What does it take to sell over 680,000 books when life (and publishing) keeps throwing curveballs?

In this episode of The Tortured Writers Podcast, I welcome bestselling author Laura Pearson. From switching agents (more than once) to battling serious illness while still hitting Kindle No.1 in the UK and US, Laura’s story is pure proof that persistence beats talent when talent gives up.

Plus, Bookaholic Bex shares a gripping psychological suspense thriller which follows a woman trapped in a hotel room with her new lover after an affair.

What You’ll Learn

- Agent Switching Survival Guide: Why changing representation can be the best decision you ever make (and how to know when it’s time).

- Writing Through the Worst: How Laura kept writing and selling while facing life-altering health challenges.

- Never, Ever Quit: The mindset that turned rejection, illness, and doubt into six-figure sales and a career most writers only dream of.

Laura Pearson is living, breathing evidence that the writers who keep going are the ones who get there. If you’re on the verge of deleting your manuscript, this episode might just save it and you.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is sponsored by Cheshire Novel Prize, an international writing competition for debut writers where every entry gets feedback. Go to cheshirenovelprize.com for more details or follow on Instagram @cheshirenovelprize.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What does it actually take to survive a thousand “no’s” and still walk straight into a dream publishing deal?

In this episode of The Tortured Writers Podcast, I welcome the unstoppable Louise Beech - author of the aptly titled debut How to Be Brave - who turned 1,000 brutal rejections into a triumphant traditional publishing career. From the soul-crushing early days to the moment the tide finally turned, Louise spills the raw truth on rejection, resilience, and why bravery isn’t the absence of fear; it’s writing the next book anyway.

Plus, Bookaholic Bex wrecks us all with an emotional must-read recommendation.

What You’ll Learn

- Rejection Survival 101: The mindset shifts and practical habits that kept Louise submitting (and smiling) through a thousand knock-backs.

- Bravery in Practice: Why “don’t give up on it, baby” became her mantra and how it applies to every writer staring at a blank page.

- From Pain to Publication: The pivotal moments that flipped the script, proving persistence plus talent eventually wins.

Louise Beech is living proof that the writers who keep going are the ones who get there. A luminous, laugh-out-loud, don’t-you-dare-quit episode for every tortured soul still chasing the dream.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is sponsored by Cheshire Novel Prize, an international writing competition for debut writers where every entry gets feedback. Go to cheshirenovelprize.com for more details or follow on Instagram @cheshirenovelprize.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

One viral video can catapult your manuscript from desk drawer to bestseller list - skipping agents, auctions, and all the polite rejections in between.

In this episode of The Tortured Writers Podcast, authors bare their souls on the agony of starting over, the sneaky “time thieves” that derail us, and how to nail those elusive character voices while surviving the sting of rejection.

Joining me is Adam Beswick, who reveals exactly how he exploded on TikTok and Instagram, built a fanbase, ditched his day job with five-figure monthly royalties, and why he’ll never look back at traditional publishing.

Plus, Bookaholic Bex is obsessed with a jaw-dropping domestic thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the final page.

What You’ll Learn

- Self-Publishing Superpowers: How TikTok virality turned Adam's thrillers into overnight hits, offering speed and control that traditional paths often stifle.

- Character Fire: Secrets to crafting arcs that hook readers fast - ditching bland tropes for voices that linger and plots that pulse.

- Rejection Resilience: Mindset shifts for surviving (and thriving beyond) the slush pile, with tips on when to pivot to direct-to-fan freedom.

Adam’s rise is a cheeky nudge that in writing, the boldest paths often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is sponsored by Cheshire Novel Prize, an international writing competition for debut writers where every entry gets feedback. Go to cheshirenovelprize.com for more details or follow on Instagram @cheshirenovelprize.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.