What does it take to find a literary agent and navigate today’s ever-shifting publishing world?

In this episode, Jamie sits down with publishing veteran and literary agent Kate Barker to pull back the curtain on the industry. Kate talks about the ways in which AI and social media are changing author discoverability, why she asks for the first 500 words of a manuscript in her queries but not a synopsis.

Whether you're fine-tuning a pitch or love bookish insider talk, this conversation is packed with goodies.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Middle grade fantasy author, Oliver Lendon joins Jamie to talk about his traditional debut. Oliver chats about writing for the love of the craft, the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing and practical insights on querying manuscripts, open submissions, and the amount of formatting and documentation that goes into self-publishing.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Contemporary fiction author, Elizabeth Richardson is here, chatting about serialising her debut novel Trad on Substack. We discuss the trad wife subculture, dealing with rejections, and balancing multiple projects with a busy family life. Tune in for insights on building an organic reader community and a publishing inspired locked-room mystery recommendation.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

What if the government could police your dreams?

Young adult author Pippa Dunn drops by to discuss her debut novel, The Sign of the Raven.

Pippa pulls back the curtain on her journey from the theatre world to traditional publishing. She talks about the "crafter, not a drafter" writing process, how she balances plotting with discovery, and her whirlwind querying experience that led to a publisher auction.

Whether you're in the query trenches or just looking for a new historical fantasy, this episode is packed with actionable advice and creative inspiration.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

How do you write fast-paced, high-tech sci-fi that gets kids hooked on reading?

Debut children’s author, Steve Blackman joins us to talk about his new middle-grade novel, Zero Override! Steve breaks down his writing process, how video games and classic sci-fi influence his world-building, navigating Middle Grade vs. YA, and his journey to landing a publishing deal with Scholastic.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Author, illustrator, and content creator Christy Anne Jones is here ahead of the release of her debut cosy fantasy novel, Theodora’s Tea Shop.

Christy pulls back the curtain on how she blended 1920s modernist influences with illegal magic syndicates and deep female friendships to craft a story that sits right in the sweet spot of cozy and dark fantasy. She also chats about her YouTube series where she tests out the writing routines of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Dan Brown, and Brandon Sanderson.

Plus we have an honest, behind-the-scenes discussion about the business of books. From Christy's first manuscript dying in the querying trenches to navigating an international publishing auction with Hachette, she shares priceless advice on marketability, rewriting entire drafts from memory, and being part of a creative team.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Are you an aspiring author wondering if indie publishing is the right route for your book?

In this episode of the Write and Wrong podcast, Jamie sits down with Rachel Pattinson—an independent children’s author, publisher, chartered librarian, and winner of the prestigious Hachette Children’s Novel Award (2023).

Rachel talks about the inspiration behind her debut middle-grade mystery novel, Seven: Distracted Detective and pulls back the curtain on her unique journey from winning a major traditional publishing award to successfully launching her own indie imprint, Aralyn Press.

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter

Are you ready to take the next step in your traditional publishing journey? Literary agent Flo Sandelson of Curtis Brown joins us this week to share invaluable insider advice for aspiring authors. Flo chats about her path to becoming an agent, what it’s like working alongside Felicity Blunt and her incredible list of authors, and exactly what she looks for when reviewing a manuscript submission.

If you are currently writing a book, perfecting your fiction book proposal, or getting ready for querying literary agents, this episode is packed with tips on how to get published and how to catch an agent's eye. Tune in to find out what kinds of fresh voices and stories Flo is planning on building her list around—and learn how to make your own query letter stand out from the slush pile!

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

• Spotify
• Apple
• Amazon

Follow on socials! 🥳

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter