In this month’s bonus episode, award-winning author Amber McBride joins Bianca to talk about ‘The Leaving Room’ — a YA novel in verse that unfolds entirely in the space between life and death. Amber opens up about losing and reclaiming her voice, the power of poetry to hold emotion, and what it means to write from the liminal spaces of grief and love. A mesmerizing conversation about craft, courage, and creating beauty out of silence.Tune in to this special October bonus episode — and let ‘The Leaving Room’ linger with you.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comIt’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs.For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlOur Sponsors:* Check out Aeropress and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://aeropress.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyawAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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27:06
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27:06
For The Love of Writing
This week on the podcast (listen to it here or watch it on YouTube!), Bianca interviews Hannah Mary McKinnon about her latest thriller, A Killer Motive. They delve into the intricacies of character development, the importance of collaboration in the writing process, and the challenges authors face in the ever-evolving landscape of publishing. Hannah shares her unique approach to creating realistic characters through detailed questionnaires, and discusses the emotional journey of writing and publishing.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comIt’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs.For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlOur Sponsors:* Check out Aeropress and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://aeropress.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyawAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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27:21
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27:21
Shooting the Shit: About publishing’s ghosting problem and when sales are “not good”
It’s Fall in publishing — which means colds, caffeine, and chaos. Carly and CeCe catch up after a whirlwind few weeks to unpack two hot topics from listener DMs: what to do if your agent ghosts you, and what editors really mean when they say “sales aren’t good.” They also get into whether publishing is truly a “retail business,” how to handle AALA membership questions, and whether pitch contests are still worth it.Get comfy and join them for some honest, funny, and unfiltered talk about the messy, mysterious world of publishing.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comIt’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs.For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlOur Sponsors:* Check out Aeropress and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://aeropress.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyawAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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28:25
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28:25
Balancing Emotional Depth and Action In Your Story
In this episode of Books with Hooks, author Judith Jaeger puts her query letter for ‘The Family We Choose’ in the spotlight. Carly and CeCe dig into what makes a query stand out—clear plot points, layered characters, and that all-important balance between heart and momentum.They offer practical feedback on sharpening present-day stakes and tightening narrative structure, before turning to Judith’s opening pages. With plenty of praise for her writing voice, they also share tips to boost reader engagement and plot clarity—lessons any writer can apply to their own work.Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comIt’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs.For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlSign up for CeCe’s Fall Course: Writing Tension Creating Tension, Conflict and Stakes in a StoryOur Sponsors:* Check out Aeropress and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://aeropress.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyawAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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44:38
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44:38
Shooting the Shit: About digital first book deals and negative experiences with writers' contests.
In this episode, Carly and CeCe spill all on their latest conference adventures, dive into the fast-changing world of digital-first publishing, and tackle the tricky art of managing client expectations. They get real about ethics in the industry, read some juicy listener DMs, and share why communication is everything in this competitive publishing game.Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.comIt’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs.For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlOur Sponsors:* Check out Aeropress and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://aeropress.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/tsnotyawAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of 'The Witches of Moonshyne Manor') interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who's involved in bringing a book to market. She's joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as opening pages in their Books with Hooks segment. Expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.
South Africa