In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, YA author Troy Hunter discusses the creation and publication journey of his novel 'Gus and the Missing Boy', which was released in February 2024. Troy shares insights into the idea that sparked his book, the lengthy process it took to write and transform it from an adult crime novel to a young adult thriller, and the critical role of pitching, competitions, and agent feedback. He offers valuable advice for aspiring authors on completing their manuscripts, dealing with rejections, and the importance of writing groups and competitions. The episode also covers the excitement and unexpected challenges of seeing his first book on the bookstore shelf, along with a sneak peek into his upcoming sequel 'Gus and the Burning Stones'.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:52 Meet Troy Hunter: Author of 'Gus and the Missing Boy'
01:16 The Inspiration Behind 'Gus and the Missing Boy'
01:59 From Idea to Manuscript: The Writing Journey
03:36 Navigating the Publishing World
06:54 The Role of Competitions in Getting Published
12:43 Dealing with Rejections and Feedback
19:08 The Importance of Writing Groups and Courses
23:46 Seeing Your Book on the Shelf
27:01 Goodreads Reviews and Reader Feedback
28:52 Exciting News: The Sequel to 'Gus and the Missing Boy'
32:34 Top Tips for Aspiring Authors
34:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author

In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, hosts Madeliene Cleary and Tina Strachan talk with Australian debut authors Kyra Geddes and Mark Mupotsa-Russell about their experiences writing, publishing, and promoting their first novels. Kyra discusses her historical fiction, 'The Story Thief,' and the long journey of research and rewriting, while Mark shares insights into his thriller, 'The Hit Woman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt,' and the unexpected path to a screen deal. The episode also includes discussions on manuscript assessments, author community support, dealing with reviews, and tips for aspiring writers.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast

00:40 Introducing Our Summer Series

00:56 Meet Kyra Geddes and Mark Mupotsa-Russell

06:32 Kyra's Journey to Publication

20:33 Mark's Journey and Mentorship Award

27:26 The Editorial Process

33:54 Promoting Your Debut Novel

35:17 Maintaining Momentum After Book Release

36:09 Big Wins and Screen Deals

40:04 Rapid Fire Questions: Year in Review

43:02 Challenges and Surprises in the Author Journey

46:50 Navigating Reviews and Mistakes

55:30 What's Next for the Authors?

01:00:35 Top Tips for Aspiring Writers

01:03:05 Conclusion and Farewell

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author

In this episode of the Book Deal Podcast, hosts Madeleine Cleary and Tina Strachan talk with Ruby Ashby-Orr, publisher at Affirm Press. The discussion covers topics such as Tina's upcoming book release, the importance of pre-orders, strategies for making a compelling book pitch, and insights into the acquisitions process within publishing houses. Ruby shares her journey in publishing, the types of books she finds appealing, and offers practical advice for emerging writers on how to perfect their manuscripts and navigate rejections. The episode provides a deep dive into the collaborative aspects of editing and the intricacies of launching a debut novel.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast

00:40 Exciting News from Tina Strachan

03:23 Meet Ruby Ashby Orr

06:08 Tips for Perfecting Your Pitch

08:09 The Importance of Query Letters

12:54 The Role of Pitch Events

17:31 Ruby's Journey in Publishing

21:33 Understanding the Publishing Landscape

25:35 Advice for Aspiring Authors

27:27 Mastering Manuscript Evaluation

29:35 The Importance of a Synopsis

32:48 Common Mistakes Leading to Rejection

35:17 What Publishers Are Looking For

38:44 The Collaborative Editing Process

47:10 Understanding the Acquisitions Process

51:40 Top Tips for Emerging Writers

53:01 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Links mentioned in this episode:
Neeka and the Missing Key by Tina Strachan preorder
Ruby Ashby-Orr

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author