Hey lovers of words and stories.
Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing.
The Novel Experience Podcast
No fluff, no filth, just fun, fascinating and fruitful discussions with authors, editors, booksellers, publishers and agents to help you fulfill your writing career. Your comments, guest suggestions and topic ideas are welcome. The show’s on hiatus at the mo; however, there are 15 episodes in the can and available below for your listening pleasure. New episodes will be coming ASAP.
The show’s title tune is Devil in the Details by Glynne Turner. Click the title below to listen to the entire song. It’s fab!
Devil in Details by Glynne Turner
You may listen to episodes of The Novel Experience by clicking the individual episode links below or via the following podcasting sites (Sorry! May be hiccups while podcast updates to new site):
Podcast Alley
Episode 15: Bloody Words Mystery Conference, Victoria, BC
Today, I interview Kay Stewart, published mystery author and co-chair of Canada’s largest mystery conference, held in Victoria, British Columbia, 2011. (click link below).
Discover Kay’s embarrassing writing secret (I’m amazed and impressed that she revealed it), add her excellent tips to your writer’s toolkit, learn how she successfully collaborated on a mystery novel with her husband, find out about Bloody Words and why she’s desperately seeking a coffin maker before June! (duration ~ 38 minutes)
Episode 14
In this episode, I complete my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link below; duration ~18 minutes).
Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.
Listen to discover what challenges Clare encountered and surmounted as a small publishing house, learn what she would do differently if she were entering publishing today and find out she thinks makes an ideal manuscript.
Find out more about Clare’s editing services and her art by emailing her at thorbesedit (at) gmail (dot) com.
Episode 13
Today, I continue my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link below; duration ~15 minutes).
Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.
Listen to discover the inside scoop on what a small publishing house looks for in a manuscript. Also, ever wondered what is meant by “finding your voice”? Don’t despair; using the visual arts as a comparison, Clare’s explanation is simple and clear and soon you and your “authorial voice” will be one.
Find out more about Clare’s editing services and her art by emailing her at thorbesedit (at) gmail (dot) com.
Episode 12
Today, I begin my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes. (click link below; duration ~12 minutes)
Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.
In this episode, Clare simply and succinctly defines the different levels of editing (something most writers could use) and reveals what she looked for in a publishable manuscript. Listen and make sure your work makes the grade! Find out more about Clare’s editing services and her art by emailing her at thorbesedit (at) gmail (dot) com.
Episode 11
I’m pleased to announce the release of the last section of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link below).
Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.
Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!
If you’ve ever thought of writing a screenplay or adapting a novel to the screen, you’re gonna want to listen to this episode as Don offers practical tips to help you write that blockbuster and provides nifty insights into the screenwriting world.
He also adds practical insights on screenwriting, testing out your screenplay and offering us a taste of his new script. (duration ~20 minutes)
This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner, a lovely story aptly titled Our Children, resonates our children’s theme.
Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:
Episode 10
I’m pleased to announce the release of the second of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link below).
Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.
Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!
If you’ve ever thought of writing a screenplay or adapting a novel to the screen, you’re gonna want to listen to this episode as Don offers practical tips to help you write that blockbuster and provides nifty insights into the screenwriting world.
He’ll also answer a couple of fascinating questions: Which creative mind would he prefer to collaborate with: a novelist or a playwright? And, what do the instructions for a light airplane have to do with penning a script? (duration ~20 minutes)
This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is a rockin’ tune, aptly titled Inspiration.
Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:
Episode 9
I’m pleased to announce the release of the first of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link below).
Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.
Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!
Tune in to learn Don’s simple but insightful tip on how to discover the voice and thought processes of another writer. I’m gonna give it a try. (duration ~20 minutes)
This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is a lovely ballad, called Meet Me.
Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:
Episode 8
I’m delighted to announce the release of the last of my three-part conversation with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (Click link below; duration ~20 minutes)
I met Chevy earlier this year at a book event in Victoria, BC, and was impressed by her intelligence and self-deprecating humour. A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy reveals how she overcame the challenges of her writing process and why she chose a nom de plume.
Plus, discover what finger painting, word counts and New York’s famous Flatiron building have in common with the engaging Nanaimo novelist. And, get a sneak preview of Chevy’s next two thrillers, Never Knowing and Always Listening.
Also, in honour of Remembrance Day, this episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is the very moving military tune Battlefield.
Episode 7
I’m delighted to announce the release of the second of my three-part conversation with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (Click link below; duration ~21 minutes)
A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy explains that she even though she felt writing Still Missing was her destiny, she was extremely shaken when she decided to give up her full-time work as a successful real estate agent and take the literary leap.
Plus, discover out how many times Chevy fine-tuned her first novel, why she greatly values professional feedback and how she landed her agent and publisher.
Also, this episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is Sensitive Guy.
Catch up on Chevy’s thriller:
Discover Renni Browne’s self-editing secrets:
Episode 6:
The first of my three-part conversation with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (Click link below)
A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy generously reveals how she mined her own personal troubles to drive her protagonist’s voice and which professional editor helped hone her manuscript and eventually land her an agent.
Plus, find out what selling real estate and using a hammer has to do with Chevy’s writing process! And Unnatural States is the showcase tune by Glynne Turner.
Catch up on Chevy’s thriller:
Discover Renni Browne’s self-editing secrets:
Episode 5:
A continuation of my conversation with the prolific and genial North Dakota fantasy writer Janie Franz. (Click link below; roughly 23 minutes)
Discover how Janie’s work as a music reviewer provided her with a novel marketing opportunity for the book launch of Warrior Women, the third in The Bowdancer Saga. You’re gonna wish you could be there!
Discover Janie’s book:
Episode 4:
My congenial and prolific guest is North Dakota writer, Janie Franz, author of the unique and enchanting fantasy, The Bowdancer Saga.
Listen as Janie describes her long and convoluted journey into publishing success, offers a few excellent marketing tips and reveals her biggest writing challenge. (Click link below; duration: 19 minutes)
Discover Janie’s book:
Episode 3:
I continue my fascinating conversation with the pride of the Canadian prairies, award winning crime writer Anthony Bidulka. His scribbles his best-selling Russell Quant mystery series under the fab prairie skies of Saskatoon, SK.
Listen to discover Anthony’s five ‘C’s of author promotion and why he sells so many books. (Click link below; duration: roughly 15 minutes)
Dig deeper into Anthony’s latest book:
Episode 2:
My erudite and entertaining guest is the pride of the Canadian prairies, award winning crime writer Anthony Bidulka. His scribbles his best-selling Russell Quant mystery series under the fab prairie skies of Saskatoon, SK.
Listen to discover Anthony’s excellent tip for character development and to find out why he ‘plays God’ now and then. (Duration: roughly 14 minutes)
Come back soon for Part 2 to learn Anthony’s five ‘Cs’ of author promotion and help your own book marketing. (Click link below.)
Dig deeper into Anthony’s book:
Episode 1:
My guest is Denise Dietz, best-selling mystery and historical romance author. Find out what happened to Deni at The Dallas/Fort Worth Airport…it’s every author’s dream! (Click link below.)
Check out Deni’s latest novel:
