In our current self-made-business-focused era of creativity, almost anyone can (and will) call themselves a “teacher”, so long as there are “students” willing to sign up (and pay) for their lessons. But I can tell you from experience that not all writing teachers are created equal.

My guest today is a cut so far above the rest, I simply HAD to share her with you. Jolie Stekly is a teacher, consultant, and coach for authors writing books for children of all ages. A children’s book writer herself, she currently leads two certificate courses for The University of San Francisco’s MFA for Young Readers Program and is also the creator of several online courses for authors looking to start, enrich, or advance their careers in writing and publishing.

As a successful graduate of two of Jolie’s classes, I can honestly say that I have never been as consistently motivated or inspired to just write books as when I was under her wing. She is a treasured friend and mentor in my author story and I cannot recommend her enough.

I hope you’ll take the time to listen to our discussion, which covers Jolie’s fascinating journey from chalkboard-adoring youngster to beloved teacher of burgeoning storytellers. Whether you write children’s books or not, I’m certain you will be inspired by what she has to share.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Joining me today is the ray of Ibiza sunshine that is Francesca Bossert. Francesca is a poet, novelist, crocheter, horse whisperer, artisan bag maker, and celebrity talk show host. 😉

Among the many things I admire about Francesca is her insistence that art remain a source of joy and escape for both creator and receiver during these unsettling times.

Together we are here to uplift and entertain, and we invite you to join us on the patio for a laughter-filled tête-à-tête about poetry, perseverance, and the many shapes our creative journeys can take.

While you’re here, I invite you to pick up a copy of Francesca’s poetry book, Illicit Croissants at Dawn, which I gush about it at length during our chat.

Follow her on Instagram @francescabossertauthor

And be sure to subscribe to her newsletter, For Fun and Then Some, for fun and then some! ❤️

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Many authors dream of attaining bestseller status. Many more would be happy just to be able to “make a living” as a writer.

But how many of those authors would be ready (or willing) to wait a quarter of a century to realize those dreams?

Hopefully, today’s guest will convince a few more creative souls to “hang in there,” because her success story proves that patience, along with flexibility and a willingness to experiment, is an indie author’s most valuable asset.

Mary Louisa Locke is the bestselling author of dozens of independently published books, novellas, and short stories from Historical Mystery and Romance to near-future Science Fiction.

She is a wealth of information and an inspiring example of how a writer’s childhood dreams can become reality … if only given the time.

I hope you’ll sit in for this illuminating conversation, and don’t hesitate to drop a follow-up question for Mary Lou in the comments. She’s as brilliant a business woman as she is a storyteller.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

I’ve been gently needling today’s guest, the whip-smart and culturally attuned Beth Lisogorsky, for some time about starting a Romance themed podcast with me. Actually, I think she brought it up first and I refused to let it go. 😏Either way, I think you’ll appreciate the crisp co-host chemistry on this episode, wherein Beth (Front End Research/The Smarts) and I (Back End Production/The Sass) dig into our mutual obsession with the Romance genre.

Swoon as we verbally flirt-tackle everything from genre cliques to teen soaps, Audrey Hepburn to Alan Rickman, grinding to knotting, and lots more in between.

So, light some candles, pour yourself a froth-forward Nespresso, slip into something salacious, and lend us your ears.

Oh, and please do yourself a favor and subscribe to Beth’s Newsletters!

She’s as brilliant on the page as she is in the “studio.”

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Today, I’m hosting a bevy of badass Empress authors who, in addition to building independent careers around their writing in literary spaces, film, television, journalism, and publishing, have each penned a memoir which illuminates the rocky road taken on each their own journey through “the thick of it.”

My fabulous guests— Eleanor Anstruther, Kimberly Warner, and Alisa Kennedy Jones, each offer a unique perspective on the process of discovering (or being handed) their mystery puzzle box, dumping out the pieces, and slowly nudging them back together to reveal the full-color portrait of their lived experience.

This episode is a must listen for anyone considering writing a memoir, anyone looking for a highly-recommended memoir(s) to read, or anyone keen on sneaking a peek into how the real storytelling sausage gets made.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

In the hot seat this month is expat story-maker Troy Ford, creator of Ford Knows Books and author of Lamb, a novel in snapshots. Troy and I had a rollicking chat, ripe with “air quotes,” about the far too often undisclosed wear-and-tear authors experience building a “platform,” keeping it afloat, and finding “success” while being “authentic” without sacrificing their values.

Self-published authors take note! Troy has gobs of wisdom to share on his experience bringing Lamb in to the world. Listen here! And be sure to check out The Road to Published series on his Substack for more inspiration.

Thanks for supporting Talk Fiction! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.

You can also give me a boost in the algorithm department by following, rating, or leaving a review for Talk Fiction on your favorite listening platform.

Thank you for your support!!!

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

I was crazy delighted to host two of my favorite fiction writers and OG Substack friends, Maegan Heil and Wil Dalton, for this petite panel podcast on the ins, outs, and undersides of writing horror stories.

Thrill as we talk-tackle the power of genre fusion, the allure of escalation, the pursuit of the perfect twist, and the perils of sharing your unhinged art with your unseasoned loved ones.

Plug in (if you dare) for this seasonally appropriate chat, and be sure to indulge in the deliciously dark fiction offered by my esteemed guests at your earliest convenience!

maeganheil.substack.com

wildalton.substack.com

As your esteemed host, I know that podcasts are a big ask of your time and bandwidth. If you don’t have the space to listen to today’s installment but would still like to support my podcasting endeavors, kindly smush the “like” button and/or share this post with your people. 💜🙏🏼

You can also give me a boost in the algorithm department by following, rating, or leaving a review for Talk Fiction on your favorite listening platform.

Thank you for your support!!!

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

Helping me kick off Season Two today is the Forged series author, 𝐂𝐁 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧. CB’s debut novel, Shattered, launched in April of this year (2025) from Provender Press, and Book Two, Merged, is scheduled to arrive early in the spring of 2026. Official release date TBD!

CB and I had a fabulous chat about her writing origins, research process, side hustles, and the mystical power of a Dropbox policy change notification that lead to the creation of a three book series which eventually found a publisher through the kind of word-of-mouth-deal-making magic we all dream about.

We hope you’ll plug in and have a listen!

Thanks for supporting Talk Fiction! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.

Music: Sub Arbore, written by C Torrey | A Torrey, performed by Two Days From Monday.

We also talk about the wonderfully weird world of Wattpad, the blessing/curse that is the Amazon machine, and how my guest turns slices of his real life into really funny fiction.

Michael Estrin is the 57th funniest guy on the internet, and a damned treat to talk with. He also says the ‘f’ word a lot, which delights me to an embarrassing degree.

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

Today, I’m joined by fellow novelist and solo-preneur, Samuél Lopez-Barrantes, creator of if not, Paris, and author of The Requisitions, the flagship novel of his newly established publishing imprint, Kingdom Anywhere. Samuél has spent the last year forging a “non-trad” path to success for himself and his novel, as well as lighting the way for other writers ready to invest themselves fully in an independent publishing experience. One that aligns with their values, their timeline, and their professional aspirations.

Not to say that any of that is going to be easy.

Investment (in and of the self) is the word of the day.

So much good stuff in this one, friends. I hope you’ll take the time to listen and be inspired.

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

My guest today is Dennard Dayle, a massive writing talent who—in this humble podcaster’s equally humble opinion—spends far too much time succeeding brilliantly under everyone’s radar.

Join us for an engaging exchange around the creation of his first book, Everything Abridged, his experience pitching and landing coveted bylines at The New Yorker, Clarksworld, McSweeney’s, and elsewhere, his penchant for pranks, and his thoughts on the value of higher education. If there’s a recurring theme to be found in this “extra” fun conversation, it might be our collective sanity.

Friends, I am beyond jazzed to bring you today’s podcast featuring successful author and marketing maven, Claudine Wolk, creator of the Substack newsletter (slash) book (slash) podcast Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

In this episode, Claudine and I tackle book marketing (eek!), self-promotion (ack!), and a whole mess of easy-to-perform exercises designed to help you, FELLOW ARTIST, strengthen your “business” muscles CREATIVELY, so the whole thing doesn’t feel like such a dang chore.

Claudine is a fantastic resource for authors, and a tremendous supporter of hard-working artists like moi.

And to my fellow fiction writers, I really went to bat for us in this one.

We CAN do “business.” We just need to approach it like it’s art.

Oh, and you’re going to want to buy Claudine’s book after you listen, so here’s a link to shop: Get Your Book Seen and Sold

And for the love of Pete, go read my award-winning novel, See Dot Smile. It’s FREE for the aforementioned Pete’s sake. And the perfect summer beach read. 💜🔥

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

Today’s interview is going to feel like a cozy lunch date with an old friend you haven’t seen in years but can jump right back in with as if you saw each other yesterday. CK Steefel, creator of the hysterically heartfelt Substack, Good Humor, joins me in a laughter-infused gab sesh about writing, performing, working hard, and living well.

* Can CK Steefel fit her fist in her mouth?

* Did she sleep with George Costanza?

* Did Meg Oolders strip in college?

* Can she actually fly?

* Will these two co-author a book about poop as it pertains to parenting?

All of these questions will be answered in this scrumptious installment of what is fast becoming the most fun I’ve ever had while being stealthily educated by my peers.

“I think part of the reason I'm doing this show is to talk to people and learn a little bit … on the sly … while also hanging out and having fun and socializing with people, which is the best way to learn … in my opinion.” - Meg Oolders, Talk Fiction

Listen, friends. And learn. You won’t be sorry. 💜

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

Welcome back to Talk Fiction, the podcast dedicated to entertainment media’s most overlooked underdogs: Fiction writers.

In this episode, professional dream chaser, Meg Oolders, matches minds with expert goal getter, Amran Gowani, in a dynamic duo log about the pleasures and perils of writing a huge ass book. From pantsing (or plotting) to publication (or not) and everything in between.

This one’s an ear full. But who better to deliver “real talk” about the novel writing experience than two maniacs who have actually done it, and are crazy enough to want to do it again?

Please give it up for my guest on his recent Big Five publishing deal for his debut novel, Leverage. I had the unique opportunity to read the director’s cut of Amran’s book before almost everyone, and I am thrilled to see both book and author getting their due. Let the record show, I snagged an intimate interview with this up and comer before he got super famous.

Let. The. Record. Show.

Guest: Amran Gowani

Host: Meg Oolders

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

In this episode, yours truly, Meg Oolders, talks with fellow writer and multitude Ben Wakeman about avoiding the rut of niche-ness, embracing AI (for what it is), fostering empathy for the betterment of humanity, and about returning to the workforce after a full (but fleeting) creative immersion.

Guest: Ben Wakeman

Catch & Release

The Memory of My Shadow

Harmony House

Host: Meg Oolders

Stock Fiction

In this episode, yours truly, Stock Fiction creator Meg Oolders, has a cozy fireside chat with micro-fiction maestro, Justin Deming, about his courageous leap into self-publishing, self-promotion, and self-marketing for his fifty-word story collection, 50 Fifties.

We talk shop about writing micro-fiction and highlight the amazing community of fire-gazers Justin has cultivated with his bi-weekly Fifties by the Fire gatherings, hosted on his popular Substack, Along the Hudson.  

Later we delve into our respective novel writing experiences, and chat about future leaps for our current works-in-progress.

And no fiction writer discourse would be complete without addressing everyone’s favorite confidence-crushing anti-muse: The inner critic.  

Guest: Justin Deming

Along the Hudson

50 Fifties

Host: Meg Oolders

Stock Fiction

See Dot Smile

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

Talk Fiction is a podcast dedicated to entertainment media's most overlooked underdogs: fiction writers.

In this episode, author J.E. Petersen and I dig deep on preserving our humanity, ditching digital dope, setting boundaries, and silencing our inner critic.

Guest: J.E. Petersen

DISPATCHES FROM INNER SPACE

SHADOW AND FIRE

VOLTAGE

Host: Meg Oolders

STOCK FICTION

SEE DOT SMILE

Music: Sub Arbore by Two Days From Monday

Thank you for listening!