The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston

Amy True negotiated the contracts for her first two books (and explains why she wouldn’t recommend that!). We also discuss her long publishing journey over four different agents, “book bibles” for series writing, and her pivot from YA historical to adult romance.  Amy wrote award-winning YA historicals under the name Amy Trueblood before pivoting to adult romance. She wrote the Ivy Falls series, and is now at work on the Harvest Moon series. Book 1, CLEARLY CHARMED (a Practical Magic inspired speculative romance), is out now. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonThe Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/AMY TRUE: Website:  https://www.amytruebloodauthor.com/amy-true/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atruebooks/Newsletter: https://substack.com/@amytruebloodCLEARLY CHARMED: https://bookshop.org/p/books/clearly-charmed-an-enchanting-small-town-enemies-to-lovers-romance-amy-true/302a67da7ae70abb?ean=9798217270255&bkshp-astro=tShow Notes:Wonderland author showcase info: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403Shoutouts to: The Author’s Guild, Flux (NorthStar Editions), and Courtney MaumCredits:The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-loveLicense code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Lisa Lee got both an MFA and a PhD in creative writing! Now, after many, many years (and many revisions!) her debut literary novel, AMERICAN HAN, is receiving oodles of accolades. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonThe Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/Lisa Lee:Website: https://www.hellolisalee.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaleehello/AMERICAN HAN: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lisa-lee/american-han/9781643757254/Show Notes:Wonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-loveLicense code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Kathleen Barber’s bestselling debut, TRUTH BE TOLD, was turned into a TV series with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company. Her sophomore novel… didn’t do so well. But she kept on writing despite many disappointments, publishing books in both the thriller and romantic comedy genres. Her latest novel is SISTERHOOD ABOVE ALL: A #RUSHTOK NOVEL, with Amayah Shaienne.The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonThe Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/Kathleen Barber:Website: kathleenbarber.comIG: instagram.com/katelizabeeSubstack: kathleenbarber.substack.comSisterhood Above All by Kathleen Barber with Amayah Shaienne: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250400055/sisterhoodaboveallShow Notes:Amayah Shaienne IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayahshai/Eva's Babysitter's Club Fan-Fiction on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcdbYj5FeRP/With shoutouts to Lisa Grubka, Ashley Spivey, Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator, Bouchercon, Mystery Writers of America, and Hello SunshineWonderland author showcase info and application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY0xi7yzwyeAhn71_JA-LkBWWCt6tfAy64zJF_2N5Tg8Z08g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105952951926281779403Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-loveLicense code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

David Griffin Brown and Michelle Barker have both been on long journeys to publishing their novels. Now, in addition to being editors at The Darling Axe, they are successfully self-publishing their co-authored craft books. Between the two of them, David and Michelle write and publish in nearly every genre: picture books, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, historical, nonfiction, and even poetry. We talk about their experiences with agents and traditional publishing, as well as their experiences with small presses and self-publishing. And, of course, we discuss David’s decision to found his company, The Darling Axe, which provides editing, novel development, and other services for writers.The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonThe Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/David Griffin Brown:The Darling Axe: www.DarlingAxe.com (Michelle and David's co-authored books can be found here)Website: www.SeptimusBrown.com@SeptimusBrown and @DarlingAxe on most platformsMichelle Barker:Website:www.michellebarker.cahttps://substack.com/@michbarkhttps://michellebarker.ca/books/Show Notes:Book Broker Agent Interviews: https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tagged/agent-interviewsBook mention: Story Genius by Lisa CronShoutouts to Orca Books, Annick Press, Victory Co-op for Netgalley, Storygraph, Invisible Ink Editing, Gail Anderson Dargatz, and The University of British Columbia MFACredits:The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-loveLicense code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

Journalist Mimi Montgomery signed with the first agent she queried (!!), and is using her dog as part of the guerrilla marketing campaign for her debut novel, MURDER BITES, which is a satirical murder mystery on the set of a reality TV show about dogs. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonThe Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books: https://www.wonderlandbooks.com/Mimi Montgomery:Website: https://www.mimimontgomerywriter.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mimi_montgomery/SUBSTACK: https://mimimontgomery.substack.com/MURDER BITES: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798842/murder-bites-by-mimi-montgomery/Show Notes:"Half the People Who See This DIY Promo Go On to Preorder My Book" by Jo Piazza (Substack article): https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-half-the-people-who-seeBook recs: Story Genius by Lisa Cron, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, Before & After the Book Deal by Courtney MaumMovie and TV recs: A Simple Favor and Bad SistersShoutouts to: The Writer’s Center, Carl Hiassen, Virginia Evans, Courtney Maum, Emily Jane, Jo Piazza, Andrea Bartz, The Shit No One Tells You About WritingCredits:The Long Road to Publishing is sponsored by Wonderland Books. The show is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ

After brainstorming over 100 ideas, Amy Tern came up with a Hitchcock-inspired premise for a middle grade novel… and finally landed both an agent and a book deal with Holiday House for her debut novel SNEAKS.The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonAmy Tern:Website: amytern.comSneaks: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780823461622Show Notes:Eva's interview with Rebecca Lehman on This Mama is Lit!: https://literarymama.substack.com/p/rebecca-lehmann-resurrecting-anneEva's online Substack workshop, How to Catch and Keep a Reader: https://evalangston.substack.com/p/how-to-catch-and-keep-a-reader-workshopShoutouts to: SCBWI, Sally Morgridge, Holiday House, Shanna Upchurch, Kids' Indie Next, American Booksellers Association, Indies Introduce programCredits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-loveLicense code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ