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My guest this week is Aleksandra Merk, a proud graduate of the first cohort of Dream to Draft! I’m very excited to have her on the show because she bridges the gap between the academic and writing world. She has explored fiction in many forms herself, and being right in the middle of working on her first novel, I felt Aleksandra was the perfect guest to take us into the world of wonder within the writing community. It’s an honor to have her on the show and share this conversation about writing, wonder, and the impact it has on our lives.   Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode one of season eight of the Secret Library Podcast. I can think of no better guest than Katherine May who will start us in this journey of seeking wonder. Katherine is an internationally bestselling author and podcaster, most known for her book Wintering. Her newest book, Enchantment is the topic of our conversation today. We talk about looking for wonder through writing and choosing to write about topics that will change us and shift our perspectives. Happy listening! Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am really excited to have Sonal Champsee on the podcast today where we are taking her concept of writer therapy and accepting questions from The Secret Library cafe about the murky middle and discussing them. We hone in on three different questions that I think will be really relevant to you because struggling with these issues are part of what it means to be a writer. It’s safe to say we both enjoyed this experiment. Dig deeper with us an enjoy Sonal’s advice for making your way through the murky middle! Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show veteran Hannah Dennison is joining me this week. As the author of 17 books, I know she’s no stranger to the murky middle and finding her way through it. I love having Hannah on because we really get into what it means to get stuck in the middle, the various solutions we’ve tried, and our successes (and failures) with NaNoWriMo. This episode will help you think about your writing process as a whole and help you recognize the writer that you are. I know you’ll love this conversation!  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram @carodonahue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There will be many stories similar to yours, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put yours on the page! Today on the podcast, Danny Ramadan, author of The Foghorn Echoes, shares his 5-year experience writing his book. He’ll inspire you to persevere through the murky middle - even when that includes 17 drafts! In particular, his thoughts on structure and the framework he uses to continue through the drafts is a lifesaver. Enjoy this must-listen episode. Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve completely fallen in love with Cooper’s Chase, the setting in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club Mystery book series, so much so that my husband and I joke that is where we want to end up when we get older. With that being said, I’m so honored to have Richard on this week’s episode of the SLP. He’s sharing so much value on writing not only a series, but writing within the comedic crime genre. His ability to track and trust his characters is unparalleled. Still, there’s something for every author in this episode. Enjoy!  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is Emerson Whitney and I had so much fun recording this interview, it felt like one of those episodes where you get to play. His upcoming book, Heaven, is a powerhouse of a book that I can’t recommend enough, it was as much of a joy to read as it was to talk about the process of writing it. Emerson shares how the relationships in his life have influences his writing, taking risks with confidence, and why he’ll always choose autobiography. There are so many gems in this episode, listen in now! Show notes here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The romance genre is going through a revolution — more and more books include deeper storylines that people are clamoring for (and publishers and bookshops are taking note). Today’s conversation with Jasmine Guillory is a real treat. She’s written eight fantastic romance novels, all with engaging and relatable characters. But even with a stunning finished product, there was still a murky middle to wade through. Listen in to Jasmine’s advice for reaching the end happy.  Visit this episode's show notes post here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Kearney, the author of Thumbs Up: A Hitchhiking Irishman and 25,000 Kilometres from Patagonia to the Arctic, is joining me on the podcast today to share a bit about his journey of hiking from the most southern point to the most northern point of the globe as well as writing the story of it. I’m excited to bring this to you because the murky middle during both projects is very apparent. As a first time writer, Thomas has a great perspective on the process as whole. You’ll hear how he worked through doubt to hold himself accountable to finish both momentous goals.  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The murky middle during memoir writing is one that deserves it’s own episode because you’re quite literally writing about your own life, so it can feel a bit more personal. I’m excited to have Courtney Zoffness, Sunday Times Short Story Award winner and author of Spilt Milk on the Secret Library today. She shares her decades long journey of authorship and how to stay encouraged, navigating the risk of sharing your work, knowing what material to include in your book, and more. If you’re feeling unsure of your own story as an author or you’re ready to tell your story, this episode is for you.  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you start your novel without fully knowing the depth of the story that you’re telling. LaToya Watkins, author of Perish, is joining me today on The Secret Library Podcast to share her writing process. I learned so much about method writing, creating multi-dimensional characters, and the journey of getting your book (and yourself!) ready for submission. Perish was such a gripping read, pulling me fully into the characters’ world, so this conversation was so satisfying. If you’re stuck in the draft phase and still trying to find your story, this episode will light the way to the reward that lies ahead. Read this episode's show notes here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we discuss Austria‘s approach with author and editor, Evelyn Steinthaler. Evelyn has worked for and with multiple independent publishing houses and is bringing all of that experience to our conversation today. You’ll hear the journey of independent publishing abroad, the signs of a good agent, and how to stay positive amidst rejections. Enjoy! Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m so excited to have another friend of the show on the podcast again this week, Mary Laura Philpott. In our conversation, you’ll hear about the writing process for her second book, Bomb Shelter, which follows on the heels of her previous book, the bestseller I Miss You When I Blink. So many amazing lessons drawing from her readers, the way she positions herself in the memoir and reading widely across many genres. Enjoy! Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s easy to believe that the publishing model in the US and UK are the only models out there, given how much coverage they get. Renée Belliveau joins me on the SLP to share her publishing journey in Canada. This conversation is special not only because of Renée’s insight, but because she revised her novel with the Next Draft course. Always a joy to see my students’ books reach publication. Enjoy!  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram @carodonahue. Connect with Renée on Instagram @rcbelliveau. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you imagine writing 17 books with the same characters? Jacqueline Winspear is the queen of series writing and she’s on The Secret Library podcast today to share her process of not only writing on publication deadlines, but also how she stays connected with her ensemble of characters. We touch on everything from writing in a different time period to writing through trauma. If you’re looking for a new series to read or you’re embarking on creating a series of your own, this episode is for you.  Visit this episode's show notes page here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s easy to believe that when we send our book off to publishers that we’ll receive at least one, or maybe multiple offers. But what happens when we don’t hear anything besides rejection? This is a topic that needs to be discussed more because it can be really hard to deal with that feeling. Danielle Lazarin is living this experience right now, and it was a catalyst for her to write her newest essay, The Ambiguous Loss of (Probably) Not Selling My Novel. I’m excited to have her on today to talk through this really tough seasons, the lessons she’s going to take with her, and how her view on publishing has changed. This isn’t the easiest topic, but we’ve made it juicy for you. Promise.  Visit this episode's show notes here. Connect with Caroline on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best things about The Secret Library is getting to be in relationship with writers from the time their book is just an idea to getting to see it through publication. Today’s guest, Melissa Fu, is one of those amazing people. Her work on her upcoming book, Peach Blossom Spring, started back in 2018 and is now about to hit the shelves in 2022. She’s sharing how her agent found her, the way she stayed engaged with writing during the pandemic, and the hopes that she has for her book. This one is a joy! Visit this episode's show notes page here. Stay up to date with Caroline and the show on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can take a lot more than courage to bring your writing to life. This week on the Secret Library, A.L. Berggren (Louise) is joining us to share a pandemic-activated self publishing journey that crescendoed with the release of her book, The Secret of Crying Minds.  Visit this episode's show notes page here and connect with Caroline and The Secret Library Podcast on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m so excited to have Kemi Nekvapil back on the podcast to kick of season six of The Secret Library Podcast. Kemi has found herself on the side of self publishing and traditional publishing. Today, she’s sharing her publishing journey of her newest book, Power. We’re highlighting the power of story, listening to your intuition, and more. Enjoy! Visit this episode's show notes page here and connect with Caroline and The Secret Library Podcast on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here we are at the end of season 5 of the podcast where we've focused on making a writing life. Today we're discussing the topic that has changed my life arguably the most out of everything we have talked about this season. Last week we talked about risk, so this week we have to talk about the rewards of writing. Many people say that writing is its own reward, but what if we don't feel this every time we sit down to write? That's what we're chatting about today. Visit this episode's show notes page here: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/episodes/s5-ep10  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.