

    Today, we talk about:

    * the ins and outs of writing books that are timed for a specific season or holiday,

    * balancing light and heavy topics in fiction, such as love and grief,

    * what to do when no one shows up at your bookstore event,

    * handling rejection and building a long career in publishing,

    * our favorite holiday books and movies, and so much more.

    🟨 Looking for our community of readers and writers?

    Join 24,000+ at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

    - ask questions of upcoming podcast guests,

    - behind-the-scenes publishing insights,

    - creativity mini-challenges,

    - Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

    - and more.

    Podcast booking inquiries:

    info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

    Connect with Matthew Norman and Emily Stone:

    You can find Matt on Instagram. His newest novel, Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!

    You can find Emily on Instagram. Her newest novel, Yours for the Season, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    48 分
  • Feel-Good Books: The Fear of Writing about Hope and Optimism in a Skeptical World

    Feel-Good Books: The Fear of Writing about Hope and Optimism in a Skeptical World
    2025/08/12

    Welcome back to Letters from the Creative Life. These occasional essays explore the quieter corners of living: small reflections on art, ambition, and the tender balancing act of building a meaningful life in a noisy world. Think of them as letters from my life to yours.

    If you’re listening to this on a podcasting platform rather than Substack, this will be the last episode of this podcast season. Feel free to dig into the podcast archives while I’m on break.

    During that time, I will still be writing more essays and behind-the-scenes content over on my Substack, so please come hang out with me there at creativeinspiredhappy.com .

    ***

    Virtual Launch Party + Origami Workshop

    You’re invited to my virtual Launch Party + Paper Rose Origami Workshop on Sunday, August 17th at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

    Come learn to fold your own messages of hope—I’d love to see you there!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    11 分
  • What Publishers Really Want with Simon & Schuster Senior Editor Lara Jones

    What Publishers Really Want with Simon & Schuster Senior Editor Lara Jones
    2025/08/05

    My guest today is Simon & Schuster senior editor Lara Jones, who also happens to be my editor for The Incredible Kindness of Paper.

    Today, we talk about:

    * how she became an editor,

    * an explanation of Big 5 publisher structure and their imprints (like Atria and Emily Bestler Books, under the umbrella of Simon & Schuster)

    * the difference between women's fiction and romance genres,

    * what editors look for when acquiring books,

    * how she knows when a manuscript is "the One" and worth fighting for,

    * behind the scenes of an auction and the making of a can't-say-no book deal

    * Deeper dive: The Mechanics of How Book Auctions Work

    * the editorial process - how we worked together and what were our favorite parts

    * an editor's many hats: in charge of not only editing, but also quarterbacking/coordinating with production, publicity, marketing, sales,

    * the process of designing cover art, from conception to author input to sales team feedback,

    * behind the scenes of the publisher on book launch day,

    and so much more.

    You’re invited to my Launch Party + Paper Rose Origami Workshop

    In case you missed it, you can RSVP now (it’s free!) for my virtual launch party + origami workshop, where I’ll teach you to make two paper roses inspired by my book. We’ll also talk about the behind-the-scenes of writing The Incredible Kindness of Paper.

    🟨 Looking for our community of readers and writers?

    Join 24,000+ at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

    - ask questions of upcoming podcast guests,

    - behind-the-scenes publishing insights,

    - Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

    - and more.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    42 分
  • Pen Names, Backlist, & Reese's Book Club with Clare Leslie Hall, New York Times Bestselling Author

    Pen Names, Backlist, & Reese's Book Club with Clare Leslie Hall, New York Times Bestselling Author
    2025/07/29

    My guest today is New York Times bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall. Her novel, Broken Country, was also a Reese's Book Club pick earlier this year.

    Today, we talk about:

    * what stories draw Clare's attention,

    * the importance of backlist and how those books can come back to surprise you

    * pen names and their purpose in publishing,

    * how she harnesses ideas once they appear,

    * blending genres: romantic suspense, courtroom drama, and domestic noir

    * writing class tension without slipping into cliche,

    * the storytelling advice that completely changed the way she thinks about research and writing,

    * and so much more.

    Connect with Clare:

    You can find Clare on Instagram and her website. Her novel, Broken Country, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!

    🟨 Looking for our community of readers and writers?

    Join 24,000+ at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

    - ask questions of upcoming podcast guests,

    - behind-the-scenes publishing insights,

    - creativity mini-challenges,

    - Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

    - and more.

    Podcast booking inquiries:

    info@creativeinspiredhappy.com



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    36 分
  • What Happens When a Book Publicist Writes a Novel About Publishing with Hattie Williams

    What Happens When a Book Publicist Writes a Novel About Publishing with Hattie Williams
    2025/07/15

    Hello, Protagonists!

    My guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Hattie Williams, a former book publicist whose debut novel, Bitter Sweet, is about... a book publicist who falls for a legendary author she's working for.

    Hattie has not only worked in publishing as a publicist but also in marketing and editorial, and before that, she was a musician and songwriter who has toured across Europe.

    Today, we talk about:

    * how Hattie fell into writing as a young mother,

    * her experience in the publishing world and how that informed the settings and stories in Bitter Sweet.

    * writing complicated, toxic relationships without veering into judgment of the characters,

    * how her background as a book publicist has helped her publicize her own book on both Instagram and Substack,

    * whether songwriting affects her novel writing,

    and so much more.

    Want more of Hattie?

    You can find Hattie on Substack and Instagram. Bitter Sweet, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!

    🟨 Looking for our community of readers and writers?

    Join 24,000+ at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

    - ask questions of upcoming podcast guests,

    - behind-the-scenes publishing insights,

    - creativity mini-challenges,

    - Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

    - and more.

    Podcast booking inquiries:

    info@creativeinspiredhappy.com



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    40 分
  • Tackling Big, Existential Questions in Fiction with Nikki Erlick, New York Times Bestselling author

    Tackling Big, Existential Questions in Fiction with Nikki Erlick, New York Times Bestselling author
    2025/07/10

    Welcome to another episode of the Creative. Inspired. Happy. podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.

    My guest today is Nikki Erlick, New York Times Bestselling author of The Measure, which was a TODAY Show/Read with Jenna book pick. Nikki's work has been translated into 24 languages worldwide, and her newest novel, The Poppy Fields, is out now.

    Today, we talk about:

    * Nikki's favorite childhood books,

    * Her experience first as a travel writer and ghost writer, before shifting to fiction,

    * Why she's drawn to big, existential questions in her novels,

    * How she is able to write without thinking about what her audience is expecting of her,

    * pouring herself into the characters of The Poppy Fields,

    and so much more.

    Want more of Nikki?

    You can find Nikki on Instagram and her website. Her newest novel, The Poppy Fields, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!

    🟨 Looking for our community of readers and writers?

    Join 24,000+ at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

    - ask questions of upcoming podcast guests,

    - behind-the-scenes publishing insights,

    - creativity mini-challenges,

    - Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

    - and more.

    Podcast booking inquiries:

    info@creativeinspiredhappy.com



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/subscribe
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    36 分
  • The Invisible Thread: What Authors and Readers Offer Each Other

    The Invisible Thread: What Authors and Readers Offer Each Other
    2025/07/03
    Hello, Protagonists,Welcome back to Letters from the Creative Life. These occasional essays explore the quieter corners of living: small reflections on art, ambition, and the tender balancing act of building a meaningful life in a noisy world. Think of them as letters from my life to yours. Enjoy!The Invisible Thread: What Authors and Readers Offer Each OtherYears ago, when I was still unpublished and hungry for any connection to the literary world, I had the opportunity to be the conversation partner for a well-known author visiting our local bookstore. I spent hours preparing for the event, and on the day of, I asked thoughtful questions and felt genuinely excited about the discussion we had on stage.But afterward, when she didn’t follow me back on social media, I felt stung. Didn’t she appreciate what I’d done for her as host in our local community? Wasn’t I worth a simple follow?It wasn’t until years later, when I was published and began experiencing the reality of public-facing author life, that I understood. That well-known author wasn’t being snobby—she was protecting her sanity. The event we’d done together was just one stop on a long tour, one conversation among dozens, not to mention all the press and interviews online. It wasn’t mentally healthy for her to follow every bookseller, every conversation partner, and every reader who wanted a piece of her digital attention without drowning in the noise.Then vs. NowThere was a time when a novelist’s job was simply to write novels. Authors like J.D. Salinger and Harper Lee could disappear from public view entirely, letting their work speak for itself. Readers had to seek out authors through carefully crafted interviews or rare public appearances, if they encountered them at all.Today, the expectation is radically different. To sell books in the current market, authors are expected to be accessible, relatable, and constantly engaging. We share glimpses of our writing process and our daily routines, and some of us—like me here on Substack—build communities around our creative lives.This intimacy is beautiful, in many ways. But there’s also a shadow side to this accessibility.When Knowing Becomes ClaimingThe challenge with parasocial relationships—those one-sided connections where someone feels like they know a public figure personally—isn’t that they exist. Parasocial relationships have always existed. People have felt connected to actors, musicians, and even authors for as long as we’ve had public figures at all.The difference now is proximity and expectation, because digital platforms create the illusion of personal relationship. When an author shares a photo of their morning coffee or talks about their writing struggles, it feels like a text or video call from a friend. The human brain, which evolved for small communities where we actually knew each and every person we interacted with, struggles to distinguish between true intimacy and technologically-enabled accessibility.This confusion can sometimes lead to a sense of ownership over an author’s time and attention that feels different from other relationships. Almost every author I know has, at some point, been on the receiving end of a reader lashing out because they were disappointed/upset that the author didn’t respond to their email, DM, or social media post.But if we step back and try to look at this objectively, isn’t this strange? For example, if a friend recommends a restaurant to you, the friend doesn’t expect the chef to come out and personally thank them.Yet, in a world where technology creates a parasocial mirage, it’s easy to forget that authors might be fielding hundreds or even thousands of similar messages, or simply taking a much-needed break from being online.The New RealityI think about Suzanne Young, who told me about co-authoring a book with Tom DeLonge from the band Blink-182. During a book signing, a fan approached with scissors because he wanted to cut a piece of Tom’s hair to keep as a souvenir. Tom’s bodyguard intervened, and afterward, Tom turned to Suzanne and said something like, “Isn’t it crazy when that happens?” She laughed and told him that that doesn’t happen to authors, it only happens to rock stars.That conversation happened years ago. I’m not sure it would be as clearly true today.Recently, bookstores have had to implement security policies that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. At some events, signs now explicitly state that authors “do not owe fans access, attention, or physical proximity simply by virtue of being public figures.” The fact that this needs to be spelled out shows how normalized certain expectations have become.What We Already Give Each OtherInstead of focusing on the negatives, though, I now want to turn this around and look at the wonderful things we all do for each other. I think it’s good to remember that, above all, we love books and we love storytelling. ...
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    8 分