The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston

Amy True negotiated the contracts for her first two books (and explains why she wouldn’t recommend that!). We also discuss her long publishing journey over four different agents, “book bibles” for series writing, and her pivot from YA historical to adult romance.

Amy wrote award-winning YA historicals under the name Amy Trueblood before pivoting to adult romance. She wrote the Ivy Falls series, and is now at work on the Harvest Moon series. Book 1, CLEARLY CHARMED (a Practical Magic inspired speculative romance), is out now.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:
Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
To pitch to the podcast, go here
Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

AMY TRUE:
Website: https://www.amytruebloodauthor.com/amy-true/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atruebooks/
Newsletter: https://substack.com/@amytrueblood
CLEARLY CHARMED: https://bookshop.org/p/books/clearly-charmed-an-enchanting-small-town-enemies-to-lovers-romance-amy-true/302a67da7ae70abb?ean=9798217270255&bkshp-astro=t

Show Notes:
Wonderland author showcase info: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403
Shoutouts to: The Author’s Guild, Flux (NorthStar Editions), and Courtney Maum

Credits:
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Lee got both an MFA and a PhD in creative writing! Now, after many, many years (and many revisions!) her debut literary novel, AMERICAN HAN, is receiving oodles of accolades.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:
Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
To pitch to the podcast, go here
Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Lisa Lee:
Website: https://www.hellolisalee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaleehello/
AMERICAN HAN: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lisa-lee/american-han/9781643757254/

Show Notes:
Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403

Credits:
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Barber’s bestselling debut, TRUTH BE TOLD, was turned into a TV series with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company. Her sophomore novel… didn’t do so well. But she kept on writing despite many disappointments, publishing books in both the thriller and romantic comedy genres. Her latest novel is SISTERHOOD ABOVE ALL: A #RUSHTOK NOVEL, with Amayah Shaienne.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:
Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
To pitch to the podcast, go here
Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Kathleen Barber:
Website: kathleenbarber.com
IG: instagram.com/katelizabee
Substack: kathleenbarber.substack.com
Sisterhood Above All by Kathleen Barber with Amayah Shaienne: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250400055/sisterhoodaboveall

Show Notes:
Amayah Shaienne IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayahshai/
Eva's Babysitter's Club Fan-Fiction on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcdbYj5FeRP/
With shoutouts to Lisa Grubka, Ashley Spivey, Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator, Bouchercon, Mystery Writers of America, and Hello Sunshine
Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403

Credits:
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Griffin Brown and Michelle Barker have both been on long journeys to publishing their novels. Now, in addition to being editors at The Darling Axe, they are successfully self-publishing their co-authored craft books.

Between the two of them, David and Michelle write and publish in nearly every genre: picture books, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, historical, nonfiction, and even poetry. We talk about their experiences with agents and traditional publishing, as well as their experiences with small presses and self-publishing. And, of course, we discuss David’s decision to found his company, The Darling Axe, which provides editing, novel development, and other services for writers.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:
Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
To pitch to the podcast, go here
Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

David Griffin Brown:
The Darling Axe: www.DarlingAxe.com (Michelle and David's co-authored books can be found here)
Website: www.SeptimusBrown.com
@SeptimusBrown and @DarlingAxe on most platforms

Michelle Barker:
Website:www.michellebarker.ca
https://substack.com/@michbark
https://michellebarker.ca/books/

Show Notes:
Book Broker Agent Interviews: https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tagged/agent-interviews
Book mention: Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Shoutouts to Orca Books, Annick Press, Victory Co-op for Netgalley, Storygraph, Invisible Ink Editing, Gail Anderson Dargatz, and The University of British Columbia MFA

Credits:
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Mimi Montgomery signed with the first agent she queried (!!), and is using her dog as part of the guerrilla marketing campaign for her debut novel, MURDER BITES, which is a satirical murder mystery on the set of a reality TV show about dogs.

The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:
Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com
To pitch to the podcast, go here
Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/

Mimi Montgomery:
Website: https://www.mimimontgomerywriter.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mimi_montgomery/
SUBSTACK: https://mimimontgomery.substack.com/
MURDER BITES: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798842/murder-bites-by-mimi-montgomery/

Show Notes:
"Half the People Who See This DIY Promo Go On to Preorder My Book" by Jo Piazza (Substack article): https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-half-the-people-who-see
Book recs: Story Genius by Lisa Cron, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, Before & After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum
Movie and TV recs: A Simple Favor and Bad Sisters
Shoutouts to: The Writer’s Center, Carl Hiassen, Virginia Evans, Courtney Maum, Emily Jane, Jo Piazza, Andrea Bartz, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Credits:
The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.