Episodes

Are you stuck trying to figure out whether your work in progress is middle grade or young adult fiction? Are you stressed out that you don't know where your book fits on the shelf? This episode with industry-savvy editor Sangeeta Mehta, tackles the rules to follow about where a book fits, from character ages and topics discussed, to book length and protagonist's voice. We discuss regional sensibilities and how they impact bookstore decisions; whether the industry should embrace an upper middle ...

Writing a series is no joke! It's hard enough to write one novel, but 2 or 4 or 8? You're going to want to listen to this list of tips critical to creating a sustainable series. 1. Pick your genre carefully 2. Consider type 3. Setting is crucial. 4. Have a plan 5. Use secondary characters Bonus: Know when to say peace out and move on! Make sure to tune in for all the gory details! Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: ...

Are book covers important for an author? How about platform building? Are school visits a viable author side hustle? How do you make that a success? On Episode 40, we dig into these questions, and so many more, with award winning author Lindsay Currie. Don't miss it! Visit Lindsay (and see the cover for It Found Us!) at www.lindsaycurrie.com Pre-order a signed copy of Lindsay's forthcoming book - It Found Us. About Lindsay Currie Lindsay is the award winning author of 4 spooky middle grade n...

This week on Writers With Wrinkles Books on Botox we look at the critical ingredient to making a series succeed. And how humor in the first person can keep a reader turning pages. Don't miss it! Books discussed: The Bullet That Missed, by Richard Osman The Polter-Ghost Problem, by Betsy Uhrig PS: we are moving most of our activity to Instagram, so please visit us there! @WritersWithWrinkles Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bl...

Have you been wondering why horror is so popular right now? Do you want to know what is selling in YA and why? How about ways to make your story stand out to acquiring editors in a crowded field? Or maybe you want insight into why an agent passed on your manuscript? On episode 38, we get into the details with agent and author Eric Smith and answer these questions. We also look at what to include in a query letter to get Eric's attentiona nd why you should stop obsessing over including the incit...

Join us as we test drive a new format! Our NEW Top Five Deep Dive is a list of writing tips you will want to keep handy as you journey through your manuscript (believe us, it IS a journey!) This week, we talk about spooky middle grade, a very hot segment of book sales right now. Tips include: 1. Start with a great hook - attention spans are limited! 2. Keep the pace fast. Building suspense throughout the story is critical to keeping the young reader’s interest. 3. Use humor to offset scary s...

What we are talking about: how to write authentically about neurodivergent characters and foster understanding among readers; how to tackle difficult subjects in your writing how a setting inspired The Fire, The Water and Maudi McGinn, (out 7/11!!) About Sally J. Pla Sally’s books have been translated into many languages, garnered starred reviews, appeared on many ‘best book’ and state lists, and picked up a few awards along the way. But the best thing they’ve done is connect her to young r...

Books on Botox is BACK!! This week we look at ways to find writing inspiration and killer plots right in your own backyard. And how flipping the script on a conventional plot can give you a new perspective, and possibly a best selling novel. Books reviewed: Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, by Lindsey Currie. Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social...

What we are talking about: what to do and how to practice if you are switching genres as an author foolproof ways to make your pace lightning fast and, do you still need to do your homework if your idea is super original?? (hint: yes) About Misa Sugiura Misa's ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind is her first middle-grade novel and is inspired by the gods and monsters of her parents' home country, Japan. Misa is also th...

A head’s up that we are changing the show format by splitting Books on Botox and the Hot Writing Tips into separate episodes. This lets us spend more time on both without ending up with a show that is just too freaking long. We hope it works for you and please share your feedback with us because that helps a lot. Today we are talking about unreliable narrators. Definition: A narrator is “unreliable” when we have reasons to doubt the versions of events he or she is presenting to us as factual i...

Join us for a conversation with nonfiction author Rebecca Barone (Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica; Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code; Mountain of Fire (coming Spring 2024). Approximately 3.5 million non fiction books are published each year, a full 88percent of all books published. So how do you write non fiction that is as thrilling as a page turning novel? What ingredients are essential to nonfiction success? Listen in to find out. About Rebecca ...

What does it take to be a "good" mother? Join us as we dive into the dystopian world of Jessamine Chan's The School for Good Mothers, and talk about her take on the destructive nature of the idea of perfect motherhood. This novel illustrates how an everyday, normal thing like motherhood can be pushed to the limits of imagination and become something terrifying. We venture into a different realm with Henry Herz's nonfiction picture book, I Am Smoke, and examine how this mesmerizing book enterta...

Join us as we talk to Hannah McKinnon, author of the recently released The Darlings. Hannah discusses the importance of reinvention and why you need to do your homework before querying agents and publishers. There is such great advice in this episode. Don't miss it! About Hannah Hannah Roberts McKinnon is the award winning author of 8 women's fiction and beach read novels with Simon and Schuster. Her titles include Message in the Sand, The View From Here, Sailing Lessons, The Summer House, Myst...

Episode 29 Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, by Sally J. Pla Visit our Bookshop.org site for all our featured books! For today's Hot Writing Tip, we discuss the questions you should ask your current agent or an agent you are considering working with. Important stuff, people!! Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles...

Join us as we talk to middle grade writers Lisa and Matt McMann! Matt talks about the driving idea behind his new middle grade mystery series Monsterious, how he plotted multiple stories creating a unique pitch for publishers and how is debut year has gone. Lisa offers some practical marketing advice that you won't want to miss. About Matt As a professional musician, Matt McMann played an NFL stadium, a cruise ship, and the International Twins Convention. Now he writes the kind of spooky myste...

Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber Email: Beth@BethMcMullenBooks.com Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for more!

In episode 27, we feature: Empire of Pain, by Patrick Radden Keefe Paris On Repeat, by Amy Bearce Visit our Bookshop.org site for all our featured books! For today's Hot Writing Tip, we talk about FORESHADOWING! Oh, we go deep into why @taylorswift13 is the BEST. You want to listen. Trust us. Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber Email: Beth@Be...

Erinn Pascal joins us to talk about how authors can make a submission stand out, the acquisition process, the importance (or not) of an author platform and what's currently on her manuscript wishlist. Oh, and we get into dogs and cats, too. Don't miss it! About Erinn Pascal Erinn is the senior editor for kids’ books and licensing at Andrews McMeel Universal. Prior to AMU, she held editorial positions at Scholastic, Disney, and Simon & Schuster. Erinn grew up in Pembroke Pines, FL and graduate...

In episode 25, we feature: My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite The Doll's Eye, by Marina Cohen Visit our Bookshop.org site for all our featured books! For today's Hot Writing Tip, we talk about repurposing chapters or characters edited out of a manuscript in new and exciting ways! Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber Email: Be...

Mychal Threets joins us to discuss the challenges of public libraries, the importance of access for all and to spread some joy for stories in all their forms. About Mychal Mychal Threets is a Supervising Librarian for Solano County Library and a library influencer. He got his first library card and first library job at the library branch he currently supervises. He grew up in Solano County, and was raised by books and libraries Find Mychal and his super fun videos on Twitter. Giveaway! Win ...

In episode 23, we feature: The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse: A Chet Gecko Mystery, by Bruce Hale Visit our Bookshop.org site for all our featured books! For today's Hot Writing Tip, we talk about how to avoid mistakes when querying agents. Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber Email: Beth@BethMcMullenBook...

Author Lisa Fipps talks about how critical empathy is to writing for kids, prose v. writing in verse and how to connect with characters. About Lisa With her debut middle-grade novel, Starfish, Lisa Fipps won 13 awards, including the 2022 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award, and the novel in verse was selected for 36 state award/book lists. She’s done virtual and in-person author visits with thousands of children in America, Canada, and China, in addition to being a guest speaker and panelist at...

In episode 21, we feature : Night Shift, by Stephen King The Vanishing of Aveline Jones, by Phil Hickes Visit our Bookshop.org site for all our featured books! For today's Hot Writing Tip, we talk about the dreaded synopsis and what is critical to include and what to leave out. Support the showTwitter: @BethandLisaPod Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles Bluesky: @bethandlisapod.bsky.social Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber Email: Beth@BethMcMullenBooks...

Richard Knight, author, features writer and content provider, joins us to discuss the ins and outs of writing for online magazines and content services. He also shares a sneak peak of his latest middle grade fiction project and it's so good! Find Rich on Twitter or CinemaBlend. About Richard Knight Rich Knight is a teacher by day, and a writer by night. He has written for several publications, including The Source, Complex Magazine, Weight Watchers, and XXL. He currently writes feature articl...