Read Marc's latest book: https://iammarcavery.com/

Monthly Writer Encouragement: https://creativewritingwizard.com/

On this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by Marc Avery, crime thriller author, indie-author advocate, and the author of Discipline, a gritty, action-packed thriller following two mismatched homicide detectives pursuing a serial killer across Philadelphia.

We explore:

* His journey from self-publishing to signing with an agent and publisher

* Learning from failed launches, rejected queries, and missed publishing opportunities* How Discipline evolved as a story

* Writing from the perspectives of both detectives and the killer they are pursuing

* How he lets stories develop organically

* The challenge of writing natural character dialogue

* Bringing to life through an audiobook* What it's like to sell books at a conference

* Why authentic connection has made Threads his most successful platform

* Building discoverability without constantly telling people to “buy my book”

Marc shares how failure pushed him to rethink his approach to publishing and social media, why authors need to get out from behind their computer screens, and how small moments of visibility can eventually lead to readers, bookstore orders, event attendance, and unexpected opportunities.

📚 Explore Marc Avery’s books and find Disciplinehttps://iammarcavery.com/

🧵 Follow Marc Avery on Threadshttps://www.threads.com/@author_marc_avery

📸 Follow Marc Avery on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/author_marc_avery/

✨ Enjoy these conversations? Subscribe for more author interviews, writing craft deep dives, and indie publishing perspectives.

💡 Join the Creative Writing Wizard community:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2026/01/13/dawn-of-the-creative-wizard-community/

📖 Discover new indie book releases:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/11/18/indie-release-radar

📈 Tips and Tricks for Growing on Threads https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/04/08/tips-and-tricks-for-writers-on-social-media/ K

Keywords

Marc Avery, Discipline, Crime Thriller Author Interview, Philadelphia Crime Thriller, Writing a Serial Killer, Writing Detective Fiction, Indie Author Marketing, Threads for Authors, BookCon Author, Selling Books at Events, Writing Natural Dialogue, Audiobook Publishing, Author Discoverability, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, Glen Weatherhead

Recorded April 2026

Monthly Encouragement in your inbox:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2025/10/28/how-i-consistently-get-into-a-writing-flow/Join the Creative Wizard Community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizardOn this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by Frances Wong, children’s and middle-grade author, teacher, and indie publisher behind the Lexi Walker sci-fi adventure series and the holiday adventure Tasha’s Christmas Wish.We explore:- Her long road from discouraged young writer to confident indie author- Querying, self-publishing, and choosing the right publishing path- Why she edits with printed pages, pens, and a lot of Post-it notes- Using Save the Cat beats and flexible plotting for kidlit- Writing emotionally safe but high-stakes stories for children- Building resilience, agency, and relatability into young protagonists- How teaching shapes her storytelling and editing processFrances shares how a single image sparked the Lexi Walker series, why resilience is at the heart of all her stories, and how intentional storytelling can challenge young readers while still making them feel safe and supported.📚 Explore Frances Wong’s bookshttps://authorfranceswong.my.canva.site/home📸 Follow Frances Wong on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/author_frances_wong/✨ Enjoy these conversations? Subscribe for more author interviews, writing craft deep dives, and indie publishing perspectives.💡 Join the Creative Writing Wizard community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizard📖 Discover new indie book releases:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/11/18/indie-release-radarKeywordsFrances Wong, Lexi Walker, Children’s Sci-Fi, Middle Grade Author Interview, Indie Publishing, Save the Cat Writing, Plotting with Post-its, Writing for Kids, Resilience in Fiction, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, Glen Weatherhead

Monthly Encouragement in your inbox: https://creativewritingwizard.com/2025/10/28/how-i-consistently-get-into-a-writing-flow/ Join the Creative Wizard Community: https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizardOn this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by J.M. Testa. indie fantasy author of The Destined Road, book one of her trilogy rooted in classic, Tolkien-inspired storytelling with a modern heart.We explore:- How she went from nonprofit & corporate work to publishing epic fantasy- Her visual-first approach to building worlds- Creating new fantasy races- Developing an original Elven language (and how she built it)- Writing female-led fantasy without stereotypes- The freedom, and challenges, of the indie publishing path- Writer’s block, subconscious drafting, and trusting your brain to problem-solveJess shares her journey crafting a trilogy that blends classic fantasy vibes with modern themes of compassion, identity, and community, plus what she’s learned about writing in visual layers, discovering story mid-draft, and building languages that deepen world immersion.📚 Read The Destined Roadhttps://jtesta.com📸 Follow J.M. Testa on Instagramhttps://instagram.com/jmtesta✨ Enjoy these conversations? Subscribe for more author interviews, writing process deep dives, and indie fantasy spotlights.💡 Join the Creative Writing Wizard community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizard📖 Explore new indie book releases:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/11/18/indie-release-radarReferences & MentionsVulgarLang – language creation tool used for Elven structuresHarness Magazine interview with J.M. Testa - https://harnessmagazine.com/jess-testa/ @writermakesvideos - J.M. Testa on YouTubeKeywordsJ.M. Testa, The Destined Road, Indie Author Interview, Fantasy Trilogy, Worldbuilding, Elven Language, Map-Based Writing, Creative Writing, Indie Publishing, Classic Fantasy, Tolkien Inspired, Noblebright Fantasy, Women in Fantasy, Queer Fantasy, Writing Tips, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, Glen Weatherhead, BODY Novella