aspiring authors Posts
March 31, 2025
Ask Beth & Lisa: Bad Agents, Good Advice, and Book Coaching Wins
Episode Summary:In this special Saturday edition of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa field listener questions, discuss red flags when parting ways with a literary agent, and explore how external chaos seeps into writing. Beth also shares excitin…
March 17, 2025
Breaking Barriers in KidLit: How Michele McAvoy and The Little Press Empower Emerging Voices
Episode Summary In this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa sit down with award-winning children's book author, publisher, and attorney Michele McAvoy, the powerhouse behind The Little Press. Michele shares her journey from self-publish…
March 3, 2025
Cracking the Code: Middle Grade & YA Publishing Secrets with Meg Gaertner
In this episode of Writers with Wrinkles, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid welcome Meg Gaertner, managing editor at North Star Editions. Meg shares expert insights on the middle grade and young adult publishing landscape, the acquisitions process, and …
Feb. 17, 2025
Breaking Out of the Writing Rut: Micro Goals, Fresh Eyes & Creative Hacks
Episode Summary In this Ask Beth & Lisa episode of Writers with Wrinkles, the hosts tackle one of the biggest challenges writers face—getting out of a creative rut. They share personal experiences, actionable strategies, and insights on how critiqu…
Feb. 3, 2025
**"Mastering the Query and Navigating Publishing: Insights from Literary Agent Adria Goetz"**
Episode SummaryIn this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid sit down with Adria Goetz, a Senior Literary Agent at KT Literary, to discuss the secrets to crafting a standout query, navigating industry challenges, and …
Jan. 20, 2025
Overcoming Writing Challenges & Building Community – Writers With Wrinkles
In this Ask Beth & Lisa episode, the hosts dive into the complexities of writing and publishing, addressing listener questions about rejections, crafting commercial hooks, and setting meaningful goals. They also highlight the importance of community…
Jan. 6, 2025
Unlocking the Secrets of Children’s Publishing: Insider Tips from an Industry Pro
In this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa welcome Ivan Taurisano, Associate Editor at Abrams Books, to discuss the intricacies of children’s publishing. Ivan provides invaluable advice on creating standout submissions, navigating acqui…
Dec. 23, 2024
Encore Episode: Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez Tells You What You Need to Know
Episode SummaryIn this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, co-hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid sit down with literary agent Kaitlyn Sanchez to discuss the intricacies of the publishing industry. Kaitlyn shares practical advice on querying agents, c…
Dec. 9, 2024
Author Jail? It's a thing.
In this special Ask Beth & Lisa episode, co-hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid tackle two burning listener questions: the need for illustrations when querying a manuscript and navigating the fallout of poor book sales. They share candid insights, r…
Nov. 25, 2024
Tackling the Last Chapter
Episode SummaryIn this slightly unhinged episode, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid explore the challenges of completing a novel, with Lisa sharing her current struggles with wrapping up her book’s final chapter. The duo offers practical strategies to o…