The Bestseller Experiment
Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.
S6 E540 · Mon, February 10, 2025
EP540: David Koepp – Everything You Write Moves You Forward
David Koepp is one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood history. With a collective box office somewhere in the region of $250b he’s written Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Death Becomes Her and many, many more. We were delighted to talk to David about his fantastic new novel COLD STORAGE and to get an insight into his writing process.
S6 E539 · Mon, January 27, 2025
EP539: Sarah Moorhead and Stuart Turton — Teacher, Student & Metempsychosis
Do you have a favourite teacher? One who encouraged you to write, maybe? This special episode is for all the teachers and students out there who have inspired one another over the years, and we have two of them on the show. Sarah Moorhead is the author of Witness X and started out as a teacher. One of her students was young Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water. They tell us how they reunited over Twitter and how discussing big ideas in the class can change the course of a life.
Mon, January 13, 2025
EP538: Michelle Paver | Research To The Extreme
How do you research your books? Michelle Paver has written eighteen novels, including the bestselling Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness. She’s encountered killer whales, wolves, polar bears and a runaway Yak, all in the name of research.
S6 E537 · Mon, December 30, 2024
EP537: Maria Semple | How To Find Your Voice As A Writer
Have you every wondered how important your “Voice” is as a writer? This week on The Bestseller Experiment podcast, New York Times success Maria Semple tells us just how essential your voice is. Maria was recently named a “Power Author” by the Hollywood Reporter, putting her alongside such giants as JK Rowling and George RR Martin. Maria started as a screenwriter. Her book, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? spent over a year on the New York Times bestsellers. Her new book “Tomorrow Will Be Different” was announced as a TV series with Julia Roberts as the lead. She spoke to us about the things that stop us writing truthfully.
S6 E536 · Mon, December 23, 2024
EP536: A Christmas Special with Ian Rankin
A Christmas treat as we speak to bestselling author Ian Rankin who takes us through his incredible career, including tips on plotting, research, and his worst habit when writing, his favourite mistake (which he kept in the book) and he tells us his Sean Connery story…
S6 E535 · Mon, December 16, 2024
EP535: Behind Sarah Pinborough’s Eyes!
Sarah Pinborough has had over twenty novels published and written for TV and film. Sarah’s new thriller Behind Her Eyes is getting incredible buzz after a heated auction. Sarah is always funny, insightful and often eye-wateringly honest. Brace yourselves for one of our most entertaining author chats yet… WARNING: Contains strong adult language!
S6 E534 · Mon, December 09, 2024
EP534: John Connolly | No Formulas & Finishing Books
John Connolly has won pretty much every crime award going, and his books are regular Sunday Times bestsellers. He doesn’t do workshops, doesn’t suffer fools, and tells us about the massive issue with leaving a book half-finished. John’s words are dripping in wisdom and we loved him.
S6 E533 · Mon, December 02, 2024
EP533: Shannon Mayer - Million-Selling Indie Author
From farrier to million-selling indie author, USA Today bestseller, and writing machine, Shannon bestows wisdom, inspiration, and a quote that we want on t-shirts and bumper stickers.
S6 E532 · Mon, November 25, 2024
EP532: LJ Ross – Rebel with Four Million Sold
LJ Ross has long refused to play by other people’s rules and when she didn’t like the look of a publishing contract she struck out on her own. Over four million copies of her books have been sold to date and she’s still going strong. She answers our listener questions on marketing, pricing, Kindle and she tells us why she’s launching her own imprint and a prize for authors.
S6 E531 · Mon, November 18, 2024
EP531: Joanne Harris — Squeeze Your Characters
Joanne Harris returns to the podcast with her gripping page-turning thriller A Narrow Door. Joanne answers our listener questions, tells us the importance of human interaction to her writing, why she doesn’t see a distinction between plotting and pantsing, and why ideas are like planets in a solar system. And the Two Marks discuss a chicken-writer analogy that has to be heard to be believed…
S6 E530 · Mon, November 11, 2024
EP530: Angela Marsons on getting a 12-book deal
We welcome the wonderful Angela Marsons back to the podcast. Angela is the multi-million bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series. And she’s back with Six Graves, the 16th book in the series. Despite her mega sales (five million and counting) and a 12-book contract, Angela tells us why she doesn’t take a single book for granted, and why every one she starts feels like the first. She also answers our listener questions and the two Marks discuss the pros and cons of being prolific.
S6 E529 · Mon, November 04, 2024
EP529: Michael Connelly - How to Write Every Day
We are delighted to welcome worldwide bestseller Michael Connelly back to the podcast to discuss his new novel The Dark Hours, which explores an LA scarred by fear and social unrest. Michael reflects on how the world of Harry Bosch has grown over an incredible thirty years, and he answers our listener questions of writing habits, outlining and much, much more.
S6 E528 · Mon, October 28, 2024
EP528: Joe Abercrombie Returns
We celebrate international bestselling fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie’s return to the podcast with The Wisdom of Crowds, which brings his Age of Madness trilogy to a thrilling climax. As always, Joe is a treasure trove of amazing advice for writers and he answers our listener questions on outlining, symmetry, POV and much more. We also ask him if he still dances naked in the rain… and his answer might surprise you.
S6 E527 · Tue, October 22, 2024
EP527: Steve Cavanagh: “A Masterclass in How to Hook Your Readers”
Sunday Times bestselling thriller writer Steve Cavanagh returns triumphant to the podcast. When we last spoke to him he was on the verge of a great breakthrough. Today he’s an award-winner and international bestseller and with his new thriller The Devil’s Advocate he’s done it again. Steve reveals how he works hard to engage the reader straight away.
Tue, October 15, 2024
EP526: Kate Mosse: “Unlocking the Secrets of Kate Mosse”
Kate Mosse CBE is a global bestselling author with over 8 million sales. Her previous 10 novels include Labyrinth, which became the highest selling novel of the year and was made into a TV series. She is also founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction which has changed the landscape for women’s writing over the last 30 years. A full-time carer and author, Kate is a huge inspiration to writers. Her latest novel is The Map of Bones and her theatre tour based on Labyrinth.
S6 E525 · Mon, October 07, 2024
EP525: Dean Wesley Smith - How to Stop Listening to Your Critical Voice
Dean Wesley Smith is one of the most prolific writers working today, with over 200 novels, and countless short stories published. He reveals how he has learned how to stop listening to his critical voice, and to stop thinking of the story as a “product”, and how that has unleashed his creativity.
S6 E524 · Mon, September 30, 2024
EP524: How to Be a Bestseller Rulebreaker
Linwood Barclay is the international bestselling author of over twenty novels, and his latest thriller Find You First is a fast-paced, high-concept, page-turner. In this jam-packed chat we discuss head-hopping, point-of-view, flashbacks, fan fiction, deadlines, writer’s block, self-doubt and more!
S6 E523 · Mon, September 23, 2024
EP523: Dean Koontz: “The Soul of Dean Koontz. All-Time Bestselling Author”
Dean Koontz is one of the most successful bestselling authors, with over 120 novels published, which have sold an incredible 500m+ copies. This ranks Dean among the top 10 bestselling authors of all time, and one of the top three living authors, an accolade he shares with J.K. Rowling. In his latest novel, The Forest of Lost Souls, Dean weaves suspense and nature with our innate connection with animals to create a suspenseful page-turner.
S6 E522 · Mon, September 16, 2024
EP522: You Are Not Alone
The Two Marks talks about isolation, loneliness, the voices in our head and all the other stuff that can make a writer feel like they are alone. We discuss what we can do to build a healthy community around us, even in lockdown. And we share the good news stories from our communities on Patreon, Facebook and the Academy.
S6 E521 · Mon, September 09, 2024
EP521: B.J. Fogg — Tiny Habits
BJ Fogg, PhD, founded the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and created the Tiny Habits Academy to help people around the world. He tells us how the smallest changes can make a huge difference to your productivity as a writer.
Mon, September 02, 2024
EP520: Philip C. Quaintrell — The Bestseller Breaking All The Rules
Philip C. Quaintrell is in Amazon’s top 1.8% of self-published authors. He does this with no marketing spend, no newsletter, and epic fantasy novels so massively epic that even Brandon Sanderson would quake at their page count. He’s also one of the nicest authors we’ve interviewed. He gives us the lowdown on how he moved from full-time job to full-time author in just a few years.
S6 E519 · Mon, August 26, 2024
EP519: Richard Armitage Returns - “Hobbits, Audiobooks and How to Manifest Your Dreams”
Hollywood actor Richard Armitage is best known as Thorin in The Hobbit, appearances in Ocean’s 8, Captain America and the seventh most viewed Netflix show - Harlan Coben’s ‘Fool Me Once’. Richard also starred in shows including Obsession, Red Eye, Spooks, Robin Hood and North & South, as lead John Thornton. As a seasoned audiobook narrator, we talk with Richard about his second novel The Cut, as well as The Hobbit, how he sets life-changing goals and so much more.
S6 E518 · Mon, August 19, 2024
EP518: Kim Bretton – Working with ACX Audiobooks Producers
Kim Bretton is an actor and has worked in theatre, TV and film, but these days she’s found great success producing and narrating audiobooks in Nashville. We talk to Kim about her career shift into audiobooks and the spooky connection she had with Back to Reality.
S6 E417 · Mon, August 12, 2024
EP517: Our Listeners’ Challenges and Triumphs
What better way to celebrate our 400th episode than by speaking to some of our longtime listeners and members of the Bestseller Academy who have faced their greatest writing challenges and come through the other side
S6 E516 · Mon, August 05, 2024
EP516: Writers & Mental Health – Live Show Highlights
We discuss one of the most important topics we’ve ever covered: writers and their mental health. With questions from our live studio audience we share our experiences of loneliness, anxiety, self-doubt and support.
S6 E415 · Mon, July 29, 2024
EP515: Angela Marsons – 3 million sold in 3 years
Angela Marsons’ first novel Silent Scream was rejected by every major UK publisher, but she never gave up and now she’s sold an incredible three million copies and counting. Her story is incredible and inspirational and she may just be the loveliest author we’ve ever interviewed…
S6 E514 · Mon, July 22, 2024
EP514: Defying the Odds with Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sherrilyn Kenyon’s first book was published when she was still in college, since then she has had more than 80 novels on the New York Times list, and more than 70 million books in print. We talk to Sherrilyn about her rise from childhood poverty to eBook pioneer and a bestselling phenomenon.
S6 E513 · Mon, July 15, 2024
EP513: Ask the Editor with Emad Akhtar
Editor Emad Akhtar has worked with authors like Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin and Justin Cronin and was kind enough to join our show and answer our listeners’ questions!
S6 E512 · Mon, July 08, 2024
EP512: Steve Cavanagh – Author on the verge of a massive breakthrough
Steve Cavanagh is the author of the Eddie Flynn legal thrillers The Defence, The Plea, The Liar and now, with his new book Thirteen, he is on the verge of a bestselling breakthrough. Steve brings his legal expertise to his writing and creates compelling characters and nail-biting thrillers, and co-presents the Two Crime Writers And A Microphone podcast… Which we’re not going to plug on the show. No way.
S6 E511 · Mon, July 01, 2024
EP511: Into The Woods With John Yorke
John Yorke is one of the world’s leading lights in the art of storytelling. As former head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and head of Company Pictures, he has worked on shows like Shameless, Life On Mars, and the UK’s most popular soap opera EastEnders. He is also the author of Into The Woods, one of our favourite books on the craft of storytelling.
S6 E510 · Mon, June 24, 2024
EP510: Gareth L Powell – How to sing a space opera
Gareth L Powell is one of the most generous authors on social media and a font of writing wisdom. He’s also the award-winning author of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, his short stories have appeared in Interzone, Clarkesworld, and The Year’s Best Science Fiction, and he has written for The Guardian, The Irish Times, 2000AD and SFX. With his new book Embers of War he has returned to his love of space opera. We discussed apes, outlining, and answered a few listener questions…
S6 E509 · Mon, June 17, 2024
EP509: Joanne Harris | Chocolat & Sheds
Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke with her about writing, aspiration and sheds.
S6 E508 · Wed, June 12, 2024
EP508: Mark Billingham – From a shoutline to five million books sold
Mark Billingham is renowned for his bestselling crime thrillers, not least the Jack Thorne series. Having now sold over 5 millions copies of his books, Mark takes us through his incredible career which takes in acting, stand-up comedy, writing for TV, and a little bit of kidnapping.
S6 E507 · Mon, May 27, 2024
EP507: Taylor Jenkins-Reid – Breaking The Rules = Bestseller
Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s latest novel Daisy Jones and the Six has been a global smash, but what makes it all the more extraordinary is that she has written fiction in a non-fiction format. Taylor describes the challenges in writing a novel that is up against real life, stranger-than-fiction rock and roll history.
S6 E506 · Mon, May 20, 2024
EP506: Mark Victor Hansen - “Your Life Story”
Mark Victor Hansen is an American inspirational and motivational speaker and author . He is best known as the founder and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Mark was turned down 144 times trying to get his book published. He kept going when others told him it was not a good idea.. Today with almost 500 million Chicken Soup for the Soul books sold, Mark holds the Guinness World Record for most published books. Mark’s latest venture is the Mark Victor Hansen Library which helps authors reach their book dreams with a unique approach to hybrid publishing.
S6 E505 · Mon, May 13, 2024
EP505: Heather Morris — “Shut up and Listen!”
We celebrate seven years of the podcast with the amazing Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. She returns with a new novel, Sisters Under The Rising Sun, which transports the reader to the women in Japanese POW camps in WWII and is another incredibly powerful story. Heather talks about the role of listening in her work, creating fiction from reality, and what she learned from screenwriting.
S6 E504 · Mon, May 06, 2024
EP504: Mark Desvaux - “The Hallmark Habits of Highly Successful Authors (Part 2)”
In Part 2 of this series, Mark Desvaux takes you on a deep dive into five more hallmark habits of bestseller authors, distilled from seven and a half years of deep interviews and analysis. Drawn from over 500 conversations with top writers, this series offers possibly the most comprehensive exploration of what it takes to reach the bestseller lists. Join Mark as he unveils the critical practices and routines that have propelled these authors to the peak of literary success. Mark also invites you to join the all-new LIVE 5-Day 200 Word Challenge .
Mon, April 29, 2024
EP503: Mark Desvaux - “How to Create a Writing Habit for Life”
We're celebrating nearly five years since the launch of the 200 Word Challenge—a project that has helped countless writers finish their books with over 40 million words banked so far. The project grew out of research that showed many aspiring authors struggle with finding time to write (83% according to our survey), as well as self-confidence issues, and challenges around perfectionism, procrastination and finishing. Mark announces the launch of the LIVE 5-Day 200 Word Challenge - a free event starting May 13th providing coaching on writing habits and how to successfully integrate daily writing into your life.
S6 Enull · Mon, April 22, 2024
Ep502 - Mark Desvaux - “The Hallmark Habits of Highly Successful Authors (Part 1)”
In Part 1 of this new series, Mark Desvaux takes you on a deep dive into the habits of bestseller authors, distilled from seven and a half years of deep interviews and analysis. Drawn from over 500 conversations with top writers, this series offers possibly the most comprehensive exploration of what it takes to reach the bestseller lists. Join Mark as he unveils the critical practices and routines that have propelled these authors to the peak of literary success. Mark also announces the all-new LIVE 5-Day 200 Word Challenge .
S6 E501 · Mon, April 15, 2024
EP501: Brandon Sanderson
We caught up with fantasy bestselling author and super nice dude Brandon Sanderson and in a jam-packed episode he answered our listeners’ questions and let us in on some of his inspirational top tips for productive writing…
S6 E500 · Mon, April 08, 2024
EP500: Mark Desvaux - “The Six Life-Changing Reasons You Write”
We've reached a monumental episode – the 500th – on the Bestseller Experiment podcast! To celebrate, Mark Desvaux goes deeper than ever to uncover and countdown the most important, life-changing reasons why we write, drawn from seven and a half years and over 600 hours of interviews with bestselling authors.
S6 E499 · Mon, April 01, 2024
EP499: Michael Connelly | 60 Million Thriller Books
Michael Connelly is one of the most successful crime authors in the world with over 60m book sales. Having just released his new Harry Bosch thriller, he shares secrets about developing characters & writing book series – in the back of a London cab!
S6 E498 · Mon, March 25, 2024
EP498: Karen Storey - “How to Become a Short Story Superstar”
Karen Storey's name has become synonymous with success in short story writing. With an impressive one-in-three win rate out of over 40 competitions last year, Karen exemplifies what it means to blend passion with strategy in writing. In this episode, Karen shares the secrets of her success, including the importance of great endings. In a final twist, we surprise Karen with the Bestseller Academy All-Star Award for her outstanding achievements.
Mon, March 18, 2024
EP497: Ben Aaronovitch and the Great Bollocking…
Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Doctor Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks.
S6 E495 · Mon, March 11, 2024
EP495: Jacqueline O'Mahony - “Sheer Determination Beats Everything”
Jacqueline O’Mahony was named Young Irish Writer of the Year by the Irish Examiner when she was fourteen. After a BA, MA and PhD she worked at Condé Nast, Vogue and Associated Newspapers as an arts editor. Her debut novel, A River in the Trees, was nominated for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and the Not the Booker Prize in 2020. Her latest book Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is set during the Irish Famine, and is a story about the indomitable will to survive—and to flourish—against nearly impossible odds. It sold over 40,000 copies in its first 5 days and has over 17,000 reviews on Amazon.
S6 E495 · Mon, March 04, 2024
EP495: Joe Abercrombie - “The Best Writing Advice Ever”
Joe burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest. Joe is best known for the First Law Trilogy – The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings – and the stand-alone novels in the same world – Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. He has also written the Shattered Sea trilogy for young (and old) adults – Half a King, Half the World, and Half a War. The world of the First Law collides with the industrial age in a new trilogy – The Age of Madness – which began in September 2019 with A Little Hatred, continued a year later with The Trouble With Peace and concludes in September 2021 with The Wisdom of Crowds.
S6 E494 · Mon, February 26, 2024
EP494: Rachel Lynch - “Speed Drafts, PTSD & The Rich”
In this episode, we dive into the world of Rachel Lynch. Rachel Lynch is a renowned crime fiction author whose work has captivated over a million readers. Rachel is best known for her gripping Kelly Porter series of 12 books, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Lake District. She began writing full time in 2016 and Canelo signed her first three novels in 2018. The Rich is Rachel’s latest book and first standalone psychological thriller.
S6 E493 · Mon, February 19, 2024
EP493: Bryan Cranston on... Writing, Breaking Bad and Donald Trump
Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston tells us about his life and new bestselling memoir, A Life In Parts. Oscar-nominated, with two Golden Globes, two Tony Awards and 6 time Emmy winner, he’s best known for roles in Malcolm in the Middle, Seinfeld and most famously, Walter White. Few people know that he is also an accomplished writer having written a number of screenplays, plays, and his autobiography. We began our conversation by asking to speak to Bryan Cranston the writer…
S6 E492 · Mon, February 12, 2024
EP492: Lucinda Halpern - “Get Signed! How to Pitch to an Agent”
In this interview, listen in as Mark Desvaux pitches his forthcoming book Pacivida to NY literary agent Lucinda Halpern, who has been securing book deals with all major publishers over the last 15 years. Lucinda represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in nonfiction or fiction, and her new book “Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author” which was released last week and already has that coveted Amazon bestseller flag.
S6 E491 · Mon, February 05, 2024
EP491: Lucinda Halpern - “Get Signed! Why You Need an Agent”
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years' experience securing book deals and working with all major publishers. She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Lucinda worked for HarperCollins on New York Times bestsellers including Freakonomics. She later worked as a marketing consultant for Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project), before launching her career as an agent. Her new book is Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.
S6 E490 · Mon, January 29, 2024
EP490: Shari Lapena - “The Debut That Sold Four Million”
SHARI LAPENA is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seven suspense novels including A Stranger in the House and The Couple Next Door, her debut which was a runaway global bestseller, with 4 million sales worldwide. It was WHSmith’s “Book of the Year” in 2016 and the #1 Adult Fiction Title in the UK for 2017. All of Shari’s novels have been New York Times, UK Sunday Times, and Globe and Mail bestsellers. In this episode, Mark Stay interviews Shari about her new page-turner “Everyone Here is Lying”.
S6 E489 · Mon, January 22, 2024
EP489: Joe Hill ...On Never Giving Up, Beatles & Carving His Own Path from Dad, Stephen King
Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman, Heart-Shaped Box, and Strange Weather. Joe, son of Stephen King, is a powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers. Much of his work has been adapted for film and television. His second novel, Horns, was made into a cult horror-comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe; his third novel, NOS4A2, was adapted for television by AMC. The six books in the Locke & Key saga formed the basis for a hit TV series on Netflix
S6 E488 · Mon, January 15, 2024
EP488: Amy Newmark - “More Chicken Soup for the Soul (Part 2)”
Amy Newmark is Editor-in-Chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, publishing over 20,000 stories in the last 15 years, launching the careers of many New York Times bestselling authors. Celebrating over half a billion book sales, the Chicken Soup anthology stands as a literary giant, rivalled only by Harry Potter.
S6 E487 · Mon, January 08, 2024
EP487: Amy Newmark - “Chicken Soup for the Soul (Part 1)”
Mark Desvaux delves into Part 1 of a fascinating conversation with Amy Newmark, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief behind Chicken Soup for the Soul. Celebrating over half a billion book sales, the Chicken Soup anthology stands as a literary giant, rivalled only by Harry Potter. Amy unveils how it launched the careers of New York Times bestselling authors and shares how you can get your story published in this prestigious series.
S6 E486 · Mon, January 01, 2024
EP486: Mark Desvaux — “Your Best Writing Year Yet”
Welcome to a New Year's special of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, where we dive into your inner game as a writer. In this episode, Mark Desvaux shares his personal journey and challenges listeners to make bold dream declarations for their writing goals.
S6 E485 · Mon, December 25, 2023
EP485: Christmas Special 2023
Mr Stay’s final episode as a co-presenter! The Two Marks celebrate Christmas by looking back at some of Mr Stay’s favourite moments of the podcast before he rides off into the sunset. But don’t worry! The podcast will continue and Mr D gives a few hints at what’s coming, but first we start with a few outtakes…
S6 E484 · Mon, December 18, 2023
EP484: Mike Gayle — “Always be Entertaining."
Mike Gayle joins us to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller debut novel My Legendary Girlfriend and the release of his 18th novel A Song of Me and You, a story of mid-life crisis inspired by a quote from Jim Carrey. Mike takes us from Birmingham to London and his career as a journalist, writing as an agony uncle for teenage girls' magazine Bliss before becoming Features Editor on Just Seventeen and he reveals the essential lesson he learned writing for the readers of those mags.
S6 E483 · Mon, December 11, 2023
EP483: LM Chilton — “Be a Bit Cheeky."
L.M. Chilton worked as a journalist for The Times, The Mirror and Metro and TV shows like This Morning, The One Show and Loose Women. His debut novel Don’t Swipe Right was inspired by years of online dating (the dating part of the story, we hasten to add, not the serial killing bits…) and having worked in the media he took everything he had learned to get his book featured in the national press and on TV!
S6 E482 · Mon, December 04, 2023
EP482: Tracy Wolff & Nina Croft — “The Little Things."
Tracy Wolff is the New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty novels from Austin Texas, Nina Croft is an incredibly prolific author from the UK now living in Spain and they have collaborated on Star Bringer, a new adult romance novel billed as Firefly meets the Breakfast Club. Tracy and Nina take us through the process of co-writing a novel and offer great tips for anyone thinking of trying it for the first time. Also, the two Marks have a big announcement at the end of the show...
S481 Enull · Mon, November 27, 2023
EP481: Jake Lamar — “Make it Sing."
Jake Lamar developed his latest work Viper’s Dream as both a radio play and a novel. Jake tells us what he learned working for Time magazine, gives us a crucial tip for writing about real figures from recent history, and how he learned to make his writing sing...
S6 E480 · Mon, November 20, 2023
EP480: Graham Hurley — “Soft Linkage."
The author of 49 books and counting, Graham Hurley returns with his latest WWII thriller The Blood of Others. He takes us through his extraordinary career and discusses writing in a genre that he wasn't a fan of, writing a series without a recurring lead character and the benefits of long publisher lunches.
S6 E479 · Mon, November 13, 2023
EP479: Fiona Valpy — “Say Yes to Everything."
Fiona is an acclaimed bestselling author, whose books have sold millions of copies and been translated into more than thirty different languages worldwide. Her latest novel is The Cypress Maze, set in Tuscany and is the perfect book for these long winter nights. Fiona has a degree in Geography, has worked as an IT systems engineer, then in PR and marketing and the wine industry and as a yoga teacher... but writing is when it all made sense.
S6 E478 · Mon, November 06, 2023
EP478: Mira V Shah — “Healing Through Writing."
Mira V Shah is a British-African-Indian author and legal writer who lives in North London with her husband, three good dogs and one mediocre cat. She studied History at the University of Warwick before practising as a City lawyer. During the pandemic, Mira wrote her first ever novel, HER, a psychological drama, which explores themes of female friendship, flawed perception, trauma and race. Mira tells about writing the novel during lockdown, telling the story from two different perspectives, and how she’s carved out time to write.
S6 E477 · Mon, October 30, 2023
EP477: Michael R Miller — “A Sprinkle of My Experience"
Hailing from Scotland's wet and wild west coast, Michael writes sweeping and epic fantasy and since 2018 has sold over 330,000 books topping Amazon and Audible charts along the way. He’s also worked for Bloomsbury publishing, and is the co-founder of digital publisher Portal Books. He’s written The Dragon’s Blade trilogy and now returns with Defiant, the third book in the ongoing Songs of Chaos series. Michael tells us how he’s found success in epic fantasy and epic audiobooks, and how he’s taken the challenges in his own life and used them to add a personal touch to his writing and fantasy worldbuilding.
S6 E476 · Mon, October 23, 2023
EP476: IVY NGEOW — “EMOTION MORE THAN ANYTHING."
Ivy Ngeow was born and raised in Malaysia and is a multi-award winning author. Her latest novel The American Boyfriend was longlisted for the Avon x Mushens Entertainment Prize for Commercial Fiction Writers of Colour 2022. Ivy is a musician, she’s also written non-fiction cookery books, diet books, interior design books, she sells tie-in merch for her fiction, she’s a powerhouse of creativity and she tells us how it all began with a house full of boring books.
S6 E475 · Mon, October 16, 2023
EP475: Heather Morris — “Shut up and Listen!"
We celebrate seven years of the podcast with the amazing Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. She returns with a new novel, Sisters Under The Rising Sun, which transports the reader to the women in Japanese POW camps in WWII and is another incredibly powerful story. Heather talks about the role of listening in her work, creating fiction from reality, and what she learned from screenwriting.
Trailer · Thu, October 12, 2023
EP474: Deep Dive — Mountain Ash Press with Andi Cumbo-Floyd & Caroline Topperman
Mountain Ash Press is the brainchild of authors Andi Cumbo-Floyd and Caroline Topperman who wanted to bring a combination of writer services and publication experience to create a new kind of Hybrid publisher. They talk about the challenges of being an independent publisher and what they can offer to authors.
S6 E473 · Mon, October 09, 2023
EP473: Julie Owen Moylan — “Tiny, Weird Obsessions."
Julie Owen Moylan is a novelist and filmmaker. Her graduation short film ‘BabyCakes’ scooped Best Film awards at the Swansea Film Festival where Ken Russell was a judge! And Julie has written two novels, THAT GREEN EYED GIRL and 73 DOVE STREET, which was released just this summer. Julie talks about how she knows when it’s the right time to tell a story, about her pivotal careers day at school, and why her tiny, weird obsessions make all the difference.
S6 E472 · Mon, October 02, 2023
EP472: Gareth L Powell — “Be Kind, Be Encouraging."
The award-winning Gareth L. Powell returns to the podcast with Descendant Machine his new science fiction epic. He also tells about working with Peter F Hamilton, how starting a commercial thriller led him to writing his most personal book, how he wrote a book on writing almost by accident, and he gives us some insight to the future of authors and social media, but how being positive pays dividends.
S6 E471 · Mon, September 25, 2023
EP471: Jesse Sutanto — “Pure Writing."
Jesse Sutanto is the award-winning, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and I’m Not Done With You Yet. Jesse tells how she learned about human behaviour through real estate and weddings, why she doesn’t dwell on projects that are on submission, and why she writes in 15 minute sprints she calls pure writing.
S6 E470 · Mon, September 18, 2023
EP470: Suzie Edge — “Vital Organs, Poo & Wee!"
We are delighted to welcome back Suzie Edge for this special episode of the podcast! Suzie is a phenomenon on TikTok and after her smash hit debut book Mortal Monarchs she returns with Vital Organs, a wonderful dissection of history’s strangest body parts. Suzie takes us through her incredible career so far and reveals the role that vital organs, poo and wee and have played in getting her the ultimate accolade: an AI-generated biography on Amazon.
S6 E469 · Mon, September 11, 2023
EP469: Harriet Muncaster — “I Wanted to Create My Own World."
Harriet Muncaster is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her Isadora Moon books have sold over two million copies worldwide. And in 2020, Muncaster also published Bad and Glittering, the first part of her middle-grade series Victoria Stitch. And now she’s here with the latest Victoria Stitch book Dark & Sparkling. Harriet reveals how she develops her incredible characters, shares how she divides her time between writing and illustration, and how she was driven to create her own worlds. And the two Marks discuss the importance of being childlike and end up being very childish and losing their marbles...
S6 E468 · Mon, September 04, 2023
EP468: Sarah Moorhead — “Grit in the Oyster"
Sarah Moorhead returns to the podcast with The Treatment, her extraordinary new novel that tackles issues of justice and revenge with compassion and heart. She reveals how she got back into writing after being dropped by her publisher and agent, and how being an idealist fuels her desire to keep telling great stories whatever it takes.
S6 E467 · Mon, August 28, 2023
EP467: Linwood Barclay — “The Lie Maker"
In this very special episode, international bestselling author Linwood Barclay returns to the podcast to tease us with details of his new thriller The Lie Maker. He gives us tips aplenty for writers, reveals how a correspondence with Ross Macdonald changed his career, why he loves collaborating with editors, and if he’ll ever co-write with some up-and-coming author called Stephen King… Oh, and stay tuned to the very end for a little bonus...
S6 E466 · Mon, August 21, 2023
EP466: Teresa Driscoll — “Be Genre Aware"
Teresa Driscoll is a former BBC TV news presenter whose psychological thrillers have sold over two million copies across the world. Her first thriller I Am Watching You hit Kindle Number 1 in the UK, USA and Australia and has sold more than a million copies in English alone. For decades, Teresa was a journalist working across newspapers, magazines and television.
S6 E465 · Mon, August 14, 2023
EP465: Damian Dibben — “It Needs a Bit of Bite."
Damian Dibben is an acclaimed British author whose novels have been translated into twenty-seven languages and published in over forty countries. His series The History Keepers was an international publishing phenomenon. Dibben originally trained as an artist and scenic designer before becoming an actor and screenwriter. The Colour Storm is his second novel to explore seismic events of the past and is a feast for the senses.
S6 E464 · Mon, August 07, 2023
EP464: AJ Pearce — “Passion, patience & persistence."
AJ Pearce’s debut novel Dear Mrs Bird was a Sunday Times Bestseller and she returns with the third in the Emmy Lake series, Mrs Porter Calling. AJ tells us how writing started as a hobby, how it all very nearly went wrong with a plotless romcom, and how the Emmy Lake books were inspired by a chance find on eBay.
S6 E463 · Mon, July 31, 2023
EP463: Jeremy Szal — “I Want to Break the Reader."
Jeremy Szal is the author of the Common trilogy from Gollancz, which includes Stormblood, Blindspace, and Wolfskin and he’s the author of over fifty science-fiction short stories, translated into six languages. He has a new novella, SCREAM IN BLUE, set in the same world of The Common, and he’s also one of a number of authors who are speaking out about their mental health and how it can be affected by the rollercoaster of being published...
S6 E462 · Mon, July 24, 2023
EP462: Antony Johnston — “Right Place, Right Time."
Antony Johnston is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Atomic Blonde, the comic book originally published as The Coldest City that was adapted into the movie starring Charlize Theron. For over twenty years he’s written books, graphic novels, video games, film, and more... And now he’s back with something a bit different: The Dog Sitter Detective is the first of a cosy crime series featuring Gwinny Tuffel, a retired actress who takes up dog-sitting to make ends meet, but discovers she also has a knack for solving murders.
S6 E461 · Mon, July 17, 2023
EP461: Freya Berry — “Be Ambitious."
Freya Berry’s writing career began as a journalist at Reuters. After a stint in New York reporting on the 2016 US election she left to write her acclaimed first novel, The Dictator’s Wife. With her new novel, The Birdcage Library, Freya has ended up creating a love story and a detective mystery, two things she never planned to write. Freya tells about the challenges of writing two timelines, the importance of a finding a state of half-focus, and digging deeper to make your writing truthful.
S6 E460 · Mon, July 10, 2023
EP460: Heide Goody & Iain Grant — “We Smush Our Methods Together."
Heide Goody and Iain Grant have been writing together since 2011 and are best known for their Clovenhoof series, where Satan is made redundant from Hell and sent to live in Birmingham. They tell us how their collaborative process has evolved and how they took everything they’ve learned over the years to launch their new Cozy Craft Mysteries series under the pen name Millie Ravensworth
S6 E459 · Wed, July 05, 2023
EP459: Deep Dive — Making a Thousand Dollars a Month with Paul Austin Ardoin
Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY Bestselling Author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and the Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. And now Paul has a new non-fiction book: From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction, which brilliantly demystifies the process of making money as an indie author. If you've published one or more books but are struggling to get sales then this is the book for you. We discuss setting goals, financial realities, meeting reader expectations, using your book as an advertisement and much more.
S6 E458 · Mon, July 03, 2023
EP458: Katherine Faulkner — “It’s Not About Your Ego"
Katherine Faulkner’s second thriller The Other Mothers takes us into the school playground and makes it a terrifying place with dark cliques and murderous secrets. Katherine tells us how finding structure and accountability helped her write her debut and how she discovered that the most important person in any novel is the reader.
S6 E457 · Mon, June 26, 2023
EP457: Katie Fforde — “Keep The Page Turning."
Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Fforde brings us her latest novel One Enchanted Evening, which was inspired by a cookery course. Katie has sold over 4.5 million copies in the UK alone and credits the Romantic Novelists’ Association with launching her career and she received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Katie tells us how she started reading Mills & Boon books on the sly, finding time to write with a busy life, and her secret desire to write in another genre...
S6 E456 · Mon, June 19, 2023
EP456: JD Kirk — “Libraries Change Lives"
JD Kirk is the pen name multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison. When he was nine, a kindly librarian wrote his name on the spine of a notebook in which he’d written a terrible short story, and put it on the shelf changing his life. Barry talks about writing over 200 books in 10 years, ignoring the naysayers, and how discovering how a condition called aphantasia may have affected his writing. Mr D reveals his secret superpower, and Mr Stay rants about comic books.
Trailer · Thu, June 15, 2023
EP455: Deep Dive — How to Write a Novel with Tim Lott
Tim Lott is the multi award winning author of ten novels and a memoir, The Scent of Dried Roses, and has been teaching writing for the last ten years, as a lecturer, teacher and mentor. With his new book, Yes! No! But Wait...!: The One Thing You Need to Know To Write a Novel , Tim has produced a book on writing that is honest, practical and genuinely useful.
S6 E454 · Mon, June 12, 2023
EP454: Andrea Dunlop — “Keeping Going is a Win."
Andrea Dunlop began her career in publishing as a publicist for the likes of Doubleday before becoming an author and consultant based in Seattle. Her latest novel, Women Are The Fiercest Creatures, is the story of three women written out of a successful tech startup’s history. Andrea worked for over 15 years in publishing and talks honestly about being on both sides of the publishing experience.
Trailer · Fri, June 09, 2023
EP453: Deep Dive — SEO for Authors
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is what search engines like Google use to pair questions with answers. If you want to be found online, then understanding how SEO works is essential. In this deep dive, SEO expert Kelsey E Meyers offers simple and effective tips for authors to help them and their books appear at the top of search results.
S6 E452 · Mon, June 05, 2023
EP542: James Naughtie — “A Sense of Place is Essential."
James Naughtie’s voice as presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme will be familiar to listeners all over the world. As well as writing non-fiction, he’s the author of the Will Flemyng thrillers the latest of which, The Spy Across the Water, takes readers from Washington DC to Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. James talks us through his unique approach to spy fiction, and the importance of a sense of place in his writing.
S6 E451 · Mon, May 29, 2023
EP451: Scarlett Brade — “Take Those First Steps"
Scarlett Brade was born in London, but as a child she spent her summers in Toronto where she fell in love with reading. She self-published her first novel aged twenty-three, but then decided to experience life a little more before returning with her amazi
S6 E450 · Fri, May 26, 2023
EP450: Deep Dive — Knowing your Readers
Kelly Weekes answers listener questions on discovering who your readers are in a conversation that takes in social media, comparable authors, visualising your readers, writing to market, goals, pain points, and why authors should think of themselves as CEOs of their own business. Kelly has worked in the marketing departments of the biggest UK publishers, and on the marketing strategies and campaigns for the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult and Philippa Gregory, as well as debut writers. She's managed big spend ad campaigns, promoted books with no budget, organised sales conferences, pitched to retailers and so much more.
S6 E449 · Mon, May 22, 2023
EP449: Sue Watson — “You’re Looking for the Answers"
Sue Watson was BBC TV producer until she wrote her first novel and was hooked. Now she’s a USA Today bestselling author and has sold over a million copies, but that success came as a second act in a writing career where she switched from romcoms to thrillers. Sue tells about that pivotal change, her latest thriller The Wedding Day, and how crime writers tell stories that take us to dark places to find difficult truths.
S6 E448 · Mon, May 15, 2023
EP448: Jonathan Whitelaw — “Turn The Idea on its Head."
Jonathan Whitelaw started out as a journalist, writing darkly satirical fiction on his commute to work. Jonathan tells us how he went from thinking that he could never write a crime novel, to creating a new cosy crime series with The Bingo Hall Detectives and The Village Hall Vendetta featuring a son-in-law and mother-in-law crime solving duo!
S6 E447 · Mon, May 08, 2023
EP447: Jessie Keane — “Don’t Be Afraid."
Jessie Keane has Romany heritage and her Gran — who had ’the sight’ — foretold that that Jesse would not only write, but be famous for it. 6.5 million copies later and with each book becoming a Sunday Times top ten bestseller, that prediction has come true. Jesse celebrates fifteen years since her debut novel, Dirty Game, with her latest thriller, Never Go Back. She tells us how she found her voice as a writer and why she never takes no for an answer. The Two Marks also answer the questions, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ by revealing their own most humiliating moments.
Mon, May 01, 2023
EP446: Katy Brent — “Doing Something Meaningful"
Katy Brent is an award-winning journalist whose debut novel How To Kill Men and Get Away With It is perfect for fans of How To Kill Your Family and Killing Eve. Katy tells us how the novel evolved from a fun idea to something that drew on the Me Too movement to and the anger around the victim blaming of abused women. Katy talks about her journey from writing articles in lockdown to writing a provocative novel that tackles difficult issues with satire and humour.
S6 E445 · Mon, April 24, 2023
EP445: Amita Parikh — “Don’t Be a Victim."
Amita Parikh’s debut novel The Circus Train took six years to write and has been earning praise worldwide, but it might never had happened if she hadn’t found herself lost in London, asking for directions. Amita tells us how she bounced back from rejection, why sport is the best way to train for writing, and how she created a writing habit.
Trailer · Fri, April 21, 2023
EP444: Deep Dive — Experiments with ChatGPT with Jeevani Charika
Jeevani Charika is the author of Playing for Love, Picture Perfect and more, but she’s also a scientist and has been experimenting with ChatGPT to discover if writers should fear our AI Overlords or embrace them.
S6 E443 · Mon, April 17, 2023
EP443: JS Monroe — “Weird Alchemy"
JS Monroe worked as a foreign correspondent in Delhi, becoming a full-time writer. His psychological thriller Find Me became a bestseller in 2017, and, under the name Jon Stock, he is also the author of five spy thrillers. Warner Brothers bought the film rights to the Dead Spy Running trilogy hiring Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan ( Traffic, Syriana ) to write the screenplay for Dead Spy Running , and now he’s back writing as JS Monroe with NO PLACE TO HIDE, a thriller with a Faustian pact at its heart.
Trailer · Fri, April 14, 2023
EP442: Deep Dive — Bookouture with Jenny Geras
In this special deep dive episode we speak to Jenny Geras, Managing Director at Bookouture. Jenny tell us what it is that makes this innovative digital first publisher so different, and she answers our listener questions on submissions, the difference in trends with digital and physical books, and if it pays to be prolific.
S6 E441 · Mon, April 10, 2023
EP440: Delilah S Dawson — “It Was Always in my Head."
Delilah S Dawson is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma and many more titles across an incredibly diverse backlist, and she returns with a new thriller called The Violence which explores themes of women of escaping domestic violence and reclaiming their power. Delilah also gives us tips for writing for big intellectual properties like Star Wars and Minecraft, and the writing habits that have made her so prolific and successful.
Fri, April 07, 2023
EP440: Academy All Stars - Kate Baker - "Being Ultraflexible!"
In the latest of our Academy All-Stars mini episodes, we talk to Kate Baker who tells us how being ultraflexible and never worrying about the word “should” helped her make the most of the Academy and publish her acclaimed debut novel Maid of Steel. We also discuss branded earrings, nails and Toblerone!
S6 E439 · Mon, April 03, 2023
EP439: David McCloskey — “A Lonely Team Sport."
David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and his smash hit debut novel Damascus Station was inspired by his time working in field stations in the Middle East. David tells us how the novel started as an exercise in processing his thoughts about the events in Syria, what he learned from writing for US presidents, how letting go of his ego helped him write a novel, and the role played in his career by a hot dog machine in Langley...
Trailer · Fri, March 31, 2023
EP438: Deep Dive — Police Procedures with Stuart Gibbon
Stuart Gibbon is a former UK senior police detective who served in London and the East Midlands. In 2014, he launched his own business providing a consultancy service for writers. Stuart also appears on TV and radio as a policing expert. He's also co-written a series of books with Stephen Wade: The Crime Writers' Casebook, Being a Detective and Catching a Killer. And a series of indispensable guides on criminal investigation procedures. In this packed Deep Dive on UK police procedures, Stuart identifies the common errors made by writers new to crime, and answers our listener questions.
S6 E437 · Mon, March 27, 2023
EP437: Jayne Davis — “Sometimes it Just Feels Right."
Jayne Davis is a leading Regency Romance author, with nearly 40 million KU page reads, and through sharing her research on her blog she has become a go to resource for authors in the genre. Jayne reveals the essential elements of period romance, tips for writing period appropriate dialogue, and why publishing more books creates its own marketing.
S6 E436 · Mon, March 20, 2023
EP436: Dave Dawson — “Grammar Free in the UK"
Derek and Dave Philpott have been writing strange letters to famous musicians for ten years now, and getting even stranger ones back. Their first book, Dear Mr. Kershaw, became a cult hit and the follow-up Dear Mr. Pop Star was released by Unbound Publishing to more acclaim. And now they return with a Punk edition, Grammar Free in the UK, which is raising money for the charity Crisis. Dave tells us how these extraordinary projects came about, and how it first gained momentum when his dad saw how many Facebook friends he had and suggested, ‘Why not ask them for a tenner each?'
S6 E435 · Mon, March 13, 2023
EP435: Rosie Andrews — “Carve out time for yourself"
Rosie Andrews’ debut novel The Leviathan is rooted in her passion for history and she tells us how she was inspired by the like of Thomas Hobbes to create page-turning historical fiction that’s relevant to readers today. And Rosie tells us why she abandoned her first unpublished historical fiction novel because she felt that it lacked an authentic voice.
S6 E434 · Mon, March 06, 2023
EP434: Mark Edwards — “It Changed My Life."
Mark Edwards returns to the podcast to celebrate ten years since his first solo novel The Magpies. He tells us about his changing relationship with the book that changed his life, how he’s sustained a career writing standalone thrillers, and why it’s important to have a direct connection with his readers.
S6 E433 · Mon, February 27, 2023
EP433: Matt Brown — “The Worst Thing They’d Ever Read"
Matt Brown is the author of such wonderful children’s books at the Compton Valance series (about a boy who creates a time machine from a 13-week-old mouldy sandwich), the Dreary Inkling School books, and The Mab, a re-telling of the Mabinogi, which might be the oldest written stories in the history of Britain. Matt was also TV presenter, notably on Nickelodeon, and he’s a podcaster, but don’t hold that against him. He tells us what he’s discovered writing for children, why it takes a village to make a book, and why he keeps all his rejection letters...
S6 E432 · Mon, February 20, 2023
EP432: Zack & Michael Urlocker — “There Can Only Be One Boss."
Twin brothers Zack and Michael Urlocker write together as M.Z. Urlocker, and their debut novel The Man from Mittelwerk is a 50s noir thriller with a dash of science fiction. They take us through their collaborative process, how they defined their roles in the project, and whether or not they’ll work together again.
S6 E431 · Mon, February 13, 2023
EP431: Richard Armitage — “Know, Don’t Show."
As well as starring in the likes of The Hobbit and Spooks, the actor Richard Armitage is also a prolific audiobook narrator. And now he’s written Geneva , an Audible original psychological thriller. Richard tell us how the project came about, and how his background in music, theatre and film helped him develop the characters. And he tells us the things authors do that can irk audiobook narrators.
S6 E430 · Mon, February 06, 2023
EP430: Simon Scarrow — “Trust the Reader"
Simon Scarrow is best known for his Eagles of the Empire series that began in 2000 with Under the Eagle featuring Roman soldier heroes Cato and Macro. 2022 saw the release of Death to the Emperor, the twenty-first book in the series, and he’s also just released Dead of Night, the second of his Berlin wartime thrillers. Simon takes us through his extraordinary career, with tips on historical research, co-writing, developing ideas, and creating a series where the reader can start with the twenty-first book and still enjoy it.
Trailer · Wed, February 01, 2023
EP429: Deep Dive — Second Sky with Jack Renninson
Digital-first publisher Bookouture are now applying their publishing model to science fiction and fantasy with their new imprint Second Sky. We speak to consultant associate publisher Jack Renninson who tells us what Second Sky is looking for, and he answers our listener questions on submissions, pitching to Second Sky, and what’s to come in the near future.
S6 E428 · Mon, January 30, 2023
EP428: Peter May — “I Felt a Weight Lift."
Bestselling author Peter May returns to the podcast with his gripping new novel A Winter Grave, a near future thriller where climate change has changed the landscape. Peter talks about coming out of retirement to write without a contract or a deadline, but with passion and a sense of urgency. Mark Stay is joined this week by guest presenter Caimh McDonnell, bestselling author of the Bunny McGarry series and the Stranger Times books, including Love Will Tear Us Apart.
S6 E427 · Fri, January 27, 2023
EP427: Deep Dive — Unwelcome with Jon Wright and Mark Stay
Director Jon Wright joins Mark Stay to answer listener questions on the development of their new monster movie Unwelcome. They reveal what inspired them to write the script, how the story was developed (and was very early abandoned), how Jon blocks and shoots sequences and works with the cast and crew, they offer tips for screenwriters, and they start by discussing, er, chocolate bars.
Mon, January 23, 2023
EP426: Lou Abercrombie — "I Write Whilst I Swim."
Lou Abercrombie worked in TV and film production and as a photographer, and a few years ago started writing children’s books combining her passion for swimming and mathematics. Her debut novel FIG SWIMS THE WORLD, was longlisted for the Bath Children’s Award, and her new book AMAZING MATHS makes the subject of mathematics accessible in a way that we wish was around when we were at school. Lou reveals how water solves her story problems and how she’s helped by a waterproof notebook...
Mon, January 16, 2023
EP425: MATT CAIN — "Write with Heart and Humour.”
Matt Cain endured rejections from thirty agents and fifty publishers before getting his debut novel published… and then it didn’t work out. Matt tells us how he made an extraordinary comeback, breaking crowdfunding records with The Madonna of Bolton, having a smash with The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, and now he’s back with Becoming Ted, his latest heartwarming novel about following your dreams.
S6 E424 · Mon, January 09, 2023
EP424: Cole Haddon — “I Stripped the Censor in my Head"
Cole Haddon is an Australian-American screenwriter and novelist whose first TV commission, Dracula, was produced by NBC and SKY and starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Psalms for the End of the World is his debut novel and Cole tells us how he was inspired by looking into the eyes of one of his young children, why he’s happy to fail, how he deals with notes, and he gives us tips for writing scripts and graphic novels.
S6 E423 · Mon, January 02, 2023
EP423: Christian Cameron — “You’re Always Worldbuilding."
Christian Cameron is an incredibly prolific writer and military historian who also writes as Miles Cameron. His new novel as Miles is Against All Gods, an epic set in the Bronze Age that gives a new twist to familiar myths and legends. Christian tells how he learned to write without doubting himself, how historical recreation has helped with research, and why there are no minor characters.
S6 E422 · Mon, December 26, 2022
EP422: Christmas 2022 Special and Setting 2023 Goals!
The Two Marks don their terrible Christmas sweaters and hats to celebrate the festive season and look forward to 2023. Mark Stay tests Mr D with a super-duper mega quiz, we discover that Americans don’t have Christmas crackers, we reveal where Santa comes from, tell terrible jokes, and we discuss taking stock and setting goals for 2023… and much more!
S6 E421 · Mon, December 19, 2022
EP421: Margaret Weis — “It’s All About Characters."
In 1983 Margaret Weis took on a job as a book editor at TSR, producers of the Dungeons and Dragons® role-playing game. Little did she know that the DRAGONLANCE® series she created with Tracy Hickman would go on to sell over 25 million copies and still be in print after almost 30 years. And now they’re back with a new trilogy! Margaret tells us about her incredible career, the three tips that Gary Paulsen gave her, she answers our listener questions and shares the words of encouragement that kept her going when she got her first rejections.
S6 E420 · Mon, December 12, 2022
EP420: Elizabeth Noble — “Make the Reader Care."
Elizabeth Noble is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose debut novel The Reading Group sold a quarter of a million copies. She’s since sold over a million and with her tenth novel, Other People’s Husbands , she skilfully works with a large cast of characters to create an authentic drama with lots of moving parts, but still she’s able to sell a novel with just two lines.
S6 E419 · Mon, December 05, 2022
EP419: SJ Bennett — “A Relentlessly Positive Attitude"
SJ Bennett had a successful career writing award-winning books for teenagers, but after a change in the market and a life-changing diagnosis, she decided to completely change tack and began a brand new crime series, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates, which became an international smash, selling over 100,000 copies. With the latest book in the series, Murder Most Royal, Sophia reveals what inspired her to make Queen Elizabeth II her crime-solving protagonist, and how real life events might affect the series’ future.
Trailer · Wed, November 30, 2022
EP418: Deep Dive — Blurbs with Louise Willder
Louise Willder has been a copywriter at Penguin Books for twenty-five years. During this time, she estimates she has produced about 5,000 blurbs. She now shares her knowledge and experience in her amazing new book, Blurb Your Enthusiasm, which looks at the evolution of blurbs. In this Deep Dive, Louise shares incredibly helpful tips for writing your own and answers our listener questions on blurbs, word count, blurbs for series, multiple POVs and more!
S6 E417 · Mon, November 28, 2022
EP417: Harriet Tyce — “Trying to Outdo Myself."
Harriet Tyce tells us about her brilliant new thriller It Ends at Midnight, how the amazing reception to her debut Blood Orange made her wonder if she could do it again, and how she gets herself into trouble by trying to outdo what she’s written before. And in the extended version for Academy members and podcast Patrons , the Two Marks discuss the halo effect, difficult second novels, going too far, changing your mindset and much more!
S6 E416 · Mon, November 21, 2022
EP416: Alan Gorevan — “Write Something and Release It"
Alan Gorevan is an Irish thriller writer and winner of the Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair competition. Alan was preparing his debut novel for submission when the 2020 lockdown came along, and he thought his dream was over before it had even started. But then Alan decided he wasn’t going to sit around and wait for agents and publishers, and decided to self publish. Starting with some short stories, Alan’s 2020 led a to an extraordinary run of publication and he takes us through it step by step, culminating with his novel The Kindness of Psychopaths. And in the extended version for A c a d e m y m e m b e r s and p o d c a s t P a t r o n s , the Two Marks discuss reading your book like a reader, the self-publishing learning curve, the importance of titles, and much more!
S6 E415 · Mon, November 14, 2022
EP415: Tracey Lien — “You’re Digging for Clay"
Tracey Lien’s debut All That’s Left Unsaid was sold in a nine-way auction and she tells us why it was important that a book that deals with heavy issues needed to be a fun read. Tracey tells us the most important lesson she learned about readers while writing for the LA Times, how she found an agent, why she was baffled by Jane Austen and how a daily writing habit gave her the confidence she needed to finish her novel. And in the extended version for A c a d e m y m e m b e r s and p o d c a s t P a t r o n s , the Two Marks discuss balancing story and big issues, readers not owing you anything, and having an idea that’s easy for someone else to pitch, and much more!
S6 E414 · Mon, November 07, 2022
EP414: A.G. Riddle — “What is Right, Right Now?"
A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion of writing fiction. His novels have sold over four million copies worldwide and been translated in twenty-four languages. His new novel Lost in Time is a time travel thriller and continues his knack for blending genres, and he tells us why writers need to define their own success. And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss defining success, filtering feedback, authenticity, the doubt train and much more!
S6 E413 · Fri, November 04, 2022
EP413: Deep Dive — Forensics with Dr Devin Finaughty and Chandra Finaughty
Dr Devin Finaughty is a lecturer in forensic science the University of Kent, Chandra Finaughty has two Masters specialising in forensics and a teaching fellow at King’s College, London. They answer questions from our Patrons and Academates on forensics in fiction, including the CSI effect, working a crime scene, and essential resources for writers and research.
S6 E412 · Mon, October 31, 2022
EP412: Ed McDonald — “Do Everything Now"
Ed McDonald returns to the podcast with a new fantasy series, The Redwinter Chronicles, and we discuss how the fantasy genre has changed in the short time since we last spoke. Ed also discusses a life-threatening illness that has given him a new perspective on his writing. And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss false starts, deleting work and starting over, ideas versus theme, and much more!
S6 E411 · Fri, October 28, 2022
EP411: Deep Dive — Writing and Directing Independent Film with Danny Stack and Tim Clague
Danny Stack and Tim Clague are award-winning screenwriters and directors who have never waited for permission from the industry to make their movies. As Future TX, their new family science fiction adventure feature film, hits Odeon cinemas in the UK, Danny and Tim reveal how they’ve made and released two independent feature films. They offer great tips for screenwriters, insight into the film industry, and why now may be the best time to write and make your movie.
S6 E410 · Mon, October 24, 2022
EP410: Jenny Ashcroft — “Self-Perpetuating Support."
Jenny Ashcroft has always been fascinated with the past and how extraordinary events can change the lives of ordinary people. With her new novel, The Echoes of Love, Jenny takes us to Crete in 1936, and she reveals her best resources for researching and writing historical fiction. And Jenny talks about finding your writing peers and supporting one another (and why your family probably won’t understand what you’re doing!). And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss the relationship between authors, agents and publishers, writing for the fun of it, how research can unearth unexpected nuggets and much more!
S6 E409 · Mon, October 17, 2022
EP409: Sixth Birthday Special — How to Make a Podcast
The two Marks celebrate six years of the podcast by giving their listeners a peek behind the scenes to see how a weekly podcast is made, and our editors Dave and JD offer tips for anyone who’s thinking of starting their own podcast, and they spill the beans on what doesn’t make it into the show.
S5 E408 · Wed, October 12, 2022
EP408: Deep Dive — ADHD and Writers with Kim Raine
Kim Raine is a High-Performance ADHD Coach, and the founder of ADHD Brains In Business, and she's the author of the Amazon bestseller Square Pegs: A book of Self-discovery for women with ADHD. Kim answers our listener questions on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how it affects creatives and offers strategies on how to work with your brain rather than against it. Deep Dives are normally exclusive for our Patrons and Academates, but we’ve made this one available to all.
S5 E407 · Mon, October 10, 2022
EP407: CL Taylor — “Trust Your Gut"
We welcome Sunday Times bestselling author CL Taylor back to the podcast with her new novel The Guilty Couple. In an interview packed with amazing advice, she takes us step-by-step through her creative process, from first idea to finished novel. And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss wants, needs and flaws, fear of the first page, tips for using notebooks and much more!
S5 E406 · Mon, October 03, 2022
EP406: Scott Turow — “Plot is a Species of Character."
Scott Turow is a master of suspense fiction. He returns with his new thriller, Suspect, and tells us about the challenges of taking a minor character from a previous novel and putting them front and centre of their own story. He also describes how he uses plot to test and reveal his characters. Scott also takes us through his extraordinary career, from writing Presumed Innocent on his commute, to fighting for the rights of authors as President of the Authors Guild. And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss plot as a species of character, political writing, social media, being different to our parents, working with editors, and why authors need to value themselves more than they do, and much more!
Trailer · Thu, September 29, 2022
EP405: Deep Dive — TikTok with Suzie Edge
Suzie Edge has nearly 250,000 followers on TikTok with nearly 5.5m likes. Suzie tells us what she’s discovered in using the app over three years and how it’s been driving pre-orders for her new book Mortal Monarchs. We discuss what kinds of content attracts followers, and why authors are perfect for TikTok because we tell stories... Please note that this episode was recorded before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, so do please bear that in mind when you hear myself and Suzie discussing her new book Mortal Monarchs, which dives into the deaths of British royals over the centuries.
S5 E404 · Mon, September 26, 2022
EP404: Aggie Blum Thompson — “I Had No Plan B"
Aggie Blum Thompson sent us an email in 2019 detailing her dream to see her book on a table in a bookstore. Aggie’s second novel, ALL THE DIRTY SECRETS, is out now and she tells us how she made that dream a reality. This is a hugely entertaining interview and Aggie reveals how she bounced back when things didn’t turn out as planned.
S5 E403 · Sun, September 18, 2022
EP403: Luan Goldie — “There’s Always Time"
Luan Goldie won the Costa Short Story Prize in 2017, and her debut novel Nightingale Point was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her latest novel, These Streets , touches on issues of homelessness, mental health, and single parent families, and is full of warmth, wit and life. Luan tells us how she's balanced working as a teacher and a writer and how she’s developed a discipline to write, no matter what real life throws at her.
S5 E402 · Mon, September 12, 2022
EP402: Lesley Thomson — “Stay Inside Your Story"
Lesley Thomson's latest book The Companion continues a bestselling streak that’s been inspired by some remarkable places and people, and she shares with us her writing routines and tells us why writers should stay within their own story. And the Two Marks give listeners a peek behind the scenes of their recent live show and how it all nearly went horribly wrong.
S5 E401 · Mon, September 05, 2022
EP401: Live Show Highlights — Is Being an Author a Job For Life?
We celebrate over 400 episodes of the podcast with a special live show from Waterstones in Canterbury with guest authors Rowan Coleman, Pernille Hughes, Nadine Matheson and Julie Wassmer. We discuss how authors can sustain their careers beyond the advance and publication date. This was a fun and lively conversation that demystifies a lot of the myths around the life of an author. Please note: the sound has been expertly remixed by our editor JD, so if the Youtube version made your ears hurt, this version is much more pleasing on the ears.
S5 E400 · Mon, August 29, 2022
EP400: Our Listeners’ Challenges and Triumphs
What better way to celebrate our 400th episode than by speaking to some of our longtime listeners and members of the Bestseller Academy who have faced their greatest writing challenges and come through the other side.
S5 E399 · Mon, August 22, 2022
EP399: Elissa Soave — “My Story is Worth Telling"
Elissa Soave is the winner of the inaugural Primadonna Prize, an accolade awarded to unpublished and unrepresented writers. Ginger and Me is her debut novel, a part-coming of age and part-mystery novel featuring vivid characters. Elissa reveals how her writing career started with just 500 words and the realisation that her story was worth telling.
S5 E398 · Mon, August 15, 2022
EP398: Christopher Abbott — Writing as a Superfan
Christopher Abbott is the award-winning author of the Watson Chronicles, a continuation of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Christopher tells us how he's worked to retain the authenticity of Conan Doyle's style, and what he’s learned about crafting a mystery.
S5 E397 · Mon, August 08, 2022
EP397: Mark Ellis — Never Give Up
Mark Ellis is the bestselling author of the DCI Frank Merlin series set in the Second World War. Mark celebrates the publication of the fifth book in the series, Dead in the Water, and reveals his research methods and how he uses real history to develop his stories. He also tells us what he learned from his entrepreneurial life that he carried over with him to his writing.
S5 E396 · Mon, August 01, 2022
EP396: Lisa Regan — Let Them Tell You No
Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series, and this year sees the publication of books 14 & 15: Watch Her Disappear and Local Girl Missing. But it all started when she wrote her first mystery when she was 11-years-old. Lisa tells us how her father’s words have kept her going through years of rejection, and Lisa shares what she wishes she had known when she started out writing such a successful series. And the two Marks announce a live show to celebrate 400 episodes of the podcast!
S5 E395 · Mon, July 25, 2022
EP395: Scott Kershaw — Playing the Game
Scott Kershaw's debut The Game is a cracking high concept thriller, and Scott’s route to publication is an extraordinary tale of second chances, self-publishing, co-writing, a first-class honours degree, an expensive train journey, weird business cards, and explaining publishing’s system of advances and royalties to friends and family. This is a wonderfully honest interview and full of surprises. And the Two Marks discuss imposter syndrome and why you should celebrate it.
S5 E394 · Mon, July 18, 2022
EP394: Mike Shackle — Tune in and Go With The Flow
Mike Shackle returns to the podcast to celebrate Until The Last, the final part of his epic fantasy series The Last War. We’ve been following Mike’s journey since he was inspired by our first Joe Abercrombie episode to pick up the pen and start writing again, through to his deal with Gollancz, and now to conclude the series. Mike tells us how he’s only just getting started. And the Two Marks discuss Mr Stay’s launch party and how it all nearly went horribly wrong...
S5 E393 · Mon, July 11, 2022
EP393: Sarai Walker — Subversive, but Fun
Sarai Walker’s debut novel Dietland was smash hit and made into an AMC TV series, and now she returns with The Cherry Robbers, a twisted, dark gothic novel. Sarai tells us how the novel was inspired by real people and history and how she loves writing fiction that is subversive but “wrapped in a pretty package”. And the Two Marks discuss Mr Stay’s book launch and his unboxing videos, and how to haggle the best deal from a publisher. Please note: there’s no video of the Two Marks on Youtube this week due to broadband issues, but there is video with Sarai’s interview.
S5 E392 · Mon, July 04, 2022
EP392: David Lee Stone — No One Tells You When You’re Done
Between 1998 and 2016 David Lee Stone wrote fantasy and YA books for some of the biggest publishers in the world. David discovered the hard way that a big author advance is not always a good thing. David tells us about the dark side of the dream in an incredibly honest and eye-opening interview. But he’s back and on his own terms with his own publisher and The Vanquish Trilogy, and he proves that persistence pays off and that there is always hope.
S5 E391 · Mon, June 27, 2022
EP391: Lizzy Barber — I Carry My Work With Me
Lizzy Barber’s critically acclaimed debut novel My Name is Anna won the Daily Mail First Novel competition, and her latest thriller Out of Her Depth is a Richard and Judy book club selection. Lizzy's journey has taken her from winning a Disney writing competition when she was ten, to the Royal Shakespeare Company, to one of the must-read books of the summer. And Mr Stay takes delivery of his new book and gives it a sniff.
S5 E390 · Mon, June 20, 2022
EP390: Patricia Gibney — Start Writing Immediately
Patricia Gibney has sold over 2 million copies of her Detective Lottie Parker books, and readers worldwide love her stories, but her career started at a very tough time in her life. Patricia left her job of thirty years and was able to work through grief and reignite her love of writing through journaling and drawing. And, post-interview, the Two Marks discuss being brave enough to ask stupid questions. Which they’re both very good at.
S5 E389 · Mon, June 13, 2022
EP389: Joanne Harris — Squeeze Your Characters
Joanne Harris returns to the podcast with her gripping page-turning thriller A Narrow Door. Joanne answers our listener questions, tells us the importance of human interaction to her writing, why she doesn’t see a distinction between plotting and pantsing, and why ideas are like planets in a solar system. And the Two Marks discuss a chicken-writer analogy that has to be heard to be believed...
Mon, June 06, 2022
EP388: Ian Skewis — Memories and Fiction
Ian Skewis’s debut novel A Murder of Crows became a no.1 bestseller and was long listed for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize. Ian tells us how it all began with a traumatic incident from his childhood, how he developed the story in different media for many years before writing the novel. Please note that suicide is discussed in our interview with Ian. If you don’t to hear about that, please skip the first seven minutes of our conversation.
S5 E387 · Mon, May 30, 2022
EP387: Angela Marsons — Every Book is a Brand New Journey
We welcome the wonderful Angela Marsons back to the podcast. Angela is the multi-million bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series. And she’s back with Six Graves, the 16th book in the series. Despite her mega sales (five million and counting) and a 12-book contract, Angela tells us why she doesn’t take a single book for granted, and why every one she starts feels like the first. She also answers our listener questions and the two Marks discuss the pros and cons of being prolific.
Trailer · Fri, May 27, 2022
EP386: Deep Dive — Editing a Draft with Ian W Sainsbury
Ian W Sainsbury is the award-winning author of the Jimmy Blue series of thrillers. Ian has just started editing the fourth book in the series and he was kind enough to let us get a sneak peek at his editing process. He fires up ProWriting Aid and shares his screen with us as he gets forensic with his edit.
S5 E384 · Mon, May 23, 2022
EP385: Louise Hare — Find the Discipline
Louise Hare’s debut This Lovely City was shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize and Louise was selected for the Observer’s top 10 best debut novelists. She returns with Miss Aldridge Regrets, a murder mystery set aboard the Queen Mary in 1936. Louise discusses how she built the novel up from a short story, and how creating her own routine has helped her hit targets, deadlines and finish her books. “It’s hard to find the discipline when you’ve got all the time in the world…” And the two Marks discuss reader surveys, sleeping habits and what speed people listen back to the podcast at!
S5 E384 · Fri, May 20, 2022
EP384: Andrew Chapman — How To Write a Bestseller in a Day
In a special mid-week episode, we speak to Andrew Chapman. Andrew is the author of horror novels like Jack’s Game, and he’s been a long-time supporter of the podcast on Patreon. A few weeks ago, he declared that he was going to write a novel in a day. His target was 50,000 words in 24 hours. He chose to do it on his birthday, 12th May 2022. And he was going to take a screenplay called THE MASK COLLECTOR that he’d written a few years ago and adapt that into a novel. Andrew takes us through the highs and lows of his 24 hours, what he learned, and whether he would try it again...
S5 E383 · Mon, May 16, 2022
EP383: Simon McCleave — Start with the Twist
Simon McCleave’s first indie novel The Snowdonia Killings sold over 200,000 copies after its release in 2020. He is astonishingly prolific and all his novels since have been Amazon bestsellers. His new novel, The Dark Tide, kicks off a new series, and now he’s being published by HarperCollins. He reveals the things he learned in TV and film that helped him become so prolific, and why he always starts with the twist. And the two Marks discuss productivity tips and the pros and cons of physical books and ebooks.
S5 E382 · Mon, May 09, 2022
EP382: Eva Leigh — Romancing the Scoundrels
Eva Leigh is a USA Today bestselling historical romance author who combines female empowerment, whip-smart heroines, dashing rakes and sex positive stories. Eva takes us through her influences and writing process, including Han Solo, Duran Duran and baking… and she tells us why sometimes the best motivation for writing is spite.
S5 E381 · Mon, May 02, 2022
EP381: Rachael Blok — Follow Your Character
Rachael Blok is the bestselling author of the DCI Maarten Jansen novels and she tells us how each book works as a standalone, but the character is still developing with each story. Rachael also gives us great tips on plotting, writing the ending, character, finding your voice, and research. And the two Marks discuss how writing can help with mental health issues.
S5 E380 · Fri, April 29, 2022
EP380: Deep Dive — How to Start a Publisher with Hobeck Books
Rebecca Collins and Adrian Hobart combined their experience in publishing and broadcasting to create Hobeck Books, a publisher dedicated to a family ethos, merging the best of traditional publishing standards and indie marketing techniques. We talk through the steps they took to start a publisher from the ground up and how to keep it running through a pandemic, and a time of rising costs,
S5 E379 · Mon, April 25, 2022
EP379: Deon Meyer — It’s a Chemical Reaction.
International bestselling author Deon Meyer returns to the podcast with his latest thriller The Dark Flood. Deon tells us how his journalistic hunger for fascinating stories has never gone away. And how he fuses two seemingly unrelated ideas, creating a chemical reaction, that results in great stories. We also discuss writing for cultures other than our own, and how the Two Marks used a glossary in Back to Reality to define some of the British colloquialisms used in their book.
S5 E378 · Mon, April 18, 2022
EP378: Tim Sullivan — Character is more Important than the Crime
Tim Sullivan is a critically-acclaimed screenwriter who turned his back on Hollywood to self-publish thrillers. 250,000 downloads later Tim became a self-publishing phenomenon whose new DS Cross thriller The Patient is published by Head of Zeus. Tim takes us through his extraordinary career, the research he undertook to write a character with autism, and the role that both Derek Jarman and My Little Pony played in his career.
S5 E377 · Mon, April 11, 2022
EP377: FMA Dixon — Finding Your Voice
FMA Dixon’s debut novel The Little House on Everywhere Street was awarded the inaugural Acheven Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction and is charming readers the world over. He tells us how he developed his craft and voice through short stories, and by creating a special gift for his daughter.
S5 E376 · Mon, April 04, 2022
EP376: Martin Latham — A Bookseller’s Tale
Martin Latham has been a bookseller for over thirty-five years and is proud to be responsible for the biggest petty-cash claim in Waterstones’ history. He’s also an author and his latest book The Bookseller’s Tale is a wonderful celebration of books and bookshops. Martin is an endless source of bookselling anecdotes and, as you’ll hear, he is deeply passionate about bookselling.
S5 E375 · Sun, April 03, 2022
EP375: Deep Dive — Creating Thrutopia with Manda Scott
Bestselling author Manda Scott tells us about Thrutopia, an extraordinary project designed to challenge writers to rethink how they write in order to rebuild the future. It begins with the Thrutopia masterclasses that dive into idea generation, narrative incubation and the power of community.
S5 E374 · Mon, March 28, 2022
EP374: Nina De Gramont — Searching for Agatha Christie
Nina De Gramont takes on her most ambitious book yet with The Christie Affair, which explores what might have happened to Agatha Christie when she disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Nina takes us through the process of taking a real-life mystery and creating a fiction around it, mixing drama with research, and writing for a fanbase that has very exacting expectations.
S5 E373 · Mon, March 21, 2022
EP373: Erica James — What happens next?
Veronica Henry returns to the podcast with her latest bestseller The Impulse Purchase, where a mother, daughter and grandmother run a pub together. Veronica talks about writing across the generations, whether or not to include Covid in her novel, and — after over twenty novels — if she’s getting the hang of writing yet.
S5 E372 · Mon, March 14, 2022
EP372: Veronica Henry — It’s not supposed to be easy
Veronica Henry returns to the podcast with her latest bestseller The Impulse Purchase, where a mother, daughter and grandmother run a pub together. Veronica talks about writing across the generations, whether or not to include Covid in her novel, and — after over twenty novels — if she’s getting the hang of writing yet.
S5 E371 · Mon, March 07, 2022
EP371: Cathy Bramley — Launch in a Phone Box
Cathy Bramley is a bestselling author of romantic comedies and her new novel The Summer That Changed Us is delighting readers all over the world. Cathy started by self-publishing her first novel with a launch party in a phone box, and she used her expertise in marketing and PR to carve out a career as one of our most innovative and best-loved authors. Oh, and Mr D has a lovely rant about 99p eBooks.
S5 E370 · Mon, February 28, 2022
EP370: Lizzie Pook — A Long Old Slog to Publication
Lizzie Pook is a long-time listener of the podcast and Patreon supporter whose debut novel Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter was inspired by her time in north-western Australia researching the pearl-diving industry. The novel is being published by three major publishers on three continents with three very different covers, but the road to publication was a long slog, with Lizzie facing life-changing events with her health and career. Also, the Two Marks get distracted by their memories of the glorious town of Leatherhead in Surrey. Yes, really.
S5 E368 · Mon, February 21, 2022
EP368: Bethany Clift — Feeling Fine at the End of the World
Bethany Clift’s debut novel The Last One at the Party is hilarious, moving, cathartic and set in an utterly terrifying pandemic. She tells us how writing and reading horror is great for mental health, how seeing E.T. at an impressionable age inspired her, and how writing a novel with only one living character allowed her to dig deeper than ever before. This episode has an accompanying Deep Dive episode with Bethany and her husband Peter Handford where they tell us about the making of their indie horror movie Heretic. Deep Dives are exclusive to our Patreon and Academy members. To find out more: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S5 E369 · Mon, February 21, 2022
EP369: Deep Dive — Making an Independent Horror Movie with Bethany Clift and Peter Handford
Bethany Clift and Peter Handford take us through the making of their 2012 independent horror movie HERETIC, from the first spark of the idea, to financing, pre-production, filming, post-production and how they got the DVD in the supermarket bestsellers and the lessons they’ve learned. This is fascinating and honest breakdown of just how challenging it is to make an independent movie.
S5 E367 · Mon, February 14, 2022
EP367: Jeevani Charika — The “Aah” Factor
Jeevani Charika (aka Rhoda Baxter) is an award-nominated author of women’s fiction with heroines of colour. Her latest novel, Playing for Love, is set in the world of online gaming, giving the classic mistaken identity romcom story a fresh makeover. We discuss how to write a convincing rom com, and why 2022 could be her year! And the Two Marks get into the pros and cons of Wordle, the joys of cosplay, and how one young lad got his book into a local library.
S5 E366 · Mon, February 07, 2022
EP366: Beth Miller — The Spine of the Story
Beth Miller is the bestselling author of six novels, one of which took 12 years to write, another just 8 months. Beth tells us why the most important part of the process of her is finding the spine of the story: the thing that moves both her and the reader. We also talk about titles, publishing when young, and when to stand your ground as a writer.
S5 E365 · Mon, January 31, 2022
EP365: Samantha King — Enjoy the View
Samantha King returns to the podcast to reveal how her latest novel The Secret Keepers’ Daughter was inspired by a “worry box” and how our darkest and most terrifying fears are found in our own homes and in everyday life. We also discuss the career of an author beyond the debut and how she’s learned to endure the peaks and troughs and enjoy the view.
S5 E364 · Mon, January 24, 2022
EP364: Shona Kinsella — We All Help Each Other If We Can
British Fantasy Award nominee Shona Kinsella tells us about her new book Outlander and the real Jacobites, which digs into the real history behind Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Shona’s career has been an extraordinary rollercoaster, and she talks openly about the highs and lows of crowdfunding, flash fiction, writing and editing a novella in 30 days, and how helping others has helped her writing.
S5 E363 · Mon, January 17, 2022
EP363: Lori Ann Stephens — Ignore the Fear
Have you ever wanted to tell a story, but been too scared to write it? Lori Ann Stephens’ near-future thriller Blue Running covers a whole range of contentious topics, but Lori tells us how she overcame such a fear to tell her story, how she had dealt with the reactions of readers and her own family, and why she thinks the best writing comes from fear.
S5 E362 · Mon, January 10, 2022
EP362: Simon Beckett — All Change
International bestselling author Simon Beckett returns to the podcast to tell us about his new novel The Lost, in which he starts a whole new series. He offers tips on character, tension, and how to develop a great thriller. And the two Marks discuss how theme and endings can help you when you’re stuck, and the importance of a great opening.
S5 E361 · Mon, January 03, 2022
EP361: Daniel Rigby — Just Start Doing It
BAFTA-award winning actor Daniel Rigby tells us about his Audible original debut Isaac Steele and the Forever Man and how his background in comedy and improvisation helped create his protagonist and his extraordinary world.
S5 E360 · Mon, December 27, 2021
EP360: A Christmas Special with the Two Marks
Join the Two Marks in a Christmas special where they invited their listeners to share their favourite Christmas books and gifts. They dive into the most-loved books, annuals, games, bikes, cuddly toys, dolls and discover how these gifts have shaped us all.
S5 E359 · Mon, December 20, 2021
EP359: Mia Kuzniar — Make Something Happen
Sunday Times bestselling author Mia Kuzniar brings some light to the bleak midwinter with her wonderful new novel Midnight in Everwood. She discusses how ballet and the Nutcracker Suite influenced her new book and how she moves between adventure stories for children and fairy tales for adults. She also tells us how an 18-month break between jobs allowed her to write and sell her debut novel.
S5 E358 · Fri, December 17, 2021
EP358: Deep Dive — Surviving NanoWriMo with GB Ralph
GB Ralph, author of the Rise and Shine series, talks about his last-minute decision to try NanoWriMo this year. He takes us from the first idea for his new series — The Milverton Mysteries — to the various options he had, including: writing every day, writing “hermit style”, and waiting for the muse. And he tells us how he coped when he started missing his daily word count targets. This is as entertaining as it is educational for anyone thinking of taking on the NanoWriMo challenge, and it was recorded when the trauma of NanoWriMo was still fresh in Gavin’s mind!
S5 E357 · Mon, December 13, 2021
EP357: Ian W Sainsbury — Limitations Make You Creative
Kindle Storyteller Award Winner Ian W Sainsbury returns the podcast to tell us what’s happened since we last spoke, not least how he started a new series and then decided to completely reinvent it by changing the protagonist’s name, series title and the cover designs. Ian also talks about working with dictation software, how his writing habits have evolved and how the limitations of genre, form and technology can make you more creative.
S5 E356 · Mon, December 06, 2021
EP356: Lisa Hall — A Dagger in my Heart
Bestselling author Lisa Hall tells us about her new novel The Woman in the Woods, which adds a dash of the supernatural to her page-turning thriller style. Lisa talks about setting a book in a real place, starting with the twist, how thinking the worst inspires her, the cruelty of rejection and how to cope with it, the importance of notebooks, and knowing when to let a book go.
S5 E355 · Mon, November 29, 2021
EP355: JK Ellem — Think of the Long Game
JK Ellem writes cutting edge thrillers including the Ravenwood series, which was never supposed to be a series, but his readers wanted more. JK takes us through his career, how his writing process has developed over time, and how he’s benefitted from listening to his readers, going where the success is and following the muse.
S5 E354 · Thu, November 25, 2021
EP354: Deep Dive — Beta Readers with StoryOrigin’s Evan Gow
We welcome Evan Gow back to the podcast to discuss StoryOrigin’s new feature to help manage feedback from your Beta Readers. You can discover more about StoryOrigin here: https://storyoriginapp.com/ And here’s when Evan last came on the podcast: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep223-storyorigin-promotions-with-evan-gow/
S5 E353 · Mon, November 22, 2021
EP353: Michael Connelly — A Pretty Strange Trip
We are delighted to welcome worldwide bestseller Michael Connelly back to the podcast to discuss his new novel The Dark Hours, which explores an LA scarred by fear and social unrest. Michael reflects on how the world of Harry Bosch has grown over an incredible thirty years, and he answers our listener questions of writing habits, outlining and much, much more.
S5 E352 · Mon, November 15, 2021
EP352: Sasha Greene — Trust and the Writer
Sasha Greene returns to the podcast with her new novel Trust, which explore ideas such as PTSD, sexual assault and coercive control. Sasha takes us through her process of research, how she writes just one day a week to a deadline, and why no writing is ever wasted.
S5 E351 · Mon, November 08, 2021
EP351: Christine Pride & Jo Piazza — Communication is the Key
Christine Pride is an editor with 15 years experience with the likes of Doubleday and Simon & Schuster, and Jo Piazza is the award-winning author of nine novels. Together they have written an extraordinary novel, We Are Not Like Them, which touches on themes of race and friendship. They tell us how the book came about, and how they worked together, and the challenges of writing two perspectives.
S5 E350 · Thu, November 04, 2021
EP350: Deep Dive — Writer Burnout with Paul Bulos
We welcome Paul Bulos back to the podcast to discuss what burnout is and how it affects writers. Paul also offers ten strategies to help you overcome burnout. You can discover more about Paul’s services at http://www.thecompletecoach.co.uk
S5 E349 · Mon, November 01, 2021
EP349 The Bestseller Experiment - Katie Khan
Katie Khan is the author of the bestsellers Hold Back the Stars and The Light Between Us, and now she’s a tutor at the Novelry, bringing her experience from both the film world and the book world to her students. Katie talks about inspirational teachers, writing around a day job, how getting feedback too soon can be counterproductive, and the lessons she’s learned from working with the likes of Paramount and Warner Bros.
S5 Enull · Sat, October 30, 2021
Deep Dive — Writing Horror with Adam Nevill
Award-winning horror author Adam Nevill answers our listener questions on setting the mood, balancing gore and terror to find the right tone, research into the supernormal, getting into the minds of perpetrators of evil, the biggest lessons he has learned in his extraordinary career, how screenwriting has helped his novel writing, and how he’s conditioned himself to write in any place at any time . This is an essential listen for authors of all genres.
S5 Enull · Wed, October 27, 2021
Academy All Stars – Mark Hood
Welcome to the latest of our occasional Academy All-Stars mini episodes, where we talk to writers who have joined our academy and have done something extraordinary. How long would it take you to write 400,000 words? Mark Hood has an unbroken writing streak of nearly two years and writing an average of 600 words a day he’s written 419,000 words and counting. Mark tells us what changes he made to his writing routine to make it happen, how he has kept it going (especially on the days when he’s not in the mood), and how it has helped him as a writer.
S5 E347 · Mon, October 25, 2021
EP347: Alan Gillespie & Emma Grae — Vernacular Voices
Alan Gillespie & Emma Grae are writers from Scotland who both have unique and distinct voices. Alan wrote The Mash House dialogue without punctuation, and Emma wrote Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy in Scottish vernacular. We talk about finding your voice as an author — and the voices of characters — who might otherwise have been overlooked by traditional publishing.
S5 E346 · Mon, October 18, 2021
EP346: Fifth Anniversary Live Show!
The Two Marks celebrate five years of the Bestseller Experiment and answer listener questions on favourite moments, best writing advice, how their writing has changed and how much of Mr D’s woo-woo had rubbed off on Mr Stay and why semi colons are the work of Satan. We’ve also added some birthday messages from guests and listeners that weren’t featured on the live show!
S5 E345 · Mon, October 11, 2021
EP345: Felix Francis — Writing as a Family Business
Felix Francis has continued the legacy of his father Dick Francis’s literary success, selling over 80 million novels in 40 languages. Felix tells us how the books were always a family business, and why the continued success owes so much to knowing the reader wants, and how he works really hard to make the books easy reading. And we announce the winner of the Joe Abercrombie giveaway!
S5 E344 · Mon, October 04, 2021
EP344: Elise Valmorbida — How to be a Happy Writer
Elise Valmorbida’s new book The Happy Writing Book is a unique guide for writers at all levels with 100 prompts to help you develop your writing and wellbeing. We discuss show not tell, success, engaging the senses and why we are all a work-in-progress. Also, the Two Marks launch a new hashtag upon an unsuspecting world… #LooBooks
S5 E343 · Fri, October 01, 2021
EP343: Deep Dive — Non-Fiction and Memoir with Jenn T Grace
Jenn T. Grace is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a hybrid publishing company that helps first-time authors get their books written and finds them an eager audience. Jenn takes us through the first steps of writing non-fiction and memoir, the essential elements of a book proposal, and how to make your books stand out from the crowd. You can discover more about Publish Your Purpose here… https://publishyourpurposepress.com/
S5 E342 · Mon, September 27, 2021
EP342: Awais Khan — Do Your Bit, Let The Universe Do The Rest
Awais Khan returns to the podcast after the publication of his second novel No Honour, which has been getting the most extraordinary acclaim. Awais tells us about the lessons he’s learned since the publication of his debut, In The Company of Strangers, not least what he did at times when he felt like giving up.
S5 E341 · Wed, September 22, 2021
EP341: Deep Dive — Book Launches with Patrick Walsh
PublishingPush.com help publishers and authors publish and promote their books, and Patrick runs us through the ten most common mistakes made by authors when launching their books, and he answers our listener questions on book launches. You can discover more about Publishing Push here: https://publishingpush.com
S5 E340 · Mon, September 20, 2021
EP340: Abi Silver — Why We Write
Abi Silver is a lawyer and the author of Burton & Lamb courtroom thrillers, including the latest The Midas Game, which dives into the world of online gaming and Youtubers. Abi also wrote an article on why writers write and she tells us why your writing matters. And the two Marks get nostalgic for early computer games.
S5 E339 · Fri, September 17, 2021
EP339: Deep Dive — Jennie Nash, Blueprint for a Book
Bestselling book coach Jennie Nash has inspired hundreds of novelists, and in her new book Blueprint for a Book she makes the case for writers defining the foundational elements of their story before writing. She also answers listener questions on self-editing, first drafts, second drafts, getting an agent, writing stand-alones and series, and how to decide which idea is the one to turn into a novel.
Tue, September 14, 2021
EP339: Deep Dive — Jennie Nash, Blueprint for a Book
Bestselling book coach Jennie Nash has inspired hundreds of novelists, and in her new book Blueprint for a Book she makes the case for writers defining the foundational elements of their story before writing. She also answers listener questions on self-ed
S5 E338 · Mon, September 13, 2021
EP338: Sarah Denzil — If I Surprise Myself, I Surprise the Reader
Sarah Denzil is the million-copy bestselling author of Silent Child, and its sequel Stolen Girl is premiering on audio first. We discuss writing at work, writing in notebooks, how feedback boosted her confidence, and recording and releasing audiobooks in various formats, including multi-voice recordings and dramatisations.
S5 E337 · Mon, September 06, 2021
EP337: Joe Abercrombie — The Magic Happens When You Work It
We celebrate international bestselling fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie's return to the podcast with The Wisdom of Crowds, which brings his Age of Madness trilogy to a thrilling climax. As always, Joe is a treasure trove of amazing advice for writers and he answers our listener questions on outlining, symmetry, POV and much more. We also ask him if he still dances naked in the rain… and his answer might surprise you.
S5 E336 · Mon, August 30, 2021
EP336: Steve Cavanagh — Engage the Reader Straight Away
Sunday Times bestselling thriller writer Steve Cavanagh returns triumphant to the podcast. When we last spoke to him he was on the verge of a great breakthrough. Today he’s an award-winner and international bestseller and with his new thriller The Devil’s Advocate he’s done it again. Steve reveals how he works hard to engage the reader straight away.
S5 E335 · Fri, August 27, 2021
EP335: Deep Dive — Copy Editing with Lisa Rogers
Lisa Rogers has been copy editor to some amazing authors including Joe Abercrombie, Terry Pratchett, Iain Banks, Tad Williams and some bloke called Mark Stay. She answers listener questions on the role of a copy editor, common mistakes made by authors, style guides, timelines, differences in style between UK and US publishers, Oxford commas, point-of-view, head-hopping, and why hyphens keep her up at night.
S5 E334 · Mon, August 23, 2021
EP334: Piers Torday — What Matters is the Book
Piers Torday is the award-winning author of the extraordinary The Last Wild trilogy for children, and he’s back with an amazing prequel The Wild Before. Piers’ writing comes from a lifelong passion for wildlife and for giving voice to characters that might not otherwise be heard. He also tells us about the Paul Torday prize for debut novelists over 60 and why it’s not age that matters when writing.
S5 E333 · Fri, August 20, 2021
EP333: Deep Dive — Diversity & Inclusion with Dr Jen O'Ryan
Dr Jen O’Ryan the author of “Inclusive AF: A Field Guide for ‘Accidental’ Diversity Experts”. Designed for anyone thinking about Inclusion and Diversity. She answers our listener questions on writing diverse characters, the kinds of research and due diligence to explore when writing outside of your own experience, the changes needed in publishing for diversity to work and much more.
S5 E332 · Mon, August 16, 2021
EP332: Kia Abdullah — Don’t Shy Away
Kia Abdullah’s latest novel Next of Kin is not just a page-turning thriller, but Kia is using its publication to support the Trussell Trust charity. Kia talks about writing difficult subjects, cultural appropriation, diversity in publishing, and her writing habits. The Two Marks discuss the writer’s commitment to the reader, and are excited to announce that the Bestseller Academy is once again open for applications.
S5 E331 · Mon, August 09, 2021
EP331: Mick Finlay — Psychology, Murder & The Writer
Mick Finlay is the author of the Arrowood series of crime novels set in 1890s London, and in his latest book Arrowood and the Meeting House Murders , he explores the dark side of human psychology, and tells us how teaching psychology has helped him as a writer. And this week’s digression from the Two Marks is on the joys of car boot sales and Beanie Babies.
S5 E330 · Mon, August 02, 2021
EP330: Matthew Ralph — Celebrating Diversity
Matthew Ralph is best-selling children’s author whose books celebrate diversity and inclusivity. Matthew takes us through his extraordinary career that started with an idea in an airport to his latest book Family Means, which evolved from the close connection he has with his readers. Matthew gives us tips on marketing, and shares his dream to create a community for his readers. The Two Marks also digress about the mysteries of books in airports.
S5 E329 · Mon, July 26, 2021
EP329: Nicola May — You Have To Be Persistent
Nicola May is the bestselling author of a dozen romantic comedies, all of which have topped the UK Kindle charts, and now she’s back with her new book Welcome To Ferry Lake Market. In a jam-packed interview, Nicola answers listener questions on the essential elements of a romcom, tenacity, blog tours, self-belief, asking for help, and writing in bed!
S5 E328 · Mon, July 19, 2021
EP328: RJ MCBRIEN — Let The Subconscious Take Control
RJ McBrien’s career as a screenwriter saw him writing for Spooks, Wallander and The Bill, and now he’s delivered his debut novel Reckless, a page-turning thriller of marriage and betrayal. He takes us through the lessons he’s learned in the transition from scripts to novels, why doing something every day is essential, and how to tackle the “then what?” phase of writing.
S5 E327 · Mon, July 12, 2021
EP327: Adam Simcox — A Leisurely Stroll, Barefoot Over Broken Glass
Adam Simcox is a filmmaker whose debut novel The Dying Squad is published by Gollancz. Adam takes us through his journey to publication — “A leisurely stroll barefoot over broken glass for twenty years” — and we discuss writing for the screen and novels, mood boards, writing to music, commissioning reader reports, self-belief, and writing with your significant other (his partner Kirsty Eyre has already been a guest on the podcast).
Trailer · Wed, July 07, 2021
Deep Dive — Book Launches with Sara Cox
Mark Stay is joined by Sara Cox — who helped him launch his novel The Crow Folk earlier this year — to answer listener questions on Book Launches, including… how far should you plan ahead, the different types of launches, the pre-launch essentials, post-launch best practice and much, much more.
S5 E325 · Mon, July 05, 2021
Sue Teddern — A Story Is A Story, However You Tell it
Sue Teddern has written for TV and radio and now she’s written her debut novel, Anne Stanley All At Sea. Sue takes us through her extraordinary career, with great insight into writing for TV and radio. We also discuss some great British Institutions, including The Archers, the Shipping Forecast and Birds of a Feather.
Trailer · Wed, June 30, 2021
EP324: Deep Dive — Writing Horror with Adam Nevill Teaser
Award-winning horror author Adam Nevill answers our listener questions on setting the mood, balancing gore and terror to find the right tone, research into the supernormal, getting into the minds of perpetrators of evil, the biggest lessons he has learned in his extraordinary career, how screenwriting has helped his novel writing, and how he’s conditioned himself to write in any place at any time . This is an essential listen for authors of all genres.
S5 E323 · Mon, June 28, 2021
EP323: Nicole Kennedy — Perfection Takes Time
We always love it when one of our listeners is published, but Nicole Kennedy’s debut novel Everything’s Perfect had a rocky road to publication. Nicole takes us through a tumultuous time in her family’s life, and why it was so important for her to carve out time for writing.
S5 E322 · Mon, June 21, 2021
EP322: Joe Thomas — Balancing Exposition and Realism
With his new novel Brazilian Psycho, author Joe Thomas completes the São Paulo Quartet, a series that evolved from his ten years living in the city. Joe tells us how living in the setting of his books gave him an insight into a tangled web of crime and corruption to create vivid and engaging fiction. He tells us how an unpublished novel with multiple strands and characters helped give him focus for the series. The two Marks also discuss narrative voice and how an author’s voice develops over time, and Mr. D has some top tips for bullet journals.
S5 E321 · Mon, June 14, 2021
EP321: Damien Lewis — History Isn't Static
A narrative non-fiction treat this week as bestselling historian Damien Lewis tell us about the extraordinary heroes of his new book SAS Great Escapes. We also discuss research methods, using primary and secondary sources, how to earn the trust of interviewees, adapting history for the screen and why history is not static.
S5 E320 · Mon, June 07, 2021
EP320: Nadine Matheson — A Little Bit of Dismemberment
Nadine Matheson’s debut thriller The Jigsaw Man has been hailed as one of the event debuts of the year. But this was far from an overnight success. Nadine’s writing journey is one from competition wins, to NanoWriMo, to self-publishing, to a six-publisher auction and the publication of her bestselling debut The Jigsaw Man and a TV option. Nadine tells us the lessons she learned along the way, and how she worked around her career as a Criminal Solicitor.
S5 E319 · Mon, May 31, 2021
EP319: Sarah Moorhead and Stuart Turton — Teacher, Student & Metempsychosis
Do you have a favourite teacher? One who encouraged you to write, maybe? This special episode is for all the teachers and students out there who have inspired one another over the years, and we have two of them on the show. Sarah Moorhead is the author of Witness X and started out as a teacher. One of her students was young Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water. They tell us how they reunited over Twitter and how discussing big ideas in the class can change the course of a life.
Trailer · Thu, May 27, 2021
EP318: Deep Dive — Writing Sex Scenes with Caedis Knight
Sex scenes in fiction can be difficult to get right, so much so that there’s even an award for writers who get it horribly wrong. We speak to Jacqueline Silvester and NJ Simmonds, who write together as Caedis Knight, about how they make the sex scenes in their Blood Web Chronicles work effectively. They answer listener questions on language, character, story and sex… and yes, the language in this podcast can get a bit saucy, so be warned if that’s not your thing.
S5 E317 · Mon, May 24, 2021
EP317: Dean Wesley Smith — Plug in to your Creative Voice and Play
Dean Wesley Smith is one of the most prolific writers working today, with over 200 novels, and countless short stories published. He reveals how he has learned how to stop listening to his critical voice, and to stop thinking of the story as a “product”, and how that has unleashed his creativity.
S5 E316 · Mon, May 17, 2021
EP316: Josie Lloyd — Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em cry
Josie Lloyd tells us why The Cancer Ladies Running Club is the most important and personal book she’s written, and how she balanced a story that is brutally honest about cancer and is still brimming with hope and positivity. She also takes us through her extraordinary career, including co-writing with her husband Emlyn Rees, and how she’s coped with writing in lockdown.
S5 E315 · Mon, May 10, 2021
EP315: Andrew Hunter Murray — Terror Leads to Productivity
When Andrew Hunter Murray decided to end the world with his novel The Last Day he had no idea how hard it would be. His research involved astrophysics, climate migration, geopolitics, sleep cycles and much more. Andrew tells us how he achieved a balance of storytelling and worldbuilding to write what became one of the top ten bestsellers of 2020.
S5 E314 · Mon, May 03, 2021
EP314: Eric Maikranz — Infinite Reward
The dream for many authors is to see their novel made into a big-budget Hollywood movie. Debut author D. Eric Maikranz decided that he would make his dream a reality. His novel, The Reincarnationist Papers, has been adapted into a Paramount movie starring Mark Wahlberg, and directed by Antoine Fuqua. Taking a tip from his day job in IT, he was able to get the attention of Hollywood in the most extraordinary way...
S5 E313 · Mon, April 26, 2021
EP313: Ellie Barker — Dreams Come True… Eventually
Ellie Barker had always dreamed of becoming an author, and her debut novel The Pink Coffee Shop was ten years in the making. Ellie talks honestly about rejection, dusting herself off, finding the right editor, rolling with the punches, and discovering that dreams do come true… but might look a little different to how you imagined them.
Bonus · Mon, April 19, 2021
EP38: From The Heart | Erica James
How do you touch the heart of your readers? We get emotional over tea and cake with bestselling author Erica James. Erica has sold over 5 million copies of her twenty books, is winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and she never fails to break her readers’ hearts. We discover how she does it…
S5 E312 · Mon, April 12, 2021
EP312: Adele Geras - Be Whoever You Want
Adele Geras is one of Britain’s most acclaimed writers, and has written over 100 books for both children and adults. With her latest novel Dangerous Women she’s written her first historical thriller under the pseudonym Hope Adams. We talk about writing under a pseudonym, taking liberties with history, the challenges of writing a thriller for the first time, the benefits of editors, and why she still wants to be Judy Garland.
Bonus · Mon, April 05, 2021
EP35: The Incredible Tenacity Of Mark Edwards
Mark Edwards is a bestselling author, having sold over two million psychological thrillers including The Magpies. Having been self-published and traditionally-published, Mark is now one of Amazon’s ‘Thomas & Mercer’ imprint’s most successful authors with five number one bestsellers. His extraordinary story will be an inspiration to any writer who’s ever faced rejection, bad publishing, bad agents, and financial ruin!
S5 E311 · Mon, March 29, 2021
Ep 311: Catriona Ward — Nerve Shredder
Catriona Ward’s first two novels Rawblood and Little Eve won awards and critical acclaim, but her new novel The Last House on Needless Street got the kind of pre-publication buzz that comes along very rarely. We spoke to Catriona about the changes she made to her career and her writing that led to her writing what Stephen King called “a true nerve-shredder”.
Trailer · Fri, March 26, 2021
Ep 310: Deep Dive — Blog Tour Q&A with Anne Cater
Anne Cater is the founder of Random Things Tours and has been organising book blog tours for over four years. She answers our listener questions on everything you need to know about blog tours, including when to book them, how to find a reputable organiser, how much they cost, what to expect, how to make the most of them and much more.
S5 E309 · Mon, March 22, 2021
Ep 309: Sarah Pinborough — Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Special
We welcome Sarah Pinborough back to the podcast to celebrate the release of the Netflix adaptation of Sarah’s bestselling novel Behind Her Eyes. We first discussed the book with Sarah way back in episode 18, and Sarah spills the beans on the TV show’s production and we discuss plot spoilers throughout, so be warned!
S5 E308 · Mon, March 15, 2021
Ep 308: Mitch Benn — Helvetica Breakdown
Mitch Benn is a comedian, songwriter, musician, actor and author of the Terra Trilogy, a science fiction adventure series that Neil Gaiman called “Wise, funny and human". Mitch takes us through the extraordinary story of how the first two books were published, how he overcame what could have been a disaster and completed, self-published and re-invented the trilogy. In this episode you will discover: Why it’s important to define what you’re writing as soon as possible Why you don’t need to write in chronological order How fonts can be your friends How publishers' acquisitions process have changed recently And why you should stick to your guns more often
S5 E34 · Mon, March 08, 2021
EP034: Into The Woods With John Yorke
John Yorke is one of the world’s leading lights in the art of storytelling. As former head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and head of Company Pictures, he has worked on shows like Shameless, Life On Mars, and the UK’s most popular soap opera EastEnders. He is also the author of Into The Woods, one of our favourite books on the craft of storytelling.
Trailer · Mon, March 08, 2021
Ep 307: Deep Dive — Networking in Publishing with Justine Solomons
Justine Solomons is founder of Byte the Book, an organisation dedicated to getting authors published, traditionally or self-published. Justine answers our listener questions on networking in publishing with tips for authors, what NOT to do, networking in lockdown, online events, how to prepare for networking and how to follow-up.
S5 E306 · Mon, March 01, 2021
Ep 306: Linwood Barclay “Chapter Breaks Are Commercial Breaks”
Linwood Barclay is the international bestselling author of over twenty novels, and his latest thriller Find You First is a fast-paced, high-concept, page-turner. In this jam-packed chat we discuss head-hopping, point-of-view, flashbacks, fan fiction, deadlines, writer’s block, self-doubt and more!
Bonus · Mon, February 22, 2021
EP033: Legal Eagles | Keith Mathieson and Paul Joseph
We get lawyered-up in this fascinating episode where we talk to a pair of top entertainment lawyers: Keith Mathieson is an expert in defamation and privacy law, and Paul Joseph specialises in intellectual property cases and we quiz them on the pitfalls authors should look out for when writing.
Trailer · Fri, February 19, 2021
Ep 305: Deep Dive — Maria Dismondy - The Business of Inspiring Children
Maria Dismondy is the author of inspirational and award-winning children’s books such as Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, she is also the CEO of Cardinal Rule Press, a publisher dedicated to diversity and inclusiveness in children’s publishing. Maria tells us what inspired her to write, why she started her own publishing house, how she built her team and the first person she hired (and fired!), and the challenges she has faced during lockdown.
S5 E304 · Mon, February 15, 2021
Ep 304: DV Bishop “History Is Really Badly Structured”
DV Bishop’s historical thriller debut City of Vengeance vividly takes the reader to 1530s Renaissance Florence. Writing historical fiction creates all kinds of challenges and DV Bishop tells us how it’s okay to not know everything about your chosen historical period, and why it might be a good idea to resist writing straight away... In this episode you will discover: Tips for historical research and exposition Why you should let your characters drive the plot The pros and cons of outlining and pantsing Mr. Stay discusses his online book launches and blog tours
Bonus · Mon, February 08, 2021
EP031: Fear of Failure | Julie Cohen
Julie Cohen is the author of over twenty novels, including the Richard & Judy bestseller Dear Thing . She also teaches creative writing workshops and is a goldmine of writing wisdom. Julie shares some insights that are game-changers when it comes to writing, from dealing with failure to planning and storytelling. Her latest novel Together is featured on the BBC’s list of books to watch out for in 2017.
Mon, February 01, 2021
Ep 303: Mark Stay and The Crow Folk
Some chancer called Mark Stay hijacks the podcast to shamelessly plug his new novel The Crow Folk. He gets all evasive about listener questions, refuses to discuss his murky past and almost storms out of the show… three times. Nevertheless, Mark Desvaux manages to pin him down and gets the answers we all want, not least: how can I get a bar of that Crow Folk chocolate? We also have an exclusive clip from The Crow Folk audiobook read by Candida Gubbins. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for the clip. We discuss: Choosing and developing ideas Working with agents and editors Writing non-sweary period dialogue Comparing Mr Stay’s experiences in traditional publishing, self-publishing and crowdfunding And how you really can get your hands on that chocolate...
S5 E302 · Wed, January 27, 2021
EP302 The Bestseller Experiment - John Jarrold Teaser
John Jarrold is a literary agent and editor who has worked with the likes of Michael Moorcock, Guy Gavriel Kay and John Courtney Grimwood. He answers our Patreon and Academates’ questions on pitching to agents, common mistakes, how self-published authors can approach agents, genres, self-representation and editorial tips on point-of-view, dialogue, words to avoid and more.
S5 E301 · Mon, January 25, 2021
Ep 301: Caimh McDonnell — Stranger Fiction
Bestselling indie author Caimh McDonnell makes a triumphant return to the podcast as Transworld author CK McDonnell with his new novel Stranger Times. Caimh tells us how he took everything he learned as an indie author to pitch this book to traditional publishers. We discuss launching a book during lockdown, inventive book marketing ideas, why selling humour is tricky, and being a squeaky wheel...
S5 E300 · Mon, January 18, 2021
Ep 300: Rich Leder — Write Anyway
Rich Leder is a screenwriter and novelist who tells us why our brains are always lying to us, why he writes with the door open (even with young kids running around), why finishing is so important, and why — despite all that’s going on in our lives — we should write anyway. And he reassures us that his latest book — Cooking for Cannibals — is a work of fiction. We think.
Bonus · Sat, January 16, 2021
Academy All Stars - JW Atkinson
Welcome to the first of our occasional Academy All-Stars mini episodes, where we talk to writers who have joined our academy and have done something extraordinary. JW Atkinson is a writer and teacher who in 2020 wrote 52 stories — one a week! — for his Patreon followers. JW tells us how he has been using writing as part of his healing process after an accident and how the academy is helping him achieve his writing dreams. Discover more about the academy here: https://academy.bestsellerexperiment.com And you will find JW Atkinson's writing here: https://jwatkinsonauthor.com
S5 E299 · Mon, January 11, 2021
Ep 299: Michele Campbell — Making Writing A Priority
International bestselling author Michele Campbell’s new novel The Wife Who Knew Too Much combines thrills and glamour. Michele talks to us about the balance between plot and character, the importance of editors, breaks in writing, and making writing one of your top priorities in life.
Bonus · Mon, January 04, 2021
EP029: Kate Harrison | Bestselling Insights
Kate Harrison is a rare breed. A fiction and non-fiction award-winning author who used her insight experience with the BBC to produce a huge bestselling series of non-fiction diet and lifestyle books. We discuss with Kate about her phenomenally successful 5:2 Diet series, how she straddles the life as both a fiction and non-fiction author, and how her experience on shows like Panorama have shaped her storytelling.
S4 E298 · Mon, December 28, 2020
Ep 298: Mark Victor Hansen — Pick A Target, Set Goals!
Mark Victor Hansen is co-writer of Chicken Soup For The Soul, the mega-selling phenomenon that has sold over half a billion copies worldwide. He takes us through his extraordinary story to publication and beyond.
Mon, December 28, 2020
Ep 297: Deep Dive — Book Marketing Q&A with Leslie O'Connor
Leslie O’Connor has worked extensively in corporate marketing, and she put those skills to use when relaunching Mitch Benn’s Terra trilogy of books.
Bonus · Mon, December 21, 2020
EP027: From Script, To Screen, To Book | Jo Ho
Jo Ho is an award-winning screenwriter and director, best known for creating the BBC TV series Spirit Warriors, but she has recently turned her hand to self-publishing with great success.
S4 E296 · Mon, December 14, 2020
Ep 296: You Are Not Alone
The Two Marks talks about isolation, loneliness, the voices in our head and all the other stuff that can make a writer feel like they are alone. We discuss what we can do to build a healthy community around us, even in lockdown. And we share the good news stories from our communities on Patreon, Facebook and the Academy.
Bonus · Mon, December 07, 2020
EP026: Author & Editor In A Hot Mess | Lucy Vine & Katie Seaman
Lucy Vine is a freelance journalist who has written for pretty much every magazine going. Inspired by one of Lucy ’s articles, editor Katie Seaman commissioned Lucy to write Hot Mess, a full-length novel, in an incredibly short space of time and, between them, have discovered a brilliantly efficient way of working together.
Bonus · Thu, December 03, 2020
Ep 295: Fearless Worldbuilding. A Deep Dive with Allen Stroud
Author Allen Stroud is the current chair of the British Science Fiction Association and has a Masters Degree in Science Fiction and Fantasy Worldbuilding. In this special Deep Dive Allen talks about his new novel Fearless, writing for characters with disabilities, and he has some amazing tips on world building.
S4 E294 · Mon, November 30, 2020
Ep 294: B.J. Fogg — Tiny Habits
BJ Fogg, PhD, founded the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and created the Tiny Habits Academy to help people around the world. He tells us how the smallest changes can make a huge difference to your productivity as a writer.
Bonus · Mon, November 23, 2020
EP025: The M Word | Shannon Mayer
We welcome back Shannon Mayer for the third and final part of our epic interview with her and we finally tackle something that can put the fear of death into many authors… Marketing.
S4 E293 · Fri, November 20, 2020
Ep 293: Getting Published is Just the Beginning. A Deep Dive with Rhoda Baxter
Rhoda Baxter returns to the podcast with an amazing book that covers everything authors need to know about all the scary stuff: contracts, intellectual property, rights, and income. In this Deep Dive, she answers listeners questions on advances, choosing agents, negotiating terms, audio rights, and the steps that you can take before you’re even published.
S4 E292 · Mon, November 16, 2020
EP292: Rowan Coleman — Writing is Well Hard
We welcome bestselling author Rowan Coleman back to the podcast, but this time she’s wearing a Brontë bonnet. Writing as Bella Ellis she is two books into the Brontë Mysteries, which imagines the famous sisters as mystery-solving sleuths. Rowan takes us through her process of research and strategies for writing around history and real people.
Bonus · Mon, November 09, 2020
EP024: Liz Fenwick & The Crows Of Doubt
Is there such a thing as a positive rejection? This week we chat with award-winning author, Liz Fenwick about the importance of persistency on the journey to being published, why your book’s location matters, the world of literary consultancies and how to silence your inner critic.
S4 E291 · Mon, November 02, 2020
EP291: Sally Gardner - Writing in Colour
Sally Gardner is an award-winning novelist who has sold more than 2.5 million books worldwide. The Snow Song is her third adult novel is about a woman who loses her voice as the snow falls. With themes of isolation it feels more relevant than ever. Sally is huge fun and takes us through her incredible career and has some amazing advice for writers at all levels, including why she writes in colour.
Bonus · Mon, October 26, 2020
EP022: Ben Aaronovitch and the Great Bollocking…
Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Doctor Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks.
Trailer · Fri, October 23, 2020
Ep 290: Deep Dive — Crate Digging with David Pennington
David Pennington is an author, writing coach and copywriter who is on a mission to improve how we tell stories. In this Deep Dive we discuss the importance of drafting, tapping into your “mental milk” and “infinite brain”, why you need to hold yourself accountable, and getting ideas via “crate digging”.
S4 E289 · Mon, October 19, 2020
Ep 289: Four More Years! Live Show
We celebrate four years of the podcast with a live show where our Patrons and Academy members ask us anything and everything. The Two Marks reveal how the podcast started, who they would cast in the movie of Back to Reality, how the podcast has changed them, their favourite writing tips, what they’re proudest of and what’s in store for the future.
S4 E19 · Mon, October 12, 2020
Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and most recently the New York Times #1 epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe, son of Stephen King, is powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers.
Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and most recently the New York Times #1 epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe, son of Stephen King, is powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers.
Trailer · Wed, October 07, 2020
Ep 288: — YouTube for Authors with Jeremy Mason
How can authors use YouTube to engage with readers and drive sales? We talk to Jeremy Mason a TV Producer, Director of Photography and Lighting Cameraman with over 20 years UK broadcast experience. He’s been steeped in the world of digital marketing over the last 3 years, exploring how the power of video can be better used for commerce.
S4 E287 · Mon, October 05, 2020
Ep 287: Charles Stross — Don't wait... Write!
Charles Stross is the multi-award winning author of bestselling series of space opera, alt-history and more. With his new novel Dead Lies Dreaming he jumps back into his Laundry Files universe, and he gives us some incredible tips on writing successful long-running series and how to grow your reader base. And the Two Marks look forward to celebrating four years of the podcast with a special live show. Find out how you can join them...
Bonus · Mon, September 28, 2020
EP018: Behind Sarah Pinborough’s Eyes!
Sarah Pinborough has had over twenty novels published and written for TV and film. Sarah ’s new thriller Behind Her Eyes is getting incredible buzz after a heated auction. Sarah is always funny, insightful and often eye-wateringly honest. Brace yourselves for one of our most entertaining author chats yet… WARNING: Contains strong adult language!
S4 E286 · Mon, September 21, 2020
Ep 286: Carole Matthews — Write with your Heart
Carole Matthews has sold over 6 million books in 31 countries. She’s written two books a year for the last ten years and was inducted into the Festival of Romance Hall of Fame. She tells us how it all started with a writing competition, why you shouldn’t be afraid to abandon a book, why being nosey is part of an author’s job, and the role insomnia plays in her writing day, and why none of it means anything if you don’t write from the heart.
Bonus · Mon, September 14, 2020
EP017: Million-Selling Indie Secrets | Shannon Mayer Returns
The second part of our interview with bestselling Indie author Shannon Mayer who recently hit #2 in the main Amazon.com charts outselling Stephen King and other greats. We talk about her new deal with Amazon, ‘hybrid’ authors, the importance of an author’s intent, being business-like and collaboration.
S4 E285 · Mon, September 07, 2020
Ep 285: Philip C Quaintrell
Philip C. Quaintrell is in Amazon’s top 1.8% of self-published authors. He does this with no marketing spend, no newsletter, and epic fantasy novels so massively epic that even Brandon Sanderson would quake at their page count. He’s also one of the nicest authors we’ve interviewed. He gives us the lowdown on how he moved from full-time job to full-time author in just a few years.
Bonus · Mon, August 31, 2020
EP016: How Do I Get An Agent? | Federica Leonardis & Sonya Lalli
‘How do I get a literary agent?’ is one of the most common questions asked by new writers, so we asked Federica Leonardis, founder of Martin Leonardis Literary Management, and her debut novelist Sonya Lalli.
Trailer · Sat, August 29, 2020
Ep 284: Deep Dive - Indie Publishing with Caffeine Nights
What can an indie publisher offer to authors that the big houses cannot? MD of Caffeine Nights Darren Laws and author Timothy Adler show us how the bespoke service that an indie publisher provides can be more effective for authors in key genres. They answer listener questions on marketing, ebook pricing, selling into online and bricks and mortar stores.
S4 E283 · Mon, August 24, 2020
Ep 283: Caro Ramsay — Everything Happens for a Reason
Caro Ramsay is the author of the critically acclaimed Anderson and Costello series, the first of which, Absolution, was shortlisted for the CWA's New Blood Dagger for best debut of the year. In a hugely entertaining interview she tells us how life-changing trauma led to an incredible career as an award-winning writer.
Bonus · Mon, August 17, 2020
EP015: Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler | Peter Rabbit vs Werewolves
Emmy winners and BAFTA-nominated, Huckerby & Ostler are one of the most successful TV writing partnerships around, and with their new novel, Defender Of The Realm, they’ve created a fantastic children’s adventure series.
S4 E282 · Mon, August 10, 2020
Ep 282: Rachel Winters — Would Like to Meet a Bestseller
Rachel Winters’ debut novel Would Like to Meet is an Amazon bestseller with rights sold in 14 territories and there was a big Hollywood auction for the film rights. Rachel tells us how her background as an editor enabled her to think of the book as 360 degree project — digital, audio and film — to help make it such a success.
Trailer · Wed, August 05, 2020
Ep 281: Deep Dive - Bookbub Promo Tips with Paul Ardoin
Paul Ardoin talks us through the preparations he made for the promotion — including rewriting the opening of his first novel — and how he made the most of the promotion to increase sales across the whole series.
Bonus · Mon, August 03, 2020
EP013: Michelle Paver | Research To The Extreme
How do you research your books? Michelle Paver has written eighteen novels, including the bestselling Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness. She’s encountered killer whales, wolves, polar bears and a runaway Yak, all in the name of research.
S4 E280 · Mon, July 27, 2020
Ep 280: The Two Marks | Six Accountability Tips for Writers
Writing can be a solitary occupation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The Two Marks discuss how accountability has helped them in their writing and offer six tips to help you focus on your writing, become more productive, and finish that book.
Bonus · Mon, July 20, 2020
EP012: Maria Semple | How To Find Your Voice As A Writer
Have you every wondered how important your “Voice” is as a writer? This week on The Bestseller Experiment podcast, New York Times success Maria Semple tells us just how essential your voice is. Maria was recently named a “Power Author” by the Hollywood Reporter, putting her alongside such giants as JK Rowling and George RR Martin. Maria started as a screenwriter. Her book, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? spent over a year on the New York Times bestsellers. Her new book “Tomorrow Will Be Different” was announced as a TV series with Julia Roberts as the lead. She spoke to us about the things that stop us writing truthfully.
S4 E279 · Mon, July 13, 2020
Ep 279: Sadie Jones — Writing is a Marathon
Sadie’s Jones’ debut novel The Outcast was a smash hit, selling over half a million copies, but Sophie’s road to publication was a long one with over 15 years of rejection. Sadie tells us what she discovered about her writing in those years and the important lessons she learned, including what kept her writing and how to tell good notes from bad and some tips on writing with your eyes closed!
S4 E11 · Mon, July 06, 2020
EP011: Writing a Bestseller | The Story So Far
The two Marks bring you up to date on the trials and tribulations their nascent bestseller, the processes that they’re going through, and how two writers can work together without driving each other bonkers.
S4 E278 · Sun, June 28, 2020
Ep 278: James Swallow — Fuelled by Rage
James Swallow is the internationally bestselling author of the Marc Dane thrillers, and he takes us through his remarkable career, which takes in Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who and a BAFTA nomination. His passion for working in tie-in fiction and his own original work is infectious, and he tells why always pushing himself out of his comfort zone led to his biggest success. Oh, and we start the show with a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
Bonus · Sun, June 21, 2020
EP010: Robin Stevens | NaNoWriMo Success Story
Robin is the author of the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries books, a middle grade series following schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong in a 1930s English boarding school, but Robin started out on her bestselling adventure with NaNoWriMo.
S4 E277 · Mon, June 15, 2020
EP277: Perseverance Pays Off — Live Show Highlights
It’s all too easy to give up when your writing has been rejected, so how do you find the energy and the will to keep going? The Two Marks discuss strategies for perseverance, dealing with fear, rejection, and how to work on more than one more project at a time. Oh, there was a story in The Hollywood Reporter last week about a forthcoming monster movie called The Little People… written by none other than our very own Mr Stay! He talks about how perseverance helped him get the script optioned and into development.
Bonus · Mon, June 08, 2020
EP009: Joe Abercrombie | Dancing Naked in the Rain
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Joe burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest.
Trailer · Wed, June 03, 2020
EP275: Newsletters with Caimh McDonnell
Caimh McDonnell is the bestselling author of the Dublin Trilogy and has one of the most entertaining and engaging newsletters out there with 10,000 subscribers and an astonishing open rate. Caimh answers our listener questions with tips on how to create great newsletters, even if you’re still writing your first novel, or launching the latest in a bestselling series.
S4 E274 · Mon, June 01, 2020
EP274: Adele Parks — Choose to be Positive
Adele Parks has published 20 novels in 20 years and every one has been a Sunday Times bestseller. With over three and a half million copies sold in the UK, she is a phenomenon, and her latest novel Just My Luck hit the top spot again, but it all began with her grandfather paying her 50p for her stories. Oh, and in a shocking reveal… Mr D reveals his real full name. You don’t want to miss this.
Bonus · Mon, May 25, 2020
EP008: NaNoWriMo & The Muddy Middle | Grant Faulkner
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... We are delighted to welcome NaNoWriMo’s Grant Faulkner back to the podcast in mid-November, where we discuss strategies for coping with the ‘muddy middle’. Those second-act blues where a storyteller can get completely lost or overwhelmed.
S4 E273 · Mon, May 18, 2020
EP273: Liz Moore — Bestsellers Worth Waiting For
Liz Moore is the NY Times bestselling author of Long Bright River, a novel ten years in the making that started with short stories, non-fiction sketches and community work in the neighbourhood where the story is set. All that due diligence led to one of the most acclaimed books of the year. Liz tells us how she crafts each of her books, and the Two Marks debate the pros and cons of the slow novel approach. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Mon, May 11, 2020
EP007: Michael Connelly | 60 Million Thriller Books
Michael Connelly is one of the most successful crime authors in the world with over 60m book sales. Having just released his new Harry Bosch thriller, he shares secrets about developing characters & writing book series – in the back of a London cab!
Trailer · Fri, May 08, 2020
EP272: Deep Dive - An Editorial Q&A with Rachel Winterbottom
Rachel Winterbottom is Senior Commissioning Editor at Gollancz and she also writes fiction as Rachel Winters. Rachel answers our listener questions on the editorial process, what editors are looking for, tropes, word count, social media, deadlines, publication scheduling, conventions and much more!
S4 E271 · Mon, May 04, 2020
EP271: Ayisha Malik — Just Get Through It
Ayisha Malik, author of This Green and Pleasant Land, gives us amazing tips on first drafts, sequels, publicity, social media and why writing commercial, comedic fiction doesn’t mean you can’t tackle big themes, and how being a ghostwriter taught her how to be a professional writer. We also catch-up on the good news stories from our listeners, and Mr. Stay has read the first draft of his wife’s debut novel and he gives his verdict...
Bonus · Mon, April 27, 2020
EP006: Bryan Cranston | On Breaking Bad, Characters, Writing & Life
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston tells us about his life and new bestselling memoir, A Life In Parts.
S4 E270 · Mon, April 20, 2020
EP270: Mel Sherratt — Pressing That Button Changed My Life
Bestselling author Mel Sherratt tells us why she never gave up after twelve years of rejection. Since then, Mel has been self-published, traditionally published and digital-first published… she’s done it all and sold over a million and a half books! She tells us how publishing her first book changed everything. AND we celebrate five millions words banked on the BXP2020 Challenge with a chat with Claire Burgess, who just completed the first draft of her novel after starting the challenge in January.
S4 E269 · Fri, April 17, 2020
EP269: Deep Dive - Blog tours with Heather Fitt
Heather Fitt is the founder of Overview Media and organised our recent blog tour for the audiobook of Back to Reality. Heather takes us through the benefits of a blog tour and how they are organised and answers our listeners’ questions on costs, genres, bloggers, the lengths of blog tours and what to do with all those reviews when it’s over. Links Heather on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeBookish Overview media: https://www.overviewmedia.co.uk
Bonus · Mon, April 13, 2020
EP005: NaNoWriMo | How to Write 50,000 Words in Month | Grant Faulkner
Every November hundreds of thousands of writers start their annual challenge of writing 50,000 words in one month. It’s called NaNoWriMomo (National Novel Writing Month). We get to speak with executive Director Grant Faulkner in the hectic run-up to NaNoWriMo, who shares his tips for both first-timers and veterans who make up the world’s most incredible writing community and event.
S4 E268 · Mon, April 06, 2020
EP268: Emergency Good News Special
We scrambled to put this episode together in which we try and put some positive vibes out into the world. We celebrate some of our listeners’ recent triumphs, we answer listener questions, discuss creativity, strategies for working from home, how to make the most of your day and why writing is so important. Sit back and forget the world’s woes for just a short while... Sign up to the BXP2020 Challenge here: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/bxp2020/
S4 E267 · Sat, April 04, 2020
EP267: Deep Dive - Indie Children’s Publishing with Karen Inglis
Karen Inglis is a bestselling indie children’s author based in the UK. Her books have sold over 100,000 copies and in this Deep Dive episode she answers our listener questions on finding illustrators, printing, marketing, blurbs, age-ranging, the craft of writing children’s books and tips on running great school events. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S4 E266 · Mon, March 30, 2020
EP266: One Page Punch-Ups with Emad Akhtar
We're delighted to welcome back Orion Publisher (and Editor of the Year nominee!) Emad Akhtar to critique our latest round of One Page Punch-Ups. These are pages sent in by our Chart Topper Patreons. We read them and critique them and all learn a little something that we can use in our writing.
Bonus · Mon, March 23, 2020
EP004: Archive Rerun Joanne Harris | Chocolat & Sheds
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke with her about writing, aspiration and sheds.
S4 E264 · Mon, March 16, 2020
EP265: BA Paris — Dilemmas and Digging Deep
BA Paris is the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, and with her new novel The Dilemma she takes a simple idea and digs deep with gripping effect. It’s this writing style that has sold over a million copies in the UK alone and made her an international bestseller. In a delightfully unassuming interview, she tells us how it all started when her daughters told her to do something for herself for once.
S4 E263 · Mon, March 09, 2020
EP264: RNA Awards 2020
The Romantic Novelists’ Association celebrated their diamond anniversary last week with a glitzy award ceremony where four — FOUR! — of our listeners were nominated for awards. We spoke to them about the role the RNA has played in their careers, we bumped into our old friend Rowan Coleman, and we end with a very special interview with Milly Johnson, the evening’s recipient of the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Whatever your genre, there’s lots to inspire you here. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S4 E263 · Mon, March 02, 2020
EP263: Steff Green - Heavy Metal Bestseller
Steff Green has written over 30 books since 2015. Her career started with a near-miss with a major publisher, but she struck out on her own and now she’s an award-winner, a USA Today bestseller, and passionate about her storytelling. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, February 27, 2020
EP262: James Swallow Listener Q&A - A Deep Dive
Ahead of our main episode with James Swallow in a few weeks, we have this exclusive Q&A with James where he answers our listener questions on working in rooms with other writers on series like The Black Library, and he gives us great tips on pace, characterisation, balancing realism and the fantastic, writing for games, and how you can make your world tell the story for you. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Mon, February 24, 2020
EP003: Archive Rerun Million-Selling Indie Author | Shannon Mayer
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... From farrier to million-selling indie author, USA Today bestseller, and writing machine, Shannon bestows wisdom, inspiration, and a quote that we want on t-shirts and bumper stickers.
S4 E261 · Mon, February 17, 2020
EP261: Live Show with Bec Evans
Bec Evans was previously a guest on a Deep Dive (ep199, discussing her book How to Have a Happy Hustle), but since then she has surveyed over 3,500 authors about their writing habits and discovered some incredibly useful data on how writing little and often can improve your productivity and creativity as a writer. In this special live show, she reveals great tips for writers on toggling, tiny habits, micro-challenges and being spontaneous.
Trailer · Thu, February 13, 2020
EP260: Barbara Poelle - The Hook, The Book & The Cook
In this exclusive Deep Dive episode for our Patreons, Barbara Poelle is a New York literary agent and author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry — and she answers our listener questions on trends, genre, slush piles, getting an agent, and generally de-mistifying the publishing industry. This is essential listening for authors who want to be traditionally published. To become a Patron of the Bestseller Experiment: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/subscribe/
Bonus · Mon, February 10, 2020
EP002: Archive Rerun Bestselling Editors | Sam Eades & Juliet Ewers - Orion Books
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... In this episode you will discover… What does a commission editor do? It’s not just correcting your spelling! What’s changed in publishing? And how you can make the most of these opportunities. The most common mistakes by writers: And how you can avoid them. Don’t cheat your reader: And how to have a longer career as a writer.
Trailer · Fri, February 07, 2020
EP259: Science Fiction - A Deep Dive with Hannu Rajaniemi
In the first of an occasional series where we dive into specific genres, we look at science fiction with Hannu Rajaniemi, award-winning author of The Quantum Thief, The Fractal Prince, The Causal Angel, Summerland and more. We answer listener questions on defining the genre, keeping up on scientific developments, world building, how to generate story ideas, and why we would love to read an Ian M Banks Star Wars novel. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S4 E258 · Mon, February 03, 2020
EP258: LJ Ross - Rebel with Four Million Sold
LJ Ross has long refused to play by other people’s rules and when she didn’t like the look of a publishing contract she struck out on her own. Over four million copies of her books have been sold to date and she’s still going strong. She answers our listener questions on marketing, pricing, Kindle and she tells us why she’s launching her own imprint and a prize for authors. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Mon, January 27, 2020
EP001: Archive Rerun - Who Buys Bestsellers? | Vics Tranter - Hachette
In this week's episode from the BXP Archives... As we begin our epic quest to write and chart a book in one year, we need to discover what kind of person buys bestselling books. We turn to Hachette Book Group consumer insight expert Vics Tranter, who shares her experience and wisdom with us and we discover just who will be reading our book… and it’s a bit of a shock, to be frank.
S4 E257 · Fri, January 24, 2020
EP257: Making a Star Wars Documentary with David Whiteley
In this special episode, we speak to writer and producer David Whiteley about his Star Wars documentary The Galaxy Britain Built. David takes us through the journey of building a documentary idea into a feature-length documentary and an accompanying book. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S4 E256 · Mon, January 20, 2020
EP256: Caroline Mitchell and the Law of Attraction
Number one bestselling author Caroline Mitchell recently Tweeted that she had sold a million copies of her books since first getting published in 2013. Writing on her commute, Caroline started out by setting herself daily goals and moved from never having written before, to self-publishing, to awards and deals with Bookouture and Thomas & Mercer. It’s an inspiring story and it all started… with an exorcism. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Wed, January 15, 2020
EP255: The Itty Bitty Indie Experiment - A Deep Dive
When Robyn Sarty set up her own publisher, Belwood Publishing, she approached Sage Gordon-Davis about writing a series of sweet romance novels. In the first of a series we’ll be following Robyn and Sage through the year as they develop the books and prepare them for publication. They tell us how the idea came about, the nitty gritty of contracts, agreements, budgets and royalties. This is essential listening for any writer thinking of self-publishing.
S4 E254 · Mon, January 13, 2020
EP254: The BXP2020 Challenge Has Lift-Off
It’s 2020 and the BXP2020 challenge is off to an amazing start with over 118.5 million words pledged already! We've been overwhelmed by messages from listeners telling us it’s transformed the way they write. In this special live show, we share listener tips for making the most of the challenge and how you can get involved. The podcast also get crashed by author and Youtuber Claire Burgess who is taking on the challenge!
Trailer · Wed, January 08, 2020
EP253: Kickstarter Tips with A.Y. Chao
Author A.Y. Chao tells us how she funded her debut novel Soul Affinity on Kickstarter in just 4 days! If you’ve never tried Kickstarter before, but always wanted to give it a try, this is a great episode to see just how it works and what strategies you could use to make your novel a reality. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S4 E252 · Mon, January 06, 2020
Ep 252: Scott Pack - Tips from a Publisher
Scott Pack will inspire you with his tips on writing, editing, submission and publishing. Scott Pack celebrates 20 years in publishing in 2020, having worked as head of buying for Waterstones, and as a publisher at HarperCollins, Unbound, Eye and Lightning Books and more. His new book Tips from a Publisher is crammed with advice for writers at all levels and is essential reading. Scott will inspire you with his tips on writing, editing, submission and publishing. Get 30% off Scott’s book here using the code bestsellerxp : Get 20% off the How To Get Published event
S3 E251 · Mon, December 23, 2019
EP251: The 2019 Christmas Special
We take stock of the year so far and read out some of the messages we’ve had from our amazing listeners. And we look forward to 2020 and the BXP2020 Challenge. And yes, it’s that time of year when Mr. Stay wheels out his terrible Santa impression for the sponsor message… and we announce the winner of the Garth Nix giveaway! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E250 · Mon, December 16, 2019
EP250: Live Show BXP 2020 Challenge FAQs
As we approach the end of the year, we contemplate hibernating after NanoWriMo before gearing up for the BXP2020 challenge in the New Year. We answer our listener FAQs about the 2020 Challenge and Mr. D reveals the experiments that he’s been running on our listeners. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E249 · Mon, December 09, 2019
EP249: One Page Punch-Ups with Emad Akhtar
We are delighted to welcome back Orion Publisher Emad Akhtar to critique our latest round of One Page Punch-Ups. These are pages sent in by our Chart Topper Patreons. We read them and critique them and all learn a little something that we can use in our writing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E248 · Wed, December 04, 2019
EP248: Comedy Women in Print with Helen Lederer, Kirsty Eyre & Martha Ashby
Another one of our listeners is an award winner! Kirsty Eyre won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print “Unpublished” award for her novel Cow Girl this year. We speak to Kirsty, Harper Fiction editor Martha Ashby and comedy legend Helen Lederer about the award and how you can get involved along with great tips on writing comedy and for entering the competition.
S3 E247 · Mon, December 02, 2019
EP247: Pitch Power with Kate Harrison
We welcome Kate back to the podcast to celebrate the release of her new book for writers Pitch Power- discover what makes your book irresistible & how to sell it. Most authors hate writing pitches and queries but Kate LOVES IT. The book outlines seven steps to perfect your book’s pitch. Kate also takes some of our listeners’ blurbs and offer tips on how to improve them. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E246 · Thu, November 28, 2019
EP246: A ProWritingAid Masterclass with Chris Banks
PWA founder Chris Banks was on hand to give us greater insight into how to use PWA’s reports on readibility, style, dialogue, repetition, sticky sentences and glue indexes, more effectively. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E245 · Mon, November 25, 2019
EP245: Swearing Is Good For You with Dr Emma Byrne
“Bad language” is a divisive issue for writers. Some revel in it, others work hard to keep it clean. Dr Emma Byrne is the author of Swearing Is Good For You, which takes a look a scientific at the benefits of cussing. In this really entertaining and informative episode we talk to Emma Byrne about the history of swearing, its negative associations and the uses of swearing in fiction for both adults and children. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E244 · Mon, November 18, 2019
EP244: Join the BXP2020 Challenge
The highlights from our latest live show in which we swap productivity tips and launch our biggest ever challenge yet - the BXP2020 challenge. If you want to make 2020 your best writing year, you’ll want to hear this. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Wed, November 13, 2019
EP243: Networking for Writers - With Dana Kaye
Dana Kaye gives us great insight into how you can network while overcoming anxieties, and she answers our listener questions on building relationships with bloggers, reviewers and readers. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E242 · Mon, November 11, 2019
EP242: ProWritingAid with Chris Banks
Chris Banks, founder of ProWritingAid, tells us how a skiing accident led to him developing ProWritingAid, which has become the leading analytical tool for writers all over the world. He gives us some great tips on how it can improve your writing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Wed, November 06, 2019
Ep241: A Blurbs Masterclass with Kate Harrison
Kate Harrison returns to the podcast with a Deep Dive special where she takes a look at blurbs from our listeners’ books and gives tips on how to make them stand out and convert browsers to readers. Kate’s forthcoming book Pitch Power gives authors ????
S3 E240 · Mon, November 04, 2019
EP240: Garth Nix - The Next Book Can Change Everything
Garth Nix is a global bestselling author with over 5 million copies sold. He takes us through his extraordinary career from working in publishing, to being told he was a “one book wonder”, and his surefire solution to solving those big writing problems... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E239 · Thu, October 31, 2019
Ep239: From the Faber Academy to Publication with Awais Khan
Awais Khan is the author In The Company of Strangers. After studying at the University of Western Ontario and Durham University he returned to Lahore to write his debut novel and enrolled in the six month novel writing course at Faber academy online course. Awais takes us through his experience on the course and how it gave him the confidence to take his writing to agents and publishers (and he also tells us why every author should check their junk mail on a daily basis!). To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E238 · Mon, October 28, 2019
EP238: Ian W Sainsbury - Kindle Storyteller Award Winner
We welcome RJ Barker back to the podcast who triumphantly returns with his new book The Bone Ships. Starting a new series is never easy and RJ talks honestly about the self-doubt that all writers experience and he gives us a quick masterclass in pitching a series to a publisher. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Thu, October 24, 2019
Ep237: How Book Deals Work with Phoebe Morgan
In the fourth of a series of Deep Dives into the business side of dealing with publishers and agents we speak to Phoebe Morgan, author and publisher. Phoebe takes us through the essentials of how a publisher chooses the books it publishes, and the common misconceptions that debut authors might have. We also discuss cover art, marketing spend, building an author’s career, the relationship between agents and editors, digital first publishing, and whether authors ask enough questions of their publishers.
S3 E236 · Mon, October 21, 2019
Ep236: RJ Barker Returns
We welcome RJ Barker back to the podcast who triumphantly returns with his new book The Bone Ships. Starting a new series is never easy and RJ talks honestly about the self-doubt that all writers experience and he gives us a quick masterclass in pitching a series to a publisher. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E235 · Wed, October 16, 2019
Ep235: A Deep Dive with Contracts Director Paul Bulos
In the third of a series of Deep Dives into the business side of dealing with publishers and agents we speak to Paul Bulos, Contracts Director at the Orion Publishing Group and Hachette Children’s Books. Paul gives us a publisher’s perspective on book deals and he demystifies some of the terms used and talks about how deals are changing to meet the expectations of an ever-changing industry. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E234 · Mon, October 14, 2019
Ep234: LIVE SHOW Highlights - Writers and Mental Health pt2
We celebrate three years of the podcast with a packed live episode in which we continue our conversation with our listeners about writers and mental health. This is a very special episode where our listeners share some of the ways they cope with anxiety, depression and more. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Wed, October 09, 2019
Ep233: Contract Negotiations with Literary Agent Ed Wilson
In the second of a series of Deep Dives into the business side of dealing with publishers and agents we welcome Ed Wilson back to the podcast and we talk about contracts, negotiations, rights and how the industry is changing in an age of digital-first publishers. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E232 · Mon, October 07, 2019
Ep232: Keith A Pearson - Do The Opposite & Sell 100k
Keith published his first book as part of a drunken bet. There was no big plan and, by his own admission, he knew nothing of publishing and broke all the rules and made every mistake. And yet, just three years later, he has sold over 100,000 copies of his books and regularly tops the bestseller lists. Keith takes us through his extraordinary career so far and tells us why marketing books is like selling Victoria Sponges... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E231 · Mon, September 30, 2019
Ep231: One Page Punch-Ups with Juliet Ewers
We are delighted to welcome back Orion Publishing’s Associate Editor Juliet Ewers to critique our latest round of One Page Punch-Ups. These are pages sent in by our Chart Topper Patreons. We read them and critique them and all learn a little something that we can use in our writing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, September 30, 2019
Ep230: The Business of Being An Author with Rhoda Baxter - Teaser
In the first of a series of Deep Dives into the business side of dealing with publishers and agents we welcome Rhoda Baxter back to the podcast and we talk about how to deal with publishers, agents, intellectual property, contracts, copyright, trademarks, advances, earning out, royalties and much more! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E229 · Mon, September 23, 2019
Ep229: David Koepp - Everything You Write Moves You Forward
David Koepp is one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood history. With a collective box office somewhere in the region of $250b he’s written Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Death Becomes Her and many, many more. We were delighted to talk to David
Trailer · Mon, September 23, 2019
Ep228: Hera Books - Everyone is A-List
Just over a year ago Keshini Naidoo and Lindsey Mooney left their jobs and took a huge risk to create Hera Books. A year on they tell us the biggest lessons they’ve learned, how some of their first authors were our listeners. They give us tips on how publishers select books for their lists and why every one of their authors is on their A-list.
S3 E227 · Sun, September 15, 2019
EP227: Phoebe Locke - Using Therapy To Create Characters
Phoebe Locke is the pseudonym of Nicci Cloke. Phoebe’s book The July Girls takes the life of a character from age ten to twenty-five, and in a fascinating interview Phoebe tells us how she had therapy sessions as one of her characters.
Trailer · Mon, September 09, 2019
EP226: An Audiobooks Masterclass with Kim Bretton
Kim is the narrator and producer of the Back to Reality audiobook and we go into detail about the process of preparing, recording and producing an audiobook with countless tips for writers on how to work with producers to get the best audiobook possible. Audiobooks are the fastest growing medium for writers and this is essential listening! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E225 · Mon, September 09, 2019
EP225: Kim Bretton - Working with ACX Audiobooks Producers
Kim Bretton is an actor and has worked in theatre, TV and film, but these days she’s found great success producing and narrating audiobooks in Nashville. We talk to Kim about her career shift into audiobooks and the spooky connection she had with Back to Reality. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E224 · Mon, September 02, 2019
EP224: Edward Cox - Amazing Worlds Built From Notebooks
Edward Cox is the Gemmell Award-nominated author of the Relic Guild trilogy, and with his new book Song of the Sycamore he builds an incredible world, both magical and believable, and it all starts with scribblings in notebooks. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, August 29, 2019
EP223: StoryOrigin promotions with Evan Gow
Evan Gow started StoryOrigin as a community of writers who promote one another through group promotions and newsletters. Evan takes us through the basics, tells us how it all works, what genres benefit the most from these promotions, and how it differs from other group promotion sites such as Bookfunnel. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, August 26, 2019
Ep 221: Youtube Flash Fiction with Kit Cox
Kit Cox is an author, illustrator and actor and has just launched a Flash Fiction Youtube page where he tells stories in drabbles (a hundred words) and dribbles (fifty words or fewer). He also takes us through his unconventional route to publication working with small presses and self-publishing to great success. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E222 · Mon, August 26, 2019
EP222: Sarah Hilary - Crime and Emotional Truth
Sarah’s writing has been described as “downright dangerous” by Mick Herron, and with her new novel Never Be Broken she tackles some very difficult and dangerous issues indeed. She tells us how she approaches polarising subjects and the kind of research and due diligence she takes before her first draft. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E220 · Mon, August 19, 2019
EP220: Writers & Mental Health - Live Show Highlights
We discuss one of the most important topics we’ve ever covered: writers and their mental health. With questions from our live studio audience we share our experiences of loneliness, anxiety, self-doubt and support. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E219 · Wed, August 14, 2019
Ep 219: Getting an Agent with Juliet Mushens
In a companion episode to this week’s interview with Gray Williams, we speak to his agent Juliet Mushens about the role of an agent and the best way to select and approach them and what they can do for your career as a writer. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E218 · Mon, August 12, 2019
EP218: Gray Williams - Getting Published With An Amazing Agent
Gray Williams had a dream to be published, but he wasn’t about to desperately rush in and accept the first offer. He took a patient and methodical approach to finding an agent and publisher that paid off in spades and now his debut novel, The End of the Line, is a stunning magical thriller. Grab a pen and get ready to take notes. This episode is choc full of the most amazing advice, and it has a special companion Deep Dive episode featuring Gray’s agent Juliet Mushens. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, August 08, 2019
Ep 217: Literary Festivals with Victoria Falconer
Victoria Falconer has been running the highly successful WhitLit Festival since 2014 and she takes us through what’s involved in organising a festival and how authors can get involved. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E216 · Sun, August 04, 2019
REPLAY EP019: Joe Hill
REPLAY: Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and the most recently the New York Times #1 bestseller epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe is a powerhouse storyteller, and an endless well of writing advice. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, August 01, 2019
EP215: Tutoring and Mentoring with Alison May
Alison May is an award-winning author, an adult education tutor, a member of the Society of Authors and she has worked with authors that have gone on to be published by Harpercollins, Bookouture and Head of Zeus. She gives us advice on picking the right creative writing courses, what to look for in a tutor, and how the process works for writers of all levels. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E214 · Mon, July 29, 2019
REPLAY EP003: Million-Selling Indie Author Megastar | Shannon Mayer
REPLAY: From farrier to multi-million copy bestselling indie author, USA Today bestseller, and writing machine, Shannon bestows wisdom, inspiration, and a quote that we want on t-shirts and bumper stickers.
Trailer · Mon, July 29, 2019
Ep213: Children’s Marketing with Georgina Atwell
Georgina May is the founder of Toppsta.com a children’s book review site that helps readers find the best book for children. She has also worked for Apple Books and Penguin and is here to answer out listeners’ questions on children’s marketing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E212 · Mon, July 22, 2019
EP212: Catherine Kirwan - Darkest Debut
Catherine Kirwan’s debut novel The Darkest Truth is one of the most critically acclaimed debuts of the year. Catherine tells us how she went from feeling foolish about even trying to write, to being snapped up by one of the biggest agents in the business. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E210 · Fri, July 19, 2019
EP210: - Mike Shackle - Never Give Up, Never Surrender
Listener of the show, Mike Shackle was on the verge of giving up on his writing when he heard one of our early episodes with Joe Abercrombie. Inspired by Joe’s wise words, Mike has not only created a successful career as an indie author, but he’s about to launch We Are The Dead, the first book in a new trilogy to be published by Gollancz. Mike takes us through the ups and downs of his career and we have a special message from a top secret guest. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, July 15, 2019
EP211: An Indie Author Journey With Mike Morris
Following on from our episode with Mike Shackle, we talk about his indie pen name Mike Morris in this fascinating and entertaining Deep Dive into how to start out as an indie author and the key differences between the traditional world and self-publishing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E209 · Sun, July 14, 2019
EP209: Writing Alt. History with JDK Wyneken
The Alt. History genre — also known as Counter-Factual History — takes a key moment in history and use a “What if?” question to create enthralling stories. JDK Wyneken’s forthcoming novel Krelle’s Inferno asks what would have happened if the D-Day landings had failed. We met at Duxford Airbase during the preparations for the D-Day anniversary events to discuss how to write in this extraordinary genre. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E208 · Mon, July 08, 2019
EP208: Glastonbury Or Bust - Did We Make It?
At the end of 2018, the Two Marks set themselves a challenge: to sell ten thousand copies of their novel Back To Reality by Glastonbury weekend. They went wide, they published in paperback, and dabbled in advertising. But did they make it? Join us in the highlights of a live show where they reveal all... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Fri, July 05, 2019
EP207: PR and Social Media Deep Dive with Kim Nash
Kim Nash, award-winning novelist, book blogger and PR manager at Bookouture answers our listener questions on blog tours, social media, newsletters, cover reveals, publicity, attending festivals, writing groups, book clubs, tips for blogging, blurbs, working with schools, and what authors can do to promote their books. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E206 · Mon, July 01, 2019
EP206: Caimh McDonnell - Too Funny, Too Irish
That’s the feedback that Caimh got for his first novel. Over a hundred thousand book sales later, he’s writing in a tone and genre that defies all conventional publishing wisdom. Caimh talks to us about his career, from stand-up comedy to studying writing and moving from rejection to self-publishing success. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E205 · Wed, June 26, 2019
EP205: Live from Harbour Books
To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week we recorded our first ever LIVE episode of the podcast at Harbour Books in Whitstable! We were joined by authors Julie Wassmer, Katherine May, John McGhie and bookseller Olivia Rosenthall to discuss our love of books To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E204 · Mon, June 24, 2019
EP204: Bestseller-Experiment_One Page Punch-Ups SF&F special
In the latest of our One Page Punch-Up specials we asked our Patreon Chart Topper supporters to send in one page from their work-in-progress and we gave them Gollancz’s Gillian Redfearn and Marcus Gipps to review and critique. Between them Gillian and Marcus have worked with some legendary authors, including Joe Hill, Joanne Harris, Joe Abercrombie, and other authors NOT called Jo/Joe, including Neil Gaiman, Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson and some chancer called Mark Stay. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, June 20, 2019
EP203: Bestseller Experiment Sasha Greene
Sasha Greene is the author of Something Like Happy, a thought-provoking novel about day-to-day struggles with mental health. Sasha tells us what inspired the book and the importance of inclusion and diversity in your writing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E202 · Mon, June 17, 2019
EP202: Tim Clare - Giant Mutant Batman
Tim Clare is a poet, author and musician who has wanted to write since childhood. Despite his commitment and determination, his route to publication has been a rocky one. Tim talks about his career with honesty, wit and passion, and every writer will come away inspired by his story. We also cover such writing essentials such Super Mario fan fiction, Soviet Ballerinas and giant mutant bats. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Fri, June 14, 2019
EP201: Fifty Billion Dollar Movie Advice with John Robert Marlow
John Robert Marlow has spoken to the Hollywood screenwriters, producers and directors responsible for some of the biggest hits of all time (combined total of $50bn at the box office!) and distilled their experiences into his book Make Your Story A Movie To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E200 · Mon, June 10, 2019
EP 200: The Two Marks Celebrate Two Hundred Episodes
The Two Marks celebrate two hundred episodes of the podcast by answering some of the strangest questions they have ever been asked. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Fri, June 07, 2019
EP199: A Happy Hustle with Bec Evans Teaser
Bec Evans is a writer, speaker, innovation coach and startup founder and her new book How To Have A Happy Hustle in which she shares the secrets of start-up founders to make your publishing dreams a reality. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E198 · Mon, June 03, 2019
EP198: Lorna Cook - A Bestseller Dream Come True
Lorna Cook is yet another listener who used what she had learned on the podcast to launch her career, and in this special episode we speak to her before her novel The Forgotten Village was published, and after when she became the UK’s top selling Kindle To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, June 02, 2019
EP197: Creative Writing Courses with David Bishop
David Bishop is programme leader for Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University. He tells us about the variety of creative writing courses available worldwide, answers our listeners’ questions, and gives us all some very practical advice. This is essential listening listening for anyone considering taking a course. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E196 · Sun, May 26, 2019
EP196: Kiley Dunbar - Another Listener Who Got A Deal!
These are our favourite episodes where we speak to one of our listeners who got a book deal! Kiley Dunbar is the author of One Summer’s Night, the first of a three book deal with Hera Books. Kiley tells us the role that the podcast and the RNA Writers’ Scheme played in getting her debut novel published. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, May 25, 2019
EP195: How To get Your Book Into An Indie Bookshop
Liz Hurley runs Hurley Books in Cornwall and is a writer herself. Here she gives us some frank and immensely useful dos and don’ts on how to get your book on the shelves of your local bookshop, and she answers our listeners’ questions. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E194 · Sun, May 19, 2019
EP194: Tade Thompson - Master Storyteller And Worldbuilder
Tade Thompson’s Rosewater has been nominated for pretty much every award going this year, and Tade’s skill in combining complex worldbuidling and compelling storytelling is second-to-none. He takes us through his process and reveals some amazing techniques for creating compelling fiction. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, May 18, 2019
EP193: Audiobooks Masterclass with Tina Dietz
Tina Dietz is an award-winning audiobook publisher and marketing expert and she was kind enough to answer our listeners’ questions on producing audiobooks, casting narrators and more. Audiobooks are the fastest-growing sector in publishing today and this is essential listening for all writers. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E192 · Mon, May 13, 2019
EP192: One Page Punch-Ups With Juliet Ewers
In the latest of our One Page Punch-Up specials we asked our Patreon Chart Toppers supporters to send us one page from their work-in-progress and we gave them Orion Publishing’s Group Associate Publisher Juliet Ewers, returning to the podcast (she was on episode two!). Juliet has worked with the likes of Ian Rankin, Maeve Binchy, Michael Connelly and more and she casts her expert eye over this fantastic batch of one-pagers. Mr. Stay apologises in advance for his dodgy accents in the readings...
Trailer · Sun, May 12, 2019
EP191: Writing Romantic Comedy with Rhoda Baxter and Jane Lovering
We welcome back romantic fiction novelist Rhoda Baxter and this time she’s joined by Jane Lovering, winner of Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year. They are about to launch their book “How To Write Romantic Comedy” and so we invited them to give us some top tips on writing romcoms and instantly regret it as poor Mr. Stay loses all control of the interview and ends up a gibbering wreck. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E190 · Mon, May 06, 2019
EP190: Simon Beckett - One Moment That Changed Everything
Simon Beckett has sold over ten million copies of his books worldwide, but he came close to giving up fiction for good until a trip to a body farm changed his career forever. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, May 05, 2019
EP189: A Masterclass on Writing Comics with David Bishop
In the 1990s David Bishop ran Judge Dredd magazine and 2000 AD comic and since then has become a prolific author and screenwriter. David is also a lecturer in creative writing at Edinburgh Napier University, one of the few courses in the UK that covers writing for graphic novels and comic books. David shares his considerable experience in writing for comics and audio drama in an episode crammed with tips to inspire every author. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E188 · Mon, April 29, 2019
EP188: Taylor Jenkins-Reid - Breaking The Rules = Bestseller
Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s latest novel Daisy Jones and the Six has been a global smash, but what makes it all the more extraordinary is that she has written fiction in a non-fiction format. Taylor describes the challenges in writing a novel that is up against real life, stranger-than-fiction rock and roll history. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, April 28, 2019
EP187: Author Website Q&A with Simon Appleby
Simon Appleby is the founder of Bookswarm, a specialist service dedicated to developing websites for authors. We had so many listener questions and Simon gave us all the answers! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E186 · Mon, April 22, 2019
EP186: Claire Handscombe - Myers-Briggs, Enneagrams and The West Wing
Claire Handscombe is a British writer whose obsession with The West Wing took her to Washington DC. Her debut novel, Unscripted, is out now and she tells us about how she used some remarkable psychological tools to develop her characters. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, April 22, 2019
EP185: Self Publishing Paperbacks with Craig Anderson
Author Craig Anderson recently sold over ten thousand copies of his books on Amazon and much of this was down to his painstaking work with Amazon and Facebook ads. In the third of three special Deep Dive episodes, Craig Anderson takes us through his top tips for navigating the murky waters of paperback publishing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E184 · Mon, April 15, 2019
EP184: David Gaughran - How Amazon Works
David Gaughran is bestselling novelist and the author of a series of amazing guides on how to market books online. He has helped thousands of authors self-publish their books and we were delighted to welcome him to our live show for Patreon supporters to discuss the ins and outs of the mighty Amazon and he answers our Patreon listener questions. This episode is crammed full of great tips to sell more copies of your books. Here are the highlights! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, April 11, 2019
EP183: Deep Dive - A Facebook Ads Masterclass with Craig Anderson
In the second of three special Deep Dive episodes, Craig takes us through his top tips for navigating the murky waters of Facebook advertising. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E182 · Mon, April 08, 2019
EP182: Angela Marsons - 3 million sold in 3 years
Angela Marsons’ first novel Silent Scream was rejected by every major UK publisher, but she never gave up and now she’s sold an incredible three million copies and counting. Her story is incredible and inspirational and she may just be the loveliest author we’ve ever interviewed... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Tue, April 02, 2019
EP181: Dictation Software - A Deep Dive
We speak to two authors about how they use dictation software for write their books and they answer our listeners’ questions. Win Kelly Charlies returns to the podcast and she has written all of her books using dictation software, from an iPhone to Dragon Naturally Speaking. And we welcome Richard Bat Brewster, who has been using speech recognition software since 1999 and recently wrote an excellent blog dispelling many of the myths surrounding speech dictation. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E180 · Sun, March 31, 2019
EP180: The London Book Fair 2019
A special episode from the 2019 London Book Fair. We spoke to Nicola May about her novel The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, which was number one on the UK Kindle store for over two months, we had a catch up with Orion’s Emad Akhtar between meetings with agents and TV and film scouts. Mr. Stay found his agent Ed Wilson on the rights floor, and finally we spoke to Natalie Fergie , whose book The Sewing Machine has sold over 120k copies. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E179 · Mon, March 25, 2019
EP179: Chris Humphreys - From The Stage To Page
Chris Humphreys started as an actor but his writing career took off when he took one of his key roles and created an acclaimed series of novels. Chris’s writing spans history, fantasy and mythology and is enhanced by great research, and he tells how he’s planning to go hybrid with his publishing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E178 · Sun, March 17, 2019
EP178: The Crafty Craft of Writing Live Show
We asked our Patreon supporters for their questions on the crafty craft of writing and with our live audience we discuss comedy, genre, tropes, unique expression, and how to make your supporting characters stand out. We have a great competition, and we reveal some good news about our paperback! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E177 · Sun, March 10, 2019
EP177: One Page Punch-Ups with Jon Wood
In the second of our One Page Punch-Up specials we asked our Patreon Chart Topper supporters to send us one page from their work-in-progress and we gave them to agent and editor Jon Wood to critique. Jon is an agent at Rogers, Coleridge and White and has worked in publishing for over 20 years. He was a commissioning editor at Hodder before moving to Orion where he ran the Orion Fiction imprint. He has worked with Harlan Coben, Kate Mosse, Anthony Horowitz, Andy McNab, Michelle Paver, Denise Mina, RJ Ellory, Joanne Harris and many more! He moved to RCW in 2018 and is building a list of commercial fiction and non-fiction projects. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, March 09, 2019
EP176: Deep Dive - An Amazon Ads Masterclass with Craig Anderson
Author Craig Anderson recently sold over ten thousand copies of his books on Amazon and much of this was down to his painstaking work with Amazon and Facebook ads. In the first of three special Deep Dive episodes, Craig takes us through his top tips for navigating the murky waters of Amazon advertising. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E175 · Sun, March 03, 2019
EP175: Anna Stephens - From 36 rejections to a 6-figure deal
Anna Stephens’ fantasy novel Godblind was one of the most-anticipated debuts of 2017, but it had a very long road to publication. Anna talks honestly about coping with thirteen years of rejection and why she never gave up. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, March 03, 2019
EP174: Deep Dive - Dos and Don’ts of a Book Launch
We run through the essential elements of a successful book launch, including top tips on venues, public speaking, food and drink, social media, ticketing, publicity, sales and how to keep people talking about your book. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E173 · Sun, February 24, 2019
EP173: Gavin G Smith - Rock N Roll Book Promotion
Gavin G Smith is the author of The Veteran and The Bastard Legion science fiction series. When it came to promoting his latest book, he decided that a few Tweets simply wasn’t enough. Instead he chose to get the band together and produce a music video and song that ties-in to the series... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, February 24, 2019
EP172: A Deep Dive Q&A with Dave Chesson The Kindlepreneur
We speak to Dave Chesson, the Kindlepreneuer, and ask him listener questions about Kindle pricing, marketing niche titles, marketing YA and middle grade eBooks, KDP Rocket, selling a series and much more! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E171 · Mon, February 18, 2019
EP171: James Oswald - From Self-Published To Six Figure Deals
We haven’t had many authors who have Sheep Shit Sampler on their resumé, but James Oswald is a farmer who has gone from self-publishing fantasy fiction to six-figure deals with Penguin and Wildfire. His story is inspirational and extraordinary. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, February 16, 2019
EP170: Deep Dive - Start Your Own Publisher with Michael R Miller
Michael R Miller is author of the Dragon Blade trilogy and, with Taran Matharu, is co-founder of Portal Books, a publisher dedicated to LitRPG (Literary Role Playing Games). Michael tells us how they took their passion for the genre, experience from selling their own books, and created their own publishing company. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E169 · Mon, February 11, 2019
EP169: Breaking The Rules - Live Show Highlights
In our latest live show - exclusive to our Patreon Chart Topper supporters - we asked which writing rules they liked to break and it led to some heated discussions! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Fri, February 08, 2019
EP168: A Digital First & Metadata Deep Dive
We spoke to Orion Fiction’s Victoria Oundjian about their strategy for digital first publishing and she gives us some amazing tips on how to use metadata to make your books more visible online. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E167 · Mon, February 04, 2019
EP167: One Page Punch-Ups with Emad Akhtar
In the very first of our One Page Punch-Up specials we asked our Patreon Chart Topper supporters to send us one page from their work-in-progress and we gave them to Orion Editorial Director Emad Akhtar to critique them. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, February 02, 2019
EP166: The Edit Process step-by-step, a Deep Dive with Melissa Caruso
Melissa Caruso is the author of the amazing Swords & Fire trilogy and her recent Twitter thread on the editorial process inspired us to speak to her. She takes us through every stage, and shows how to work effectively with agents, editors and critique partners to create the best book possible. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E165 · Sat, January 26, 2019
EP165: Peter-May - Story In His Blood
Peter May is the multi-award-winning and bestselling author of the Lewis series and he takes us through his incredible career, including his years in television and how that influenced his novel writing. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, January 26, 2019
EP164: A Deep Dive: Girl Friday Part3 AND David Barnett Bonus
Girl Friday Part 3 AND a David Barnett Bonus! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E163 · Mon, January 21, 2019
EP163: Working With Editors - David M Barnett
David M Barnett is the bestselling author of Calling Major Tom, a book that came at a crossroads in his life and came out of a conversation with an editor. How much control do editors have over what an author writes? David takes us through an extraordinary change in his career and how it led to some incredible sales. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E161 · Mon, January 14, 2019
EP161: A Marketing Masterclass with Sam Missingham
Sam Missingham, founder of Lounge Marketing, hijacks the show and grills us on how exactly we plan to sell ten thousand copies of our book by Glastonbury. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, January 14, 2019
EP162: A Deep Dive: Our Marketing Masterclass with Sam Missingham continues...
We continue our masterclass with Sam Missingham, founder of Lounge Marketing, on how exactly we plan to sell ten thousand copies of our book by Glastonbury. We go into even deeper detail on how you can market and publicise your book effectively by putting together a budget, using FB ads, Amazon ads and newsletters like Bookbub. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S3 E160 · Wed, January 09, 2019
EP160: Deep Dive: Girl Friday - Building Your Brand
In the second of three exclusive episodes for our Patreon supporters we speak to Ingrid Emerick, one of the founders of Girl Friday Productions about how they help authors build brands, how it’s a long game and how they’ve used the same strategies to build their own brand. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S3 E159 · Sun, January 06, 2019
EP159: January LIVE SHOW highlights - Strategies for selling your books
On this month's live show for our Patreon Chart Topper supporters we talked about the kind of strategies you can use to sell more books, set achievable goals and work more effectively. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E158 · Sat, December 29, 2018
EP158: Jump Into 2019 With The Crash Test Dummies
We talk about our personal goals for 2019 and reveal our new insane challenge for 2019… and once again we’re inviting our listeners to beat us to it. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E157 · Mon, December 24, 2018
EP157: A Christmas Special with Ian Rankin
A Christmas treat as we speak to bestselling author Ian Rankin who takes us through his incredible career, including tips on plotting, research, and his worst habit when writing, his favourite mistake (which he kept in the book) and he tells us his Sean Connery story... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E156 · Sat, December 15, 2018
EP156: Julian Barr - A Small Press, Epic Stories and a Bestseller
Julian Barr's thrilling debut YA novel The Way Home was published by Odyssey Books, a small press. Julian has taken an indie attitude to publishing and marketing the book, and his attention to detail has led to the book becoming a Kindle bestseller. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E155 · Sun, December 09, 2018
EP155: Catherine Ryan Howard - Get Your Arse In The Chair
Catherine started by self-publishing her travel adventures and has gone on to write USA Today and Irish Times bestselling thrillers. She’s now a founding member of The Inspiration Project, which is a writing retreat with a difference and she has some very practical advice for writers and their bottoms... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E154 · Sun, December 02, 2018
EP154: Mark Billingham - From a shoutline to five million books sold
Mark Billingham is renowned for his bestselling crime thrillers, not least the Jack Thorne series. Having now sold over 5 millions copies of his books, Mark takes us through his incredible career which takes in acting, stand-up comedy, writing for TV, and a little bit of kidnapping. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E153 · Mon, November 26, 2018
EP153: From a Pitch to a Deal, with Alison Belsham
Alison Belsham tells us how her debut novel The Tattoo Thief started with a pitch at a crime festival and caught the attention of a major publisher, leading to a book deal, epic international rights sales, and a TV option… And she has some controversial thoughts on first drafts! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E152 · Sun, November 18, 2018
EP152: Editing Masterclass with Emad Akhtar and Caroline Hulse
The highlights from our Youtube Live Show for our Patreon supporters. We talk through the editorial process with author Caroline Hulse and her editor Emad Akhtar, looking at specific pages and extracts from her book, The Adults. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E151 · Thu, November 08, 2018
EP151: Matthew Reilly - How To Sell 8 Million Books Out of the Back of Your Car
Matthew Reilly self-published his first novel when he was 19, selling copies from the back of his car. Now with 8 million books sold he tops the bestseller charts worldwide and continues to thrill readers with his epic adventures. We spoke to him about his amazing career and we got answers for your listener questions. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E150 · Thu, November 01, 2018
EP150: Joanna Nadin - The Queen of Bloody Everything
Joanna Nadin has written over 70 award-winning books for children and adults and recently inspired Mr. Stay to completely re-write his middle-grade children’s book. She shares a flood of amazing writing tips with us and tells us why she loves to make readers cry. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Mon, October 29, 2018
EP149: Halloween Special with Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell is a legend of horror fiction who has been terrifying readers for over six decades, so who better to headline our Halloween special? He reveals the book that was too grim to publish, how working in a bookstore inspired a story, and the changes he has seen in the genre through his incredible career. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E148 · Mon, October 29, 2018
EP148: RJ Barker and Explosions of Joy
RJ Barker combines the page-turning thrills of a whodunnit crime thriller and the world-building of fantasy in his Wounded Kingdom series, the first of which was written in just six weeks! RJ tells us why he gets explosions of joy while writing, and this is the only episode of the podcast to cover the important issues of antlers and stuffed weasels. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E147 · Mon, October 22, 2018
EP147: Defying the Odds with Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sherrilyn Kenyon’s first book was published when she was still in college, since then she has had more than 80 novels on the New York Times list, and more than 70 million books in print. We talk to Sherrilyn about her rise from childhood poverty to eBook pioneer and a bestselling phenomenon. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, October 21, 2018
EP146: Deep Dive: Essential Guide to Bloggers and Blog Tours
An essential guide to bloggers and blog tours with Gollancz’s Publicity Manager Stevie Finegan. You will discover how to find bloggers, how to work with them, how to create a campaign, top tips for blogger content, and we discuss the dos and don’ts of a blog tour. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E145 · Sun, October 14, 2018
EP145: Mr. Stay’s Hot Tub Alpine Retreat with Marcus Sedgwick and Dawn Kurtagich
Mr. Stay overcomes his suspicion of writing retreats and joins award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick on his retreat in the Alps and, in a podcast first, interviews him in a hot tub! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, October 14, 2018
EP144: Deep Dive with Clare Christian
A special episode where we talk to Clare Christian from RedDoor Publishing about their hybrid model of publishing where the authors underwrite the production costs, but also have great control over every aspect of the process and take the lion’s share of commercial returns. So yes, the author pays up front! But it’s not vanity publishing and has resulted in brilliant books. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E143 · Sun, October 07, 2018
EP143: Rowan Coleman’s Impossible Summer
We speak to bestselling author Rowan Coleman about why she heckled Mr. Stay at the RNA conference, how to make readers cry, how copy editors can save your life, how a chance encounter at a supermarket checkout led to a hit novel, we play backlist bingo and Rowan’s teenage daughter makes a cameo, and more! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E142 · Wed, October 03, 2018
EP142: YALC special with Dhonielle Clayton
Mr. Stay reports from YALC, the Young Adult Literature Convention in London and speaks to author Dhonielle Clayton about her book The Belles and how it all started with a conversation overheard in a shopping mall, and how every kid can be the hero of their own story. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E141 · Wed, September 26, 2018
EP141: The Two Marks - Mr D Returns
Mark Desvaux rejoins the show and discusses his absence. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E140 · Mon, September 24, 2018
EP140: The Conventions & Comic Cons Survival Guide
In these highlights from our YouTube Live show with Gollancz’s Marcus Gipps and Stevie Finnegan we look into the world of conventions, comic cons and other bookish events. AND we have some exclusive news about GollanczFest! To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E139 · Sun, September 16, 2018
EP139: Lisa Cutts - Cop, writer, bestseller
Lisa Cutts works for Kent Police as a full-time detective constable, but when she’s not solving murders and other serious crimes she writes bestselling crime fiction. We caught up with Lisa on the hottest day of the year after an event at Harbour Books in Whitstable and discovered how Lisa’s experience gives her crime fiction added authenticity... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E138 · Fri, September 07, 2018
EP138: Miranda Dickinson - The Longest Apprenticeship
Miranda Dickinson is a Sunday Times bestselling author, shortlisted twice for the RNA Novel of the Year, and has sold over half a million books. Her story is one of determination, rejection, grief and triumph. In this episode you will discover… Why Doctor Who fans can make for brilliant beta readers (and a great publication community) How a cool opening line can lead to a fully-fledged bestseller And why you should never listen to advice from a 17-year-old guy you fancy... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Fri, September 07, 2018
EP137: Newsletters Deep Dive with Julia Pidduck
In this Deep Dive we explore newsletters with digital marketing consultant Julia Pidduck who brings years of experience working with indie authors and bestselling giants like Ian Rankin. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E136 · Sun, September 02, 2018
EP136: John McGhie - Writing Living History
John McGhie has been an investigative journalist for the BBC and Channel 4 News and was the Observer’s political correspondent, and his debut novel White Highlands looks at the Mau Mau and a dark period in history. In this episode you will discover… - The pros and cons of adapting recent history into fiction - The challenges writing a story set in two time periods - The essential resources for writing historical fiction - The challenges of cultural appropriation To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E135 · Mon, August 27, 2018
Ep135: The Romantic Novelists’ Association conference with Rhoda Baxter, Nicola Cornick and Sheila Crighton
Love is in the air at the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference! I was invited to talk about the podcast and was introduced by Julie Cohen, heckled by Rowan Coleman, and I got to speak to Rhoda Baxter, Nicola Cornick and Sheila Crighton about all kinds of love...
Trailer · Sun, August 26, 2018
EP134: The Hero's Journey Pt3
Mark Stay and Julian Barr, author of The Way Home, discuss Joseph Campell’s Hero’s Journey in the second of a three-part epic Deep Dive trilogy! Using examples from Star Wars, Jaws, The Godfather, The Notebook and more they look at The Road Back, Resurrection, Return with the Elixir, and they discuss how you can apply the lessons learned to your writing. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E133 · Sun, August 19, 2018
EP133: Pernille Hughes - A Star In Sweatpants Is Born
Pernille Hughes brings the funny with her debut novel Sweatpants at Tiffanie’s. To add to the joy, Pernille is one of our listeners and we trace her journey from sharing a photocopier with a Teletubbie to a deal with Harper Impulse. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, August 19, 2018
EP132: The Hero's Journey Pt2
Mark Stay and Julian Barr, author of The Way Home, discuss Joseph Campell’s Hero’s Journey in the second of a three-part epic Deep Dive trilogy! Using examples from Star Wars, Jaws, The Godfather, The Notebook and more they look at Tests, Allies, Enemies, Approaching the Inmost Cave, Ordeal, Death & Rebirth, Reward, Seizing the Sword, and they discuss how you can apply the lessons learned to your writing. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E131 · Sun, August 12, 2018
EP131: Sam Missingham - A massive boot up the arse for publishing
Sam Missingham fell in love with the quirks of the publishing industry when she started working at The Bookseller over a decade ago. Since then she has worked at HarperCollins as head of audience development, and now runs The Lounge, a marketing resource for writers. With an outsider’s perspective, she has been a pioneer of change in how publishers view digital sales and marketing... In this episode you will discover… - Changes in the publishing industry and what lays ahead in the future - How to reach 26 million people with a budget of £150 - How organisations like The Alliance of Independent Authors can help you - How you can use The Lounge to market your books - And what it takes to be an "empowered author”.
Trailer · Sat, August 11, 2018
EP130: The Hero's Journey Pt1
This week's Deep Dive is a discussion with Julian Barr about the Hero's Journey. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Trailer · Tue, August 07, 2018
EP129: Romcoms
In t his week's Deep Dive is a discussion, Mr. Stay discusses Romcoms with literary agent and romcom devotee Federica Leonardis in this special Deep Dive. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E128 · Sun, August 05, 2018
EP128: Youtube LIVE show with Ed Wilson (Mr. Stay’s agent spills the beans on money and more)
This is not the usual ‘How do you get an agent?’ show, instead we talk about money, author’s earnings, shrinking advances, publishers’ profits, and that letter from the Society of Authors to the Publishing Association (and we get sidetracked into a conversation about socks)… In this episode you will discover… - How the income from a typical book sale breaks down between retailer, publisher, agent and author - Should you check an agent’s credentials before signing up with them? - How else can you make money as an author? - And why you should never send an oven glove in with your submission... - Here are some of the links we talked about in the show… To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E127 · Sun, July 29, 2018
Ep127: Cally Taylor aka CL Taylor aka six time Sunday Times Bestseller
You may know CL Taylor as the Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers The Lie, The Accident, The Fear and more… but it wasn’t always that way. As Cally Taylor she wrote romcoms, and has a career with more than her fair share of ups and downs that might have made a lesser mortal give up. But not Cally! Get inspired with a fun trip through an incredible career... In this episode you will discover… - How marking-up the best bits of a bestseller can help you - Why you’re never too young to get a rejection or indeed have a rivalry with another author... - How a baptism of fire in a short story bootcamp changed her writing style - How CL Taylor came from a voice in Cally’s head (when she was heavily pregnant) - Why a big advance doesn’t necessarily equal a successful book To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E126 · Mon, July 23, 2018
EP126: Veronica Henry - A Recipe For A Bestseller
Veronica Henry is a Sunday Times bestselling novelist who started out as a writer on BBC radio’s The Archers after being kicked out of university, and then went on to win the RNA novel of the year award for her book A Night on the Orient Express. When we caught up with her, she had been indulging in cake and champagne… and we find out why... In this episode you will discover… - How a recipe book inspired a bestseller - Why Veronica is sort-of both a plotter and a pantser - Tips for working with editors and why they’re not as savage as TV script editors - And why we should all worship Jilly Cooper
S2 E125 · Mon, July 16, 2018
EP125: Steve Cavanagh - Author on the verge of a massive breakthrough
Steve Cavanagh is the author of the Eddie Flynn legal thrillers The Defence, The Plea, The Liar and now, with his new book Thirteen, he is on the verge of a bestselling breakthrough. Steve brings his legal expertise to his writing and creates compelling characters and nail-biting thrillers, and co-presents the Two Crime Writers And A Microphone podcast… Which we’re not going to plug on the show. No way. In this episode you will discover… Why a screenwriting rejection from Frances Ford Coppola shouldn’t get you down Why holding your nerve when told to scrap your book can pay dividends Top tips on keeping your series character fresh and making your antagonists compelling Why it’s so important to be a fan of your genre and to become a member of the genre’s community And how to announce to an editor that what you’ve written is something different...
Trailer · Fri, July 13, 2018
EP124: Beta Readers
This week's Deep Dive is a discussion with Julian Barr about Beta Readers. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E123 · Sun, July 08, 2018
EP123: Warren Adler - The Master of Dysfunction
Warren Adler is best known for his classic bestseller The War of the Roses and has had the most incredible career as a writer of novels, stage plays, poems, essays and short stories. He was also an eBook pioneer and paved the way for countless indie authors. Warren’s first novel was published when he was 46, and his story is one of dreams and determination. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Tue, July 03, 2018
EP121: State of the (publishing nation) with Sam Missingham
This week's Deep Dive is a discussion with Sam Missingham. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E122 · Mon, July 02, 2018
EP122: The kids are all right! Live Show with Amber Caravéo
The highlights from our live show with Children’s Literary Agent Amber Caravéo! Amber was formerly a commissioning editor at Random House Children’s Books and Editorial Director at Orion Children’s Books and is co-founder of Skylark Literary - an agency specialising in children’s authors. Amber has worked some incredible children’s authors including Liz Kessler, Caroline Lawrence, Holly Black and the Rainbow Magic series. We were delighted to welcome her to the Youtube Live show that we host exclusively for our Patreon Chart Topper supporters. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E120 · Fri, June 22, 2018
EP120: The Quanderhorn Xperimentations with Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall
Mr. Stay spoke to a pair of his TV writing heroes at the MCM Comic Con in London recently. Rob Grant is the co-creator of the classic science fiction comedy Red Dwarf, and Andrew Marshall is best-known for the BBC comedy Two Point Four Children. Together they have created a fantastic BBC radio comedy series and accompanying novel The Quanderhorn Xperimentations. They talked about its creation, how they work together and with the cast, and we also get a mini-comedy writing masterclass and an exclusive excerpt from the audiobook (with thanks to Orion Audio). In this episode you will discover… Tips on writing with a partner and why visualisation is so important Why it can be important to have your concept clear before you write How situation, character and comedy come together for the perfect sitcom And why writing is like looking for a perfect table The Quanderhorn Xperimentaitons will start on BBC Radio Show 4 on Monday 25th June at 11:30 am, or you can listen via the BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8cx2z
S2 E119 · Sat, June 16, 2018
EP119: Crowdfunding tips with Jimmy Leach
Crowdfunding is an increasingly common and way for authors to make their project come to life. But how to do this if you’re queasy about asking for money? Jimmy is the Head of Crowdfunding at Unbound Books and he talked us through to dos and don’ts of raising money for creative projects. In this episode you will discover… Effective strategies for making your crowdfunding campaign work What motivates people to pledge and why the personal touch works so well Why you shouldn’t rely on social media alone, and how to use it more effectively And how to build your crowd, realise your value, and what do when people say no... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E118 · Sat, June 16, 2018
EP118: Rights
In one of our Industry Insider Deep Dives we talk to Jessica Purdue from the Orion Publishing Group's Rights department about TV/Film rights, royalties, licences, renewals, translations, co-editions and all sorts of other fascinating ways for authors to make money from their work. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E117 · Sun, June 10, 2018
EP117: Gareth L Powell - How to sing a space opera
Gareth L Powell is one of the most generous authors on social media and a font of writing wisdom. He’s also the award-winning author of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, his short stories have appeared in Interzone, Clarkesworld, and The Year’s Best Science Fiction, and he has written for The Guardian, The Irish Times, 2000AD and SFX. With his new book Embers of War he has returned to his love of space opera. We discussed apes, outlining, and answered a few listener questions... In this episode you will discover… An outlining method that will help you work through the muddy middle What you can offer to your Patreon and Kofi supporters to create a community and generate revenue How to deal with characters who insist on hanging around in your story And how a short story about a monkey became an award-winning trilogy... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E116 · Sun, June 10, 2018
EP116: Adaptation
This week's topic of adaptation came from one of our Patreon supporters and listeners Julian Barr, who joined me to discuss the various methods for adapting from one medium to another, including radio, epic poems, novels, TV and feature films. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Trailer · Mon, June 04, 2018
EP114: Criticism
In this Deep Dive we take a look at one of the hardest parts of being a writer: coping with criticism. It can come in many forms: from writing groups, reviews, social media and more. We look at strategies on how to deal with criticism and how you can make it work for you. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E115 · Sun, June 03, 2018
EP115: Julie Wassmer - The Pearl of Whitstable
Julie Wassmer is an EastEnder who has written for EastEnders and she’s now bumping off the locals in her wonderful series of novels The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries. I met Julie by the seaside on a beautiful summer’s day at Whitstable and we chatted about the town, its strong sense of community, and how it has influenced her writing. Julie’s new book, Disappearence at Oare, is out now! In this episode you will discover… - Why location is so important to a novel - How to keep a series character fresh - And why you should live in fear of a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E113 · Fri, May 25, 2018
EP113: Sharon Bolton and the Mysteries of Mystery Fiction
Sharon Bolton (aka SJ Bolton) is the bestselling and award-winning thriller author of the Lacey Flint series and her writing continues the tradition of gothic mystery, mixed with the pace of page-turning modern crime thrillers. It was great fun to discuss her new novel, The Craftsman, we played backlist bingo, and we answered listener questions. In this episode you will discover… - Tips for historical research and how you can turn local history into thrilling fiction - How you can keep readers on the hook with delayed gratification - How your short stories can interlock with your novels and create a greater universe - And why you have to write the books you love to read To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E112 · Sun, May 20, 2018
EP112: Deborah Haywood - Pin Cushion
This week we go to the movies with writer/director Deborah Haywood whose debut feature film Pin Cushion will be released in cinemas in July… Deborah is BIFA-nominated and was one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow and she’s an incredible writer who deftly combines the deeply personal with the magical. In this episode you will discover… How an obsession with being a writer can get you on a movie set How writing without compromise and self-censorship can pay off How the screenplay development process works for independent filmmakers And strategies for dealing with notes (involving a hot bath, long walks and chocolate) To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E111 · Mon, May 14, 2018
EP111: Live Show with Ben Willis
Another special YouTube Live episode featuring Orion editor Ben Willis with contributions from our wonderful Patreon supporters! Ben worked in book publicity for Transworld and Headline before joining Orion, where he now works as a commissioning editor for Orion Fiction. If you want to get involved with our live shows, become a chart topper patron here: https://www.patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment In this episode you will discover… - Some top tips for your book’s metadata to make it more visible online - We talk style, language, character perspectives, voices and tenses that you can use to make your work stand out - What publishers look for in indie authors - And is there such a thing as too much editing…? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, May 14, 2018
EP110: Introducing Your Characters
We've already had a Deep Dive on writing compelling characters, but I want to focus on that moment when you first introduce them. How can you make an impact? How can you avoid cliches? I'll discuss seven principles that will help your writing. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E109 · Sat, May 05, 2018
EP109: Win Kelly Charles - The Curiosity Killed The Cat Kid
Win Kelly Charles is a bestselling indie author who has publicly declared that she’s stepping away from Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. We talked about Win’s decision, how it affects her reach as an author, and her inspirational writing journey as someone born with cerebral palsy. In this episode you will discover… - How you can write a bestseller with an iPhone - Why you’re not alone in struggling to reach readers on Facebook - And should you delete Facebook? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, May 05, 2018
EP108: Short Stories
Writing short stories is hard! Cramming great character and story into just a few thousand words is a skill few writers master, but here are some tips to help you get started... Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E107 · Mon, April 30, 2018
EP107: Isabel Ashdown's Secrets and Lies
Isabel Ashdown is the author of bestselling thrillers Little Sister and Beautiful Liars. She walked away from a successful career to focus on her writing and it all stepped up a gear when she entered a competition in a newspaper... In this episode you will discover… - Isabel’s working method with her editor Sam Eades (and we hear from Sam, too!) - Some top tips for growing your social media and newsletter numbers - The power of epilogues - And is it better for your thriller to have a twist, have everything tied up, or have an open ending? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, April 29, 2018
EP106: Cliches and Tropes
CLICHES AND TROPES - how to identify cliches in your writing and tropes in your storytelling, and strategies for making your work stronger. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E105 · Mon, April 23, 2018
EP105: Ed McDonald, Dear Debut Authors
Ed McDonald broke onto the fantasy scene with his incredible debut Blackwing in 2017 and has had an amazing year. He’s living the dream! Then a few weeks ago he wrote a very honest blog titled ‘Dear Debut Authors of 2018’ in which he asked the question, “What next?" In this episode you will discover… How to prepare for and navigate the first year of the publication of your book Sales anxiety and why you need to treat your writing as a business and a career How much should you act on reader feedback for your second book? Top tips from Ed for writing fight scenes (he’s handy with a sword in real life, too!) And here’s Ed’s original blog: https://edmcdonaldwriting.com/2018/03/10/dear-debut-authors-of-2018/ To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, April 21, 2018
EP104: Production Part 2 with Paul Hussey
In this week’s Deep Dive Mark Stay is joined by Paul Hussey and they take a deep dive into the production of your publication. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E103 · Sun, April 15, 2018
EP103: Michael J Ward - Choose Your Own Adventure
Michael J Ward is a writer and gamer who has taken choose-your-own-adventure books to the next level. With compelling characters and engaging stories his DestinyQuest books are written in a unique way and he gives us an insight into his process which writers of all genres will find invaluable. In this episode you will discover… How the techniques of games writing can be applied to your writing The importance of identifying the turning points for your story Why your characters’ choices really need to matter And how publishing through crowdfunding can enable you to write without compromise To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, April 09, 2018
EP102: Production Part 1 with Andy Bowden
In this week’s Deep Dive Mark Stay is joined by Andy Bowden and they take a deep dive into the production of your publication. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E101 · Mon, April 09, 2018
EP101: Live Show with Emad Akhtar
Editor Emad Akhtar has worked with authors like Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin and Justin Cronin and was kind enough to join our live show and answer our listeners' questions! In this episode you will discover… Common pacing issues with first drafts Why your most difficult scenes might be a reward for readers Why editors can be like movie producers, and what questions you should be asking editors Why you shouldn't just slavishly follow an editor’s notes And why you should consider supply and demand with exposition To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sat, April 07, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Elements of a Chapter
This week’s Deep Dive is short n sweet and crammed with tips on making your chapters work as hard as possible. We’ll look at the purpose of the chapter, how it fits into the larger story, and what tools you can use when editing to ensure that your chapter earns its place in the story. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E99 · Sun, April 01, 2018
EP99: Cavan Scott
We speak to Cavan Scott, an extraordinary writer who writes on licence, meaning that he is hired to write for licenced intellectual properties such as Star Wars and Doctor Who. If you’ve ever written fan fiction and dream of writing for a big franchise then you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this week’s episode. In this episode you will discover… How the world of tie-in and licensed fiction works How to work to a brief or with a series bible How copyright and public domain works How good old-fashioned determination and persistence pays off with an extraordinary career To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, March 26, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Audiobooks
Audiobooks with Paul Stark Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E97 · Sun, March 25, 2018
EP97: Roz Morris
We speak to Roz Morris, a writer whose books have sold over 4 million copies, but until recently you won’t have seen her name on the covers because she is a ghost writer. Roz has written for members of the SAS, rockstar bodyguards, children’s fantasy authors and more. In this episode you will discover… - How ghostwriters work with their authors - Why the story is in the struggle - How you can apply story structure to memoir and biography - A method of turning notes into a story with scraps of paper and a box! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, March 18, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Options Part 3
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E95 · Thu, March 15, 2018
Richard Morgan
We speak to Richard Morgan about his novel Altered Carbon and its long journey through development hell before it went on the become the biggest show on Netflix. And we look back on his incredible career, which includes fantasy fiction and comic books, and we look forward to his long-awaited forthcoming novel Thin Air. In this episode you will discover… The perils of selling the TV and film rights to your writing Tips on completing trilogies and writing satisfying endings How adversity should strengthen your characters and not weaken them The key differences between TV and film storytelling To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support <p style= "background-color: transpare
Trailer · Sun, March 11, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Options Part 2
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E93 · Thu, March 08, 2018
Alex T. Smith
In the latest of an occasional series of reports from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference, we speak to bestselling children’s author and illustrator Alex T Smith… and Mr. D makes a big declaration! In this episode you will discover… How themes help with story ideas for series characters How your personality will make your book unique How the most unexpected influences can enhance your writing Why it might pay dividends to dig out your old sketches and writing To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Bonus · Thu, March 08, 2018
The Gingerbread Shortlist
A special episode where Mr. Stay catches up with Sam Eades on the Gingerbread writing competition launched in episode 50, and speaks to the shortlisted authors, and we discover what it was about their writing that got them shortlisted... In this episode you will discover… How targets and deadlines are essential for any writer How writing for competitions with a theme can help you dig deeper How to find the courage to tell your own story And editor Sam Eades introduces us to the mysterious story triangle! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment <p style= "background-color: transparent; color: #000000; cursor: text; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal;
Trailer · Sat, March 03, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Options Part 1
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E90 · Sat, March 03, 2018
Ask The Two Marks
Braving snowmageddon, our monthly live show was recorded in London and Vancouver, with our audience of Patreon supporters. Featured listener questions include the secrets of metadata, author blogging, outlining, and crowdfunding. And there’s an update on Mark Stay’s book The End of Magic, which you can support here: bestsellerexperiment.com/endofmagic. To join us as an audience member at our next live recording, become a supporter today at: bestsellerexperiment.com/support In this episode you will discover… The dark secrets of metadata and how you can make it work for your books How you can make a blog work harder Tips for when you’re stuck on your outline Why you should celebrate weaknesses The pros and cons of present tense versus past tense We discover what “brain tabs” are, and we discuss top tips for avoiding distractions while writing To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, February 26, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Five Principles on 2nd Drafts Part 1
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E88 · Mon, February 26, 2018
Unbound and The End of Magic
Mr. Stay has a new book coming! And it’s being published by Unbound Books who use a crowdfunding model. We discuss how it all works and how you, dear listener, can get involved at https://unbound.com/books/end-of-magic/ In this episode you will discover… How crowdfunding works in publishing Strategies for effective crowdfunding The discount code exclusive to our listeners And updates from our listeners, including one who has just secured a book deal with a major publisher! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, February 19, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Five Principles on 2nd Drafts Part 1
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E86 · Sun, February 18, 2018
Catriona Innes
We speak to the completely charming Catriona Innes, Senior Editor of Cosmopolitan, the UK’s best selling glossy magazine. Working on the features desk she writes, edits and commissions the long reads, fitness and career sections of Cosmopolitan, as well as heading up the books content. She’s currently working on Hearst’s inaugural books prize, Big Book, as well as writing her first fiction novel. In this episode you will discover… How books get those big magazine features Top tips for interviews (we took lots of notes) and how you can apply them to your writing The secrets of undercover and investigative journalism The benefits of setting up a writers' group And how you can get involved with the Big Book Festival and Prize To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Mon, February 12, 2018
Preview - Deep Dive - Five Principles to Rocket Your Word Count
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E84 · Mon, February 12, 2018
Cass Green
We speak to Cass Green, bestselling author of The Woman Next Door and In a Cottage In a Wood who told us how a quick swim led to a change in direction for her career... In this episode you will discover… How writing for children can help writing for adults Strategies for writing for a living The “Therefore, but…” rule for outlining What a writer-in-residence actually does! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Sun, February 04, 2018
EP83: Preview - Deep Dive - Creating Compelling Characters
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E82 · Sun, February 04, 2018
Jen Williams - "Even Aliens Have Issues."
We speak to Jen Williams, writer of charismatic characters and founder of the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club. To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E81 · Sat, January 27, 2018
Live Show Q&A with the two Marks
Behold, the highlights of this month's YouTube Live show for our Patreon supporters In this episode you will discover… How to make your characters feel relevant to as many readers as possible How visual flowcharts can help outline your story Liz’s tips for coping with writers’ block and artists’ block and the value of “faffing time” The common traits of bestselling children’s authors And how The Sopranos influenced Liz! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment <p style= "background-color: transparent; color: #000000; cursor: text; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color
Trailer · Sun, January 21, 2018
EP80: Preview - Deep Dive - Beat Writers Block
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E79 · Sat, January 20, 2018
Liz Pichon
In the first of an occasional series of reports from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference, we speak to bestselling children’s author and illustrator Liz Pichon about the secrets of the success of her multi-million copy Tom Gates books... In this episode you will discover… How to make your characters feel relevant to as many readers as possible How visual flowcharts can help outline your story Liz’s tips for coping with writers’ block and artists’ block and the value of “faffing time” The common traits of bestselling children’s authors And how The Sopranos influenced Liz! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality <span style= "background-color: transparent; color: #000000; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weig
Trailer · Mon, January 15, 2018
Deep Dive of Ep 077 with Brandon Sanderson
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E77 · Fri, January 12, 2018
The Epic Brandon Sanderson
We caught up with fantasy bestselling author and super nice dude Brandon Sanderson and in a jam-packed episode he answered our listeners’ questions and let us in on some of his inspirational top tips for productive writing... In this episode you will discover… The secret to Brandon’s productivity How you can stay excited about the project you’re working on Why there’s no “should” in writing And when you need to shove your artist in the closet To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Trailer · Thu, January 04, 2018
This Week on The Bestseller Experiment Deep Dive of episode 075
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
S2 E75 · Thu, January 04, 2018
Location, location, location and murder with Lara Dearman
We talk to novelist Lara Dearman about her debut book The Devil’s Claw and the importance of place, location, myths and folklore in her fiction and much more. In this episode you will discover… How a community college course can spark a career in writing Strategies for writing when you’re a full-time parent Tips for choosing an agent and a publisher The importance of accuracy when writing a real location How Enid Blyton inspired Lara’s crime fiction To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E74 · Mon, January 01, 2018
This Week on The Bestseller Experiment Deep Dive of episode 073
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support
Trailer · Fri, December 29, 2017
This Week on The Bestseller Experiment Deep Dive 073
Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at Patreon.com/bestsellerexpiment
S2 E73 · Fri, December 29, 2017
New Year's Countdown to Your Favourite Episodes
A Happy New Year to all our listeners! In today’s special episode we conclude our thrilling countdown of our top 10 best episodes as voted for by you with our favourite clips from those shows! Who will come top? Listen now.. In this episode you will discover... - What really scares one of our horror author guests - How to cope with the infamous kitchen scene trap - What does one of our guests consider to be “bollocks advice”? - And what effect has Ben Aaronovitch’s rant had on the two Marks’ writing…? To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E72 · Fri, December 22, 2017
Christmas Special
Merry Christmas to all our listeners! In today’s special episode we begin our countdown of our top 10 best episodes as voted for by you with our favourite clips from those shows! We start with, er… number 12… Course we do. In this episode you will discover... The most important lessons we’ve learned from our guests Which author we were most nervous about interviewing How Donald Trump was key to our success The names of those on Santa’s “Nice” list To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E71 · Fri, December 15, 2017
MR Carey
Mike Carey writes comics, novels and screenplays like Hellblazer, Lucifer, X-Men, the Felix Castor novels, and The Girl With All the Gifts. He’s also written novels with his wife Linda and daughter Louise. Linda joined Mike for this amazing chat about story writing in all its forms. In this episode you will discover... - How comics can help you structure a story, and the key differences between comics, novels and screenplays - How co-writers can find a single voice with harmony and negotiation - How your short story can evolve into a full-length novel - How sequels can evolve from the negative space of the first story To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E70 · Mon, December 11, 2017
Listeners’ Question Time
The Two Marks answer your questions in this recording of our first Patreon subscribers’ live show. To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E69 · Sun, December 03, 2017
Tad Williams - Legendary Worldbuilder
Tad Williams is a master of the fantasy genre. Not only an incredible world builder, but he populates his books with memorable and beloved characters. He’s returned to the world of Memory, Sorrow & Thorn with his latest book The Witchwood Crown and we were delighted to speak to him about returning to the past and horizontality… To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S2 E68 · Sun, November 26, 2017
Victoria Aveyard - The Red Queen of YA
We hitch a ride with Victoria Aveyard, the bestselling author of the Red Queen series, and we talk unreliable narrators, copy edits and building characters. To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out https://patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now https://bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E67 · Sun, November 19, 2017
Publicity secrets revealed
On the day the Two Marks land a big feature in Publisher's Weekly, they talk with top publicists Elaine Egan, Lauren Woosey and Virginia Woolstencroft about interview tips, creating a buzz around your book, how to recognise the hook of a good publicity story, what makes a great pitch, and we discover the dos and don’ts of a great press release. http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E66 · Fri, November 10, 2017
Bestseller Launch Day (part 4)
Bestselling author and friend of the show Shannon Mayer joins Mark Desvaux in the final part of the launch day event for the two Marks’ novel Back to Reality. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E65 · Wed, November 01, 2017
Bestseller Launch Day (part 3)
The sky over London turns red as the two Marks recall the third part of their launch day event for their novel Back to Reality. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E64 · Fri, October 27, 2017
Bestseller Launch Day (part 2)
It’s High Noon as the two Marks recall the second part of their launch day event for their novel Back to Reality. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Mon, October 23, 2017
EP63: Bestseller Launch Day (Part 1)
Relive the magic of launch day as the Two Marks attempt to hit the bestseller charts with their novel Back to Reality. Will it be a car crash or chart crash? Buy your copy at bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E62 · Mon, October 16, 2017
PUBLICATION DAY! Back to Reality is Out Now!
It's Launch Day! After a year of podcasting and writing our book, Back to Reality is finally available to buy on Kindle for a special launch day price. Buy your copy at bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E61 · Sun, October 15, 2017
One Day to Go! Back to Reality Book
In the seventh of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we thought you might like a little taster of an early scene from our novel Back to Reality, out Monday 16th October 2017! Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E60 · Fri, October 13, 2017
Two Days to Go! Favourite Pod Moments
In the sixth of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication of Back to Reality, The Two Marks look back at some of their favourite moments over the last year of the podcast. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E59 · Fri, October 13, 2017
Three Days to Go! Social Media
How do you harness the power of social media in your book launch? Find out in the fifth mini-episode, as we prepare for the launch of our novel Back to Reality ( bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality )
S1 E58 · Wed, October 11, 2017
Four Days to Go! Reviews and Launch Teams
In the fourth of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we look at the importance of reviews and how you get readers to spread the word. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E57 · Tue, October 10, 2017
Five days to go! Beta readers and reviews
In the third of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we look at Beta readers and reviews and how to cope with feedback. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E56 · Tue, October 10, 2017
Six days to go! Getting quotes for your book
How do you get pull quotes from other authors for your book? Find out in the second of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to the release of Back to Reality - bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E55 · Sun, October 08, 2017
One week to go! Blurbs and Back to Reality
Holy cow, there’s only seven days left until we publish our book! This is the first of eight daily mini-episodes looking at different aspects of the book, the podcast and the long road to publication. Today: we read out our blurb. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
S1 E54 · Sun, October 01, 2017
The Mighty Joanna Penn
Only two weeks to go till the publication of our book Back To Reality, and we seek the advice of the amazing Joanna Penn, NY Times bestselling author, public speaker and podcaster… In this episode you will discover: - The value of content marketing and how to make it work for you - When is it the right time to promote your book? - And why you should never just sign a contract! - The power of social proof and why there has never been a better time to be an author Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E53 · Fri, September 22, 2017
GollanczFest, Gin and a Special Guest
Only three weeks to go till publication, but we somehow found time to talk to the wonderful folk from Gollancz about GollanczFest and we find our show gatecrashed by an old friend. In this episode you will discover: - Why you should be going to writers’ festivals and what to expect - Some tips on writing novellas and keeping track of an expanding universe - How to host an online launch party for your book - And we delve into the world of YouTube, BookTube and Readathons Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E52 · Sun, September 17, 2017
Four Weeks To Go!
Holy cow! Only four weeks till publication? Already?? What do we do? What do we do? How did it come round so soon? Yes, the two Marks discuss their impending deadline and their pre-publication marketing strategy with their usual calm, professional manner… and they finally reveal the title of their novel! In this episode you will discover: - Strategies for choosing a title - The process of choosing and working with a cover designer - How to create a publication plan - And how you can get quotes and blurbs from beta readers and other authors Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E51 · Fri, September 08, 2017
The Impossible Choices Of Samantha King
Samantha King is a bestselling debut novelist, and her book The Choice taps into parental fears. Sam has also worked in publishing and has a unique perspective on the process of writing, editing, publishing and promoting a bestseller… In this episode you will discover: - How you can discover your story’s true intent through rewrites - The subject you should study to become a better writer (and it isn’t creative writing!) - How to cope with those first reader reviews. - How you can build compelling characters. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E50 · Thu, August 31, 2017
Gingerbread
A very special episode with an amazing opportunity for writers. Find out more here: https://gingerbread.org.uk/content/2454/One-in-four-new-writer-competition In this episode you will discover: - How sharing your story can change social stigma - Tips on finding time to write - How to find the courage to tell your own story - And tips from editor Sam Eades on writing second drafts Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E49 · Sun, August 27, 2017
Bookbub Mythbusting
As the two Marks gear-up for publication, it’s suddenly dawned on them that they will have to market and sell their novel! Who better to turn to for advice than the folk at Bookbub, whose newsletter can boost a book up the bestseller charts? And we also bust a few myths and misconceptions about this game-changing mailing list… In this episode you will discover: - How a book’s metadata will affect its visibility online - Tips on how to master the dark art of online marketing - And where to find help if you’re daunted by all this! - And why you should build a dream team. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E48 · Sun, August 20, 2017
A Kick In The Ed
The two Marks have met with their editor. Sit in on one of their story sessions as they go through their notes, and discover the huge change that they will have to make to improve their chances of marketing a bestseller with less than two months to go! In this episode you will discover: - How you can make the most of an editor’s notes and feedback - How a synopsis, blurb and shout line can help your edit - How your opening can make or break your novel - How an editor can help hone your style Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E47 · Mon, August 14, 2017
Titles, Covers & Deadlines
In the second part of this conversation between the two Marks before their book goes to their editor, they wonder if it will survive the edit, or does the experiment end here? In this episode you will discover: - Why you should try and make scenes work harder before discarding them - Why giving ideas time to marinade is so important - Some tips on how to generate a title for your book - The importance of an author’s name and should you use a pseudonym? - And why it can be good to be forced to make decisions. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E46 · Sat, August 05, 2017
Research and Reconnoitring
The two Marks are recording in the same room! Will universes collide? Will they reveal any more about their damn book? They talk about research, reconnoitring locations, and more in the first of a two-parter... In this episode you will discover: - Tips for speaking to experts for research - The importance of a critical path and the consequences of missing deadlines - The benefits of actually going to a place for research, over just looking on Google Earth - The importance of keeping the tone even, resisting cheap gags and gaining the confidence to cut material - What you should never say to an author, and why changing the name of a character can be a bad idea… Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E45 · Fri, July 28, 2017
EP45: Katherine May - Creative Writing Cocktails
Katherine May is an award-winning writer, blogger and the programme director of creative writing at Canterbury, Christ Church University. She is an extraordinary talent, makes a mean gin cocktail, and has an incredible series of books coming in the next year… In this episode you will discover: - The pros and cons of writing under a pseudonym - The importance of celebrating milestones - Top tips for tackling procrastination - And how a nice, long walk can not only improve your writing, but change your life Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E43 · Sat, July 15, 2017
EP43: Martina Cole - Dangerous Lady
Martina Cole is the undisputed queen of British crime fiction. She’s sold over 14 million books and her novels regularly top the Sunday Times bestsellers. She’s come a long way from being told ‘Women don’t write these kinds of books.’ We were delighted to speak on the eve of publication of her new paperback Betrayal. In this episode you will discover: - How writing for yourself and not an audience can help you break out - Why you should think twice about burning your old manuscripts - Why it’s okay to steer away from your outline - And a top tip for editing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E44 · Thu, July 13, 2017
EP44: Jennifer Niven
Jennifer Niven is a phenomenally successful YA novelist. All The Bright Places was a Goodreads Choice Award winner and is now being adapted for film starring Elle Fanning. We spoke to Jennifer not long after her tour of Australia and New Zealand… In this episode you will discover: - How bravery and honesty can only improve your writing - How your characters can teach you about the story - How to storyboard your book with a music mood board - And a great solution for parents trying to write with kids running around the house! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E42 · Thu, July 06, 2017
EP42: The End
We’ve done it, we’ve finished our first draft! After months of writing — and that outline — we discuss what it means to reach this milestone, and what we can expect from the next draft, and we reveal more about our novel… including its working title! In this episode you will discover: - Why it’s okay for your first draft to be imperfect - The importance of a deadline - Rewrite techniques - And we have a special request for our listeners Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E41 · Mon, July 03, 2017
EP41: Deon Meyer Fever
Deon is a bestselling thriller writer from South Africa whose books have been translated into 20 languages, but with his latest book Fever. he has written a post-apocalyptic epic with a big heart.. In this episode you will discover: - Why struggle is a positive not a negative - Why genre shouldn’t matter when you’re writing - Why finishing your first draft is so important - And why your brother telling you you’re rubbish should not hold you back from success! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E40 · Mon, June 26, 2017
EP40: Laura Barnett’s Greatest Hits
Laura Barnett’s 2015 debut The Versions Of Us was a smash hit, a number one bestseller, and translated into 23 languages. Now she faces that difficult second album syndrome, but Laura has come up with an ingenious solution and a unique piece of fiction. In this episode you will discover: - How music can inspire your writing - The balance between respecting the reader and writing for yourself - How the first fifteen minutes of your day can be the most creative - How collaboration with an artist in another medium can unlock untapped talents Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E39 · Sat, June 17, 2017
EP39: Million-Selling Children Books | Karen Ball
A children’s fiction special. We talk with Karen Ball who has published some of the bestselling children’s series of the last twenty years, including the Beast Quest which has sold over 11m copies. Recently featured as a 2017 Rising Star in the Bookseller, Karen is the former Little, Brown for Young Readers publisher. She is now a consultant at Speckled Pen (working with OUP, Hachette Children's and Parragon) as well as an expert in intellectual property. In this episode you will discover: - How children’s series are commissioned - The importance of plot in children’s books - How to start planning your career as a writer - The importance of respecting your readers Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E38 · Fri, June 09, 2017
EP38: From The Heart | Erica James
How do you touch the heart of your readers? We get emotional over tea and cake with bestselling author Erica James. Erica has sold over 5 million copies of over twenty books, is winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and she never fails to break her readers’ hearts. We discover how she does it… In this episode you will discover: - Why it’s so important to write from the heart - How talking to strangers can make you characters more interesting - The importance of trusting your instincts - How to know when your book isn’t working and how to fix it Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E37 · Fri, June 02, 2017
EP37: Go For Launch | Susan Kaye Quinn
In the second part of our interview with Susan Kaye Quinn , we talk about how to launch your book, pre-orders, fan-service, promoting your books, the dark art of blurbs, the power of tropes and mythology. In this episode you will discover: -The ideal model for debut pre-orders. - How long you should promote your book for. - How to make your blurbs work harder. - And how to use tropes to satisfy your readers. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E36 · Mon, May 29, 2017
EP36: For Love Or Money | Susan Kaye Quinn
Susan Kaye Quinn is not only a genuine rocket scientist, but she’s also a bestselling indie author in fiction and non-fiction. She runs the incredible For Love Or Money Facebook group, a resource for indie authors to get help with all those questions you might otherwise be afraid to ask. This is Part One of a special two-parter. In this episode you will discover… Why you should be clear what your goals are Why you should formulate a five year plan to achieve those goals How you can make your advertising budget a revenue generator and not a cost# And the importance of newsletters such as Bookbub Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E35 · Mon, May 22, 2017
EP35: The Incredible Tenacity Of Mark Edwards
Mark Edwards is the bestselling author of over two million psychological thrillers such as The Magpies. Mark is an author who has been self-published, traditionally-published, and is now one of Amazon’s 'Thomas & Mercer' imprint’s bestselling authors with five number one bestsellers. His extraordinary story will be an inspiration to any writer who’s ever faced rejection, bad publishing, bad agents, and financial ruin! In this episode you will discover: - Why tenacity may be one of the best traits of any writer - Why you don’t necessarily have to write a series to be a bestselling author - Why the only marketing that matters is the marketing you can measure - How changing your book’s description copy can double your sales! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E34 · Mon, May 15, 2017
EP34: Into The Woods With John Yorke
John Yorke is one of the world's leading lights in the art of storytelling. As former head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and head of Company Pictures, he has worked on shows like Shameless, Life On Mars, and the UK’s most popular soap opera EastEnders. He is also the author of Into The Woods, one of our favourite books on the craft of storytelling. In this episode you will discover… The most effective ways to use structure in your story How to create compelling characters Quick fixes for conveying exposition The importance of a good cliffhanger
S1 E33 · Mon, May 08, 2017
EP33: A Deep Dive With The Two Marks
The two Marks discuss the progress of their novel so far, and Mr. Stay recalls a piece of advice he received from Julie Cohen after he finished recording his interview with her… In this episode you will discover: - The best strategy for when you get stuck with your writing - Why stepping out of your comfort zone will improve your story - If you should ever give up on a project - Why bad reviews hurt and why you shouldn’t worry about them Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E32 · Sun, April 30, 2017
EP32: Legal Eagles | Keith Mathieson & Paul Joseph
We get lawyered-up in this fascinating episode where we talk to a pair of top entertainment lawyers: Keith Mathieson is an expert in defamation and privacy law, and Paul Joseph specialises in intellectual property cases and we quizzed them on the pitfalls authors should look out for when writing. In this episode you will discover: - If you can include song lyrics in your book - If you can use product placement in your writing - If you can put real people in your novel - If you can copyright an idea Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E31 · Sat, April 22, 2017
EP31: Fear of Failure | Julie Cohen
Julie Cohen is the author of over twenty novels, including the Richard & Judy bestseller Dear Thing . She also teaches creative writing workshops and is a goldmine of writing wisdom.
S1 E30 · Mon, April 17, 2017
EP30: The Future Of Publishing | David Shelley
David Shelley is the CEO of Orion Publishing and the Little, Brown Publishing Group, he started as an editor, working with some major talents including Iain Banks, Val McDermid and JK Rowling, and he talked to us about the future of the publishing industry. In this episode you will discover: - The personality traits and habits of successful authors - What major publishers look for in an author and how you can stand out from the crowd - How major publishers are looking to mentor and attract a more diverse workforce and author list. -Why authors should maybe get someone else to write their blurbs and titles Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E29 · Sat, April 08, 2017
EP29: Kate Harrison | Bestselling Insights
Kate Harrison is a rare breed. A fiction and non-fiction award-winning author who used her insight experience with the BBC to produce a huge bestselling series of non-fiction diet and lifestyle books. We discuss with Kate about her phenomenally successful 5:2 Diet series, how she straddles the life as both a fiction and non-fiction author, and how her experience on shows like Panorama have shaped her storytelling. In this episode you will discover: - How to channel your personal experience and passion into your work - How to use search results to discover a market for your book and connect with your readers - How you can apply the classic hero’s journey to your non-fiction writing - How writing your book’s blurb first will help you stay on track - Some great tips for newsletter content Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E28 · Sun, April 02, 2017
EP28: What Exactly Is A Bestseller? Number Crunching with Nielsen
We answer one of the most common questions we get on our quest: What is a bestseller? We spoke to Sara Mulryan of Nielsen Bookscan, the people who gather the data for the UK charts and made some fascinating discoveries. In this episode you will discover: - How book sales data feeds into different charts - Why you should pay close attention to your book’s genre, and which ones are the most popular - What you can get out of events like the London Book Fair - The best time of year, week and time of day to publish your book Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E27 · Mon, March 27, 2017
EP27 | From Script, To Screen, To Book | Jo Ho
Jo Ho is an award-winning screenwriter and director, best known for creating the BBC TV series Spirit Warriors, but she has recently turned her hand to self-publishing with great success. In this episode you will discover: - How Facebook groups can help guide you through your writing and self-publishing - How to cold-call editors and publishers successfully - How you can react to reader feedback and improve your book - And what essentials you need to build your readership Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E26 · Mon, March 20, 2017
EP26: Author & Editor In A Hot Mess | Lucy Vine & Katie Seaman
Lucy Vine is a freelance journalist who has written for pretty much every magazine going. Inspired by one of Lucy’s articles, editor Katie Seaman commissioned Lucy to write Hot Mess, a full-length novel, in an incredibly short space of time and, between them, have discovered a brilliantly efficient way of working together. In this episode you will discover: - How you can use a weekly deadline to increase your word count - Why you should look for gaps in the market - How you and an editor can work together on outlines and story before the edit begins - And even with an outline there’s room for new ideas Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E25 · Mon, March 13, 2017
EP25: The M Word | Shannon Mayer
We welcome back Shannon Mayer for the third and final part of our epic interview with her and we finally tackle something that can put the fear of death into many authors… Marketing. In this episode you will discover: - The one piece of marketing that makes the biggest difference to your sales - Why writing on your vacation is okay - How you can grapple with the scary technical stuff - And why interacting with your readers is so important Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E24 · Mon, March 06, 2017
EP24: Liz Fenwick & The Crows Of Doubt
Is there such as thing as a positive rejection? This week we chat with award-winning author, Liz Fenwick about the importance of persistency on the journey to being published, why your book's location matters, the world of literary consultancies and how to silence your inner critic. In this episode you will discover… - How literary consultancies work - What you can learn from positive rejections - When to listen to your inner critic and how to banish the crows of doubt circling above - Why it’s so important to complete your novel
S1 E23 · Sun, February 26, 2017
EP23: The Plot Thickens
Licking the wounds from their encounter with Ben Aaronovitch last week, the two Marks regroup, look at where they’ve gone wrong, and wonder if they can go on… In this episode you will discover… - Why taking a break from your main project might be a good idea - How to use your outline in a rewrite - Top tips for building your brand image and self-promotion - And Mr. Stay has been through the Kindle Direct Publishing process and reports on his findings Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E22 · Sat, February 18, 2017
EP22: Ben Aaronovitch and the Great Bollocking…
Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Dr Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks. In this episode you will discover: When an outline is not an outline Top procrastination tips that will help your productivity Why sniffing a camel will help your research And how many drafts is too many Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E21 · Sun, February 12, 2017
EP21: Obscurity to Million-Selling Indie Success | Mark Dawson
Mark Dawson had been published by a mainstream publisher, but to little success. A friend introduced him to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and now, over two million downloads later, he is one of the UK’s most successful indie authors. In this episode you will discover… - Why you need a mailing list. - A daily routine that balances creativity and business. - The power of an online ad campaign - The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E20 · Mon, February 06, 2017
EP20: Amazon | Kindle Direct Publishing with Darren Hardy
Self-publishing an eBook? You’re almost certainly going to be publishing on Kindle. We were delighted to speak to Kindle’s head of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Darren Hardy, at Amazon’s recent Amazon Academy Conference in London to get the low-down. In this episode you will discover: - Where to find essential resources to guide you through the process of self-publishing on Kindle. -The common best practices for authors starting out. -The key elements that will make your book more visible on Amazon. -The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E19 · Mon, January 30, 2017
EP19: Joe HIll
Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and most recently the New York Times #1 epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe, son of Stephen King, is powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers. He is also an endless well of writing advice, so be ready to take notes… lots of notes… In this episode you will discover: - The power of two: two writers and a two-word sentence - How the secret to the Beatles’ success can be applied to your writing - Joe’s rule when tackling second drafts, and his first paragraph trick. - Joe’s top tip that he got from his track coach at school - How rewriting someone else’s work, and the game Go, can benefit your writing. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E18 · Mon, January 23, 2017
EP18: Behind Sarah Pinborough’s Eyes!
Sarah Pinborough has had over twenty novels published and written for TV and film. Sarah’s new thriller Behind Her Eyes is getting incredible buzz after a heated auction. Sarah is always funny, insightful and often eye-wateringly honest. Brace yourselves for one of our most entertaining author chats yet… WARNING: Contains strong adult language! In this episode you will discover: - Why you should get networking. - The importance of thinking time. - How to cope with an editor’s notes. - The common mistakes made by men writing women. - And the benefit of being charming. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E17 · Mon, January 16, 2017
EP17: Million-Selling Indie Secrets | Shannon Mayer Returns
The second part of our interview with bestselling Indie author Shannon Mayer who recently hit #2 in the main Amazon.com charts outselling Stephen Kings and other great. We talk about her new deal with Amazon, hybrid authors, the importance of an author’s intent, being business-like and collaboration. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of setting your goals as a writer, and making them big! - The simple secret of Shannon’s success and how you can apply it to your writing. - How to cope with imposter syndrome. - And a great tip for collaborating with another author. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com .
S1 E16 · Sun, January 08, 2017
EP16: How Do I Get An Agent? | Federica Leonardis & Sonya Lalli
'How do I get an agent?' is one of the most common questions asked by new writers, so we asked Federica Leonardis, founder of Martin Leonardis Literary Management, and her debut novelist Sonya Lalli. In this episode you will discover: The common mistakes made by writers looking for an agent. The worst submission letter in the history of submission letters. How you can cope with waiting for a reply, and how not to take rejection personally And… how you can get an agent! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E15 · Sat, December 24, 2016
EP15: Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler
Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E14 · Fri, December 23, 2016
EP14: John Connolly | No Formulas & Finishing Books
John Connolly has won pretty much every crime award going, and his books are regular Sunday Times bestsellers. He doesn’t do workshops, doesn’t suffer fools, and told the massive issue with leaving a book half-finished. John's words are dripping in wisdom and we loved him. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of empathy and character in your writing. - Why every book is a failure, and that’s okay… - Why you should be wary of the siren call of the new idea. - And how you can write your way out of writer’s block. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E13 · Mon, December 19, 2016
EP13: Michelle Paver | Research To The Extreme
How do you research your books? Michelle Paver has written eighteen novels, including the bestselling Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness. She’s encountered killer whales, wolves, polar bears and a runaway Yak, all in the name of research. In this episode you will discover: The key to giving readers the chills. How research can enrich your writing. How to avoid getting bogged down in research. And why you should always keep your old manuscripts! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E12 · Mon, December 12, 2016
EP12: Maria Semple | How To Find Your Voice As A Writer
Maria started as a screenwriter. Her book, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? spent over a year on the New York Times bestsellers. She spoke to us about the things that stop us writing truthfully. In this episode you will discover: - Why she prefers writing novels: learn to love being in control. - Find your voice: and how to cut writing classes. - The voice of self-sabotage: you need to be true and real to defeat this monster. - Writing for revenge: what makes you a stronger writer? Revenge or generosity? Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E11 · Mon, December 05, 2016
EP11: Writing a Bestseller | The Story So Far
The two Marks bring you up to date on the trials and tribulations their nascent bestseller, the processes that they’re going through, and how two writers can work together without driving each other bonkers. In this episode you will discover: - How they decided on what to write about and how you can use the same template. - How to take your big ideas and themes and apply them to your story and characters. - Discover if you’re a plotter or a pantser (that’s a word, apparently). - What we’ve learned from our guests so far and how we’re applying that to our story. - The dangers of relying on your outline too much. - Why it’s essential to be able to hold two opposing views in your head. - Why texture can wait, and why it pays to be observant. - And why you should be thinking of where your book will sit in a bookshop. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E10 · Mon, November 28, 2016
EP10: Robin Stevens | NaNoWriMo Success Story
Robin is the author of the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries books, a middle grade series following schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong in a 1930s English boarding school, but Robin started out on her bestselling adventure with NaNoWriMo. In this episode you will discover… How to get through that first draft and accept that all first drafts are horrible. How you can take that first draft and make it awesome. The importance of an elevator pitch. The thing that happens to all first drafts at 33,000 words! How to use word count to structure your writing day. How to use Pinterest for your research.
S1 E9 · Mon, November 21, 2016
EP09: Joe Abercrombie | Dancing Naked in the Rain
Joe Abercrombie burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest.
S1 E8 · Mon, November 14, 2016
EP08: NaNoWriMo & The Muddy Middle | Grant Faulkner
We were delighted to welcome NaNoWriMo’s Grant Faulkner back to the podcast in mid-November, where we discussed strategies for coping with the ‘muddy middle’. Those second-act blues where a storyteller can get completely lost or overwhelmed. In this episode you will discover… You are not alone! Even the most experienced writers share your pain. Simple strategies to keep your writing going through even the thickest mud. How writers have used NaNoWriMo as a springboard for their careers. Everyone’s story matters, and it’s never too late for you to start. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E7 · Mon, November 07, 2016
EP07: Michael Connelly | 60 Million Thriller Books
Michael Connelly is one of the most successful crime authors in the world with over 60m book sales. Having just released his new Harry Bosch thriller, he shares secrets about developing characters & writing book series - in the back of a London cab! In this episode you will discover… - The secrets to writing a series character. - How you can make an emotional connection with the reader. - How much ego you need to be a writer. - And how fifteen minutes’ writing a day can make all the difference. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com
S1 E6 · Mon, October 31, 2016
EP06: Bryan Cranston | On Breaking Bad, Characters, Writing & Life
In this episode you will discover… How the problems in your life can make for great stories later on. How you can stay authentic and honest. How to cope with artistic frustration. What Bryan looks for when taking on a character, and how you can apply that to your writing. And how you can apply CAPS - the Cranston Assessment of Projects, Bryan’s own system of selection - to your project to make it stand out. And how to avoid being a ‘Sneaky Pete’!
S1 E5 · Wed, October 26, 2016
EP05: NaNoWriMo Special | How to Write 50,000 Words in Month | Grant Faulkner
In this episode you will discover… That NaNoWriMo is a community: and you can be part of it. How it can benefit your writing: it’s not about critiquing, but more like a worldwide support group. Embrace the fear of the fist draft: all the books we loved started as first drafts, and NaNoWriMo gives you permission to write that rough first draft. A goal and a deadline are a creative midwife: give yourself permission to do it!
S1 E4 · Sun, October 23, 2016
EP04: Bestseller Joanne Harris | Chocolat & Sheds
Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke to her at GollanczFest about writing, aspiration and sheds. In this episode you will discover… How to find your voice: it’s what will make you a better writer. Prepare for success: not failure! Writing for Twitter: Joanne’s shed has changed how she writes. Could it work for you? Are you an aspiring writer? Joanne has some excellent advice for you…
S1 E3 · Sun, October 16, 2016
EP03: Million-Selling Indie Author Megastar | Shannon Mayer
In this episode you will discover… How to earn a living from writing: It can be done, and Shannon shows you how. Spoiler: it involves a lot of hard work! Agents: do you need one? Training: Train yourself to learn your craft and how the industry works. Develop a work ethic: This is not a hobby and you’ll need to work around the day job. Your muse is your bitch! Don’t wait for creativity to show up. Editors: You need one. Yes, you do. And Shannon tells you where to find one.
S1 E2 · Sun, October 16, 2016
EP02: Bestselling Editors | Sam Eades & Juliet Ewers - Orion Books
In this episode you will discover… What does a commission editor do? It’s not just correcting your spelling! What’s changed in publishing? And how you can make the most of these opportunities. The most common mistakes by writers: And how you can avoid them. Don’t cheat your reader: And how to have a longer career as a writer.
S1 E1 · Fri, October 14, 2016
EP01: Who Buys Bestsellers? | Vics Tranter - Hachette Books
As we begin our epic quest we need to know what kind of person buys bestselling books. We turn to Hachette Book Group consumer insight expert Vics Tranter, who shares her experience and wisdom with us and we discover just who will be reading our book… and it’s a bit of a shock, to be frank.
Bonus · Thu, October 13, 2016
EP00: The Bestseller Experiment Preview
Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.
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