In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Joe burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest.
Caimh McDonnell is the bestselling author of the Dublin Trilogy and has one of the most entertaining and engaging newsletters out there with 10,000 subscribers and an astonishing open rate. Caimh answers our listener questions with tips on how to create great newsletters, even if you’re still writing your first novel, or launching the latest in a bestselling series.
Adele Parks has published 20 novels in 20 years and every one has been a Sunday Times bestseller. With over three and a half million copies sold in the UK, she is a phenomenon, and her latest novel Just My Luck hit the top spot again, but it all began with her grandfather paying her 50p for her stories. Oh, and in a shocking reveal… Mr D reveals his real full name. You don’t want to miss this.
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives...
Liz Moore is the NY Times bestselling author of Long Bright River, a novel ten years in the making that started with short stories, non-fiction sketches and community work in the neighbourhood where the story is set. All that due diligence led to one of the most acclaimed books of the year. Liz tells us how she crafts each of her books, and the Two Marks debate the pros and cons of the slow novel approach.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Michael Connelly is one of the most successful crime authors in the world with over 60m book sales. Having just released his new Harry Bosch thriller, he shares secrets about developing characters & writing book series – in the back of a London cab!
Rachel Winterbottom is Senior Commissioning Editor at Gollancz and she also writes fiction as Rachel Winters. Rachel answers our listener questions on the editorial process, what editors are looking for, tropes, word count, social media, deadlines, publication scheduling, conventions and much more!
Ayisha Malik, author of This Green and Pleasant Land, gives us amazing tips on first drafts, sequels, publicity, social media and why writing commercial, comedic fiction doesn’t mean you can’t tackle big themes, and how being a ghostwriter taught her how to be a professional writer. We also catch-up on the good news stories from our listeners, and Mr. Stay has read the first draft of his wife’s debut novel and he gives his verdict...
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston tells us about his life and new bestselling memoir, A Life In Parts.
Bestselling author Mel Sherratt tells us why she never gave up after twelve years of rejection. Since then, Mel has been self-published, traditionally published and digital-first published… she’s done it all and sold over a million and a half books! She tells us how publishing her first book changed everything. AND we celebrate five millions words banked on the BXP2020 Challenge with a chat with Claire Burgess, who just completed the first draft of her novel after starting the challenge in January.
Heather Fitt is the founder of Overview Media and organised our recent blog tour for the audiobook of Back to Reality. Heather takes us through the benefits of a blog tour and how they are organised and answers our listeners’ questions on costs, genres, bloggers, the lengths of blog tours and what to do with all those reviews when it’s over.
Links
Heather on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeBookish
Overview media: https://www.overviewmedia.co.uk
Every November hundreds of thousands of writers start their annual challenge of writing 50,000 words in one month. It’s called NaNoWriMomo (National Novel Writing Month). We get to speak with executive Director Grant Faulkner in the hectic run-up to NaNoWriMo, who shares his tips for both first-timers and veterans who make up the world’s most incredible writing community and event.
We scrambled to put this episode together in which we try and put some positive vibes out into the world. We celebrate some of our listeners’ recent triumphs, we answer listener questions, discuss creativity, strategies for working from home, how to make the most of your day and why writing is so important. Sit back and forget the world’s woes for just a short while...
Sign up to the BXP2020 Challenge here: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/bxp2020/
Karen Inglis is a bestselling indie children’s author based in the UK. Her books have sold over 100,000 copies and in this Deep Dive episode she answers our listener questions on finding illustrators, printing, marketing, blurbs, age-ranging, the craft of writing children’s books and tips on running great school events.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
We're delighted to welcome back Orion Publisher (and Editor of the Year nominee!) Emad Akhtar to critique our latest round of One Page Punch-Ups. These are pages sent in by our Chart Topper Patreons. We read them and critique them and all learn a little something that we can use in our writing.
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke with her about writing, aspiration and sheds.
BA Paris is the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, and with her new novel The Dilemma she takes a simple idea and digs deep with gripping effect. It’s this writing style that has sold over a million copies in the UK alone and made her an international bestseller. In a delightfully unassuming interview, she tells us how it all started when her daughters told her to do something for herself for once.
The Romantic Novelists’ Association celebrated their diamond anniversary last week with a glitzy award ceremony where four — FOUR! — of our listeners were nominated for awards. We spoke to them about the role the RNA has played in their careers, we bumped into our old friend Rowan Coleman, and we end with a very special interview with Milly Johnson, the evening’s recipient of the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Whatever your genre, there’s lots to inspire you here.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Steff Green has written over 30 books since 2015. Her career started with a near-miss with a major publisher, but she struck out on her own and now she’s an award-winner, a USA Today bestseller, and passionate about her storytelling.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Ahead of our main episode with James Swallow in a few weeks, we have this exclusive Q&A with James where he answers our listener questions on working in rooms with other writers on series like The Black Library, and he gives us great tips on pace, characterisation, balancing realism and the fantastic, writing for games, and how you can make your world tell the story for you.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... From farrier to million-selling indie author, USA Today bestseller, and writing machine, Shannon bestows wisdom, inspiration, and a quote that we want on t-shirts and bumper stickers.
Bec Evans was previously a guest on a Deep Dive (ep199, discussing her book How to Have a Happy Hustle), but since then she has surveyed over 3,500 authors about their writing habits and discovered some incredibly useful data on how writing little and often can improve your productivity and creativity as a writer. In this special live show, she reveals great tips for writers on toggling, tiny habits, micro-challenges and being spontaneous.
In this exclusive Deep Dive episode for our Patreons, Barbara Poelle is a New York literary agent and author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry — and she answers our listener questions on trends, genre, slush piles, getting an agent, and generally de-mistifying the publishing industry. This is essential listening for authors who want to be traditionally published.
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In this week's episode from the BXP Archives...
In this episode you will discover…
What does a commission editor do? It’s not just correcting your spelling!
What’s changed in publishing? And how you can make the most of these opportunities.
The most common mistakes by writers: And how you can avoid them.
Don’t cheat your reader: And how to have a longer career as a writer.
In the first of an occasional series where we dive into specific genres, we look at science fiction with Hannu Rajaniemi, award-winning author of The Quantum Thief, The Fractal Prince, The Causal Angel, Summerland and more. We answer listener questions on defining the genre, keeping up on scientific developments, world building, how to generate story ideas, and why we would love to read an Ian M Banks Star Wars novel.
To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality