Independent and traditional publication each have pros and cons. How do you know which is right for you?

In this episode of Modern Publishing, my guest is Jen Craven, author of emotional and suspenseful women's fiction. Jen recently signed a two-book deal, after publishing previous books independently. Jen shares her journey and offers advice for those who are deciding between self-publishing and traditional publishing. We explore the changing publishing models and important considerations for authors deciding between self-publishing and publishing traditionally.

Topics Discussed

• Indie publishing vs. traditional publishing
• Changing perception of self-publishing
• When to fight for creative control
• What is upmarket fiction?
• Writing for book clubs
• AI in the publishing industry

Guest
Jen Craven is the author of emotional and suspenseful women's fiction, stories where one decision changes everything. A former college instructor, she loves dark campus novels, which led to her contemporary debut, “Best Years of Your Life.” Her writing style blends poignancy with drama to create what-would-you-do narratives of the human experience. In March 2023, she signed a 2-book deal with Bookouture, scheduled for publication in fall 2023 and spring 2024. Aside from fiction, Jen has personal essay bylines in national outlets, including The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, Scary Mommy and many more. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and three children. When not working on her books, she can be found thrift shopping, taking long walks, and beating her kids in backgammon.

Jen's Website | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram

Resources

• The New Author's Handbook
• Blue Pen Blog: Writing & Publishing
• Blue Pen Writers' Conference

Connect With Us

• Modern Publishing on YouTube
• Blue Pen, Editing & Book Design
• Victoria's Website
• Social Media
  • Twitter @victoria_grif7 @bluepenbooks
  • YouTube @victoriagriffinfiction
  • Instagram @bluepenbooks
  • Facebook @victoriagriffinfiction @bluepenbooks

Explore creative ways to market your book and find the right readers.

My guest on this episode of Modern Publishing is author Michelle Cox. We discuss Michelle's transition from a hybrid press to self-publishing, and Michelle shares her book marketing insights. We talk about email lists, book tours, and the essential approach to marketing that most authors miss.

Topics Discussed

• Book marketing strategies for authors
• Blog tours and in-person events
• Growing readership through series development
• Building and marketing to an email list
• What is a hybrid press?
• Identifying vanity presses and scams

Guest
Michelle Cox is the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have won over 60 international awards and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Foreword, Elle, Redbook, Brit&Co., POPSUGAR, Buzzfeed, and many others. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. She lives in Chicago with her husband, three children, and one naughty Goldendoodle and is hard at work on her latest novel.

Michelle's Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | LinkedIn | TikTok

Resources

• EFA Editorial Rates
• Writer Beware from SFWA

• The New Author's Handbook
• Blue Pen Blog: Writing & Publishing
• Blue Pen Writers' Conference

Connect With Us

• Modern Publishing on YouTube
• Blue Pen, Editing & Book Design
• Victoria's Website
• Social Media
  • Twitter @victoria_grif7 @bluepenbooks
  • YouTube @victoriagriffinfiction
  • Instagram @bluepenbooks
  • Facebook @victoriagriffinfiction @bluepenbooks

Do you see the story you're writing play out like a movie?

In this episode of Modern Publishing, my guest is Anthea T. Piscarik, an accomplished novelist and screenwriter. Anthea explores the differences between novel writing and screenwriting and the lessons she's learned from both disciplines.

Topics Discussed

• Screenwriting vs. novel writing
• Taking risks and facing rejection
• The author-editor relationship
• Head hopping and POV
• Protecting your voice

Guest
Anthea T. Piscarik established a professional writing career as a creative writer and news reporter, both freelance and as staff for a weekly newspaper. As an alumnus of the University of Delaware, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Minor in Theatre, she concentrated in Film Theory and wrote two screenplays for her senior thesis. Anthea also studied Advanced Screenwriting at the University of Penn, and participated in the Act One: Writing for Hollywood program in Los Angeles. She published a short story in two literary magazines and was a two-time finalist in America's Best contest sponsored by the Writer's Foundation in the short story category. Her studies in acting resumed at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the oldest conservatory in the US, where she completed courses in voice, movement, and stage performance. She wrote three one-act plays performed in readers' theatre productions, and one fully produced. She is marketing five screenplays, two formerly optioned and is currently developing a five-novel series, The Miriam Chronicles, with the first two books published.

Anthea's Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Resources

• The New Author's Handbook
• Blue Pen Blog: Writing & Publishing
• Blue Pen Writers' Conference

Connect With Us

• Modern Publishing on YouTube
• Blue Pen, Editing & Book Design
• Victoria's Website
• Social Media
  • Twitter @victoria_grif7 @bluepenbooks
  • YouTube @victoriagriffinfiction
  • Instagram @bluepenbooks
  • Facebook @victoriagriffinfiction @bluepenbooks

Go behind the scenes with an Alaska-based literary agent working for a New York agency.

In this episode of Modern Publishing, literary agent Anjanette Barr of Dunham Literary gives us an inside look at what it's like working for a New York agency while living in Alaska. She demystifies the process of working with a literary agent and explains exactly what literary agents do for authors, beyond reading and evaluating query letters. Anjanette talks about the changing mentality among authors and agents, citing a decline in the "gatekeeper mentality."

Topics Discussed

• Working remotely in the publishing industry
• What exactly do literary agents do all day?
• Trust in the author-agent relationship
• Literary agents' evolving roles
• Neurodiversity, mental health, and trends in publishing

Guest
Anjanette Barr is a Literary Agent at Dunham Literary, Inc. She has been working in various branches of the writing and publishing world for over a decade, and being an agent is the perfect way to synthesize her interests and talents. Anjanette lives in beautiful Juneau, Alaska with her family of six. She represents authors across all age categories and most genres, and her wishlist can be found at dunhamlit.com and manuscriptwishlist.com.

Dunham Literary | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Resources

• The New Author's Handbook
• Blue Pen Blog: Writing & Publishing
• Blue Pen Writers' Conference

Connect With Us

• Modern Publishing on YouTube
• Blue Pen, Editing & Book Design
• Victoria's Website
• Social Media
  • Twitter @victoria_grif7 @bluepenbooks
  • YouTube @victoriagriffinfiction
  • Instagram @bluepenbooks
  • Facebook @victoriagriffinfiction @bluepenbooks

Every author deals with fear. Learn how to respond to fear and self-doubt in a way that drives your writing career forward.

In this episode of Modern Publishing, my guest is historical fiction author Tanya E. Williams, whose five novels include Becoming Mrs. Smith and Welcome to the Hamilton. We discuss the way Tanya runs her business and approaches publishing as an indie author. We also explore characterization and ways to help readers relate to unfamiliar concepts. Tanya talks about how the fear of failure has impacted her self-publishing journey and how failure can be an opportunity to learn and grow.

Topics Discussed

• Overcoming fear to achieve success
• Creating a thriving self-publishing business
• Pros and cons of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
• The self-editing and professional editing process
• Benefits of joining a writing community

Guest
A writer from a young age, Tanya E Williams loves to help a reader get lost in another time, another place through the magic of books. History continues to inspire her stories and her insightful view into the human condition deepens her character's experiences and propels them on their journey. Ms. Williams' favorite tales, speak to the reader's heart, making them smile, laugh, cry, and think.

Tanya's Website | Instagram | Facebook

Resources

• The New Author's Handbook
• Blue Pen Blog: Writing & Publishing
• Blue Pen Writers' Conference

Connect With Us

• Modern Publishing on YouTube
• Blue Pen, Editing & Book Design
• Victoria's Website
• Social Media
  • Twitter @victoria_grif7 @bluepenbooks
  • YouTube @victoriagriffinfiction
  • Instagram @bluepenbooks
  • Facebook @victoriagriffinfiction @bluepenbooks