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The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston
The Most Positive Person in Publishing
Season 1, Ep. 4
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Evelyn Skye, a bestselling author of books for teens and adults, has now published TEN novels. But her publishing career hasn’t been as easy as she makes it look. With a cheerful smile, Evelyn talks about how she weathered hundreds of agent rejections and many (many!) manuscripts that died on submission. In this episode we discuss Evelyn’s tenth novel, The Incredible Kindness of Paper, and the moment years ago when she almost gave up on writing (and what made her keep trying!).
- Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.
- Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.
- Send me an email at info@longroad.pub
- Website: creativeinspiredhappy.com
- Substack: https://www.creativeinspiredhappy.com/
- The Incredible Kindness of Paper: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781668081907
Credits:
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-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ
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13. From Indie Romance to a Big 5 Debut
52:12||Season 1, Ep. 13Kate Broad published ten romance novels with Entangled (and wrote a LOT of books that didn’t sell) before publishing GREENWICH, her literary debut, with St. Martin’s Press. Kate's publishing journey is WILD and she has so much great advice to share about writing and publishing.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.com-To pitch to the podcast, go here-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonKate Broad:Website: katebroad.comInstagram: instagram.com/katebroadbooksSubstack: https://katebroad.substack.com/Buy Greenwich: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250363046/greenwich/ Credits: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
12. The Cop Who Caught the Writing Bug
47:47||Season 1, Ep. 12David Lane Williams always knew he wanted to be two things: a cop and a writer. He started out writing excellent police reports before publishing two nonfiction books. And now, after many detours, his debut novel, Carousel Grift, is out in the world. David’s path to publication has more twists and turns than an amusement park ride, from going to film school, to finding himself on the board of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association!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.com-To pitch to the podcast, go here-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonDavid Lane Williams:Website: https://www.davidlanewilliams.com/Order CAROUSEL GRIFT: https://bookshop.org/p/books/carousel-grift/187efb12ab80f6fc?ean=9781685136666&next=tCredits: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
11. Highs & Lows of Author Life
40:17||Season 1, Ep. 11Middle grade author Sarah Allen checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the road to publishing: a long querying journey, parting ways with her first agent, and being orphaned by her editor. But she’s also gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too: heartfelt letters from readers, a school visit involving a limo ride, and two two-book deals with Macmillion Children’s. Learn about her path to publishing her four middle grade novels (so far!), including her two most recent “spooky” books, Monster Tree and The Nightmare House. And hear her advice on how kidlit authors can connect with teachers and plan great school visits.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.com-To pitch to the podcast, go here-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonSarah Allen:Website: https://www.sarahallenbooks.com/ Newsletter: https://sarahallen.substack.com/Credits: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
10. Submission Hell & the Kindness of Editors
46:59||Season 1, Ep. 10Jennifer Fawcett landed her agent somewhat easily but got stuck in a never-ending cycle of revisions and submissions before finally selling her debut horror novel, Beneath the Stairs. We also discuss her work as a playwright and her new thriller novel, Keep This for Me.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.com-To pitch to the podcast, go here-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonJennifer Fawcett:Website: https://jenniferfawcettauthor.com/Order Keep This for Me: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keep-This-for-Me/Jennifer-Fawcett/9781668050644Instagram: @JenniferFawcett_AuthorTikTok: tiktok.com/@jenniferfawcett_authorSubstack: https://jenniferfawcett.substack.com/Credits: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
9. Pivot, Pivot, Publish!
45:56||Season 1, Ep. 9Robyn Ryle has pivoted many times in her career, publishing in multiple genres and by multiple methods: traditional publishing with an agent, self-publishing, and publishing with a small, brand-new indie press. Her novel-in-stories, Sex of the Midwest, is being published by Galiot Press and recently earned a starred review from Kirkus!Robyn Ryle is the author of two award-winning nonfiction books: She/He/They/Me and Throw Like a Girl Cheer Like a Boy. Her short story collection, Sex of the Midwest, is forthcoming from Galiot Press in October 2025. Her essays and stories have appeared in CNN, Newsweek, BELT Magazine, StorySouth and CALYX Journal, among others.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.com-To pitch to the podcast, go here-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonRobyn Ryle:Website: https://robynryle.com/Substack: https://robynryle.substack.com/Buy Robyn’s Books: https://bookshop.org/shop/RobynsbooksKirkus Review of Sex of the Midwest: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robyn-ryle/sex-of-the-midwest/Credits: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
8. The Book That Came Back to Life
41:33||Season 1, Ep. 8Kat Lewis thought her book had died on submission. She was so burned out on revisions and rejections that she announced she was quitting writing… But then a fairy-god-editor made her book deal dream come true. Now, after a ten year journey, she has finally sold her debut novel, Good People, to Simon & Schuster. 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 info@longroad.pubKat Lewis:Website: https://www.katjolewis.com/Substack: https://katjolewis.substack.com/Self-paced Craft Courses: https://craftwithkat.thinkific.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katjolewis/Show Notes:Kat mentions Austin Kleon's book Show Your Work: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780761178972Eva mentions Mary Kole’s newsletter post, The One Trick to Getting Published That Gatekeepers Don’t Want You to Know. Credits: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
7. Influencer Imprints & a Novel 20 Years in the Making
52:37||Season 1, Ep. 7A special episode with Esperanza Hope Snyder and Marines Alvarez! Esperanza is an accomplished poet and the author of the novel Orange Wine. Marines is a popular book influencer and the tastemaker at the head of Mareas, the imprint at Bindery Books that acquired Esperanza’s novel. We chat about the new publishing model at Bindery Books, how Marines built her following as a book influencer on YouTube and TikTok, and, of course, Esperanza’s twenty-year journey to publishing Orange Wine (which releases September 30, 2025!).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 info@longroad.pubEsperanza Hope Snyder:Website: http://esperanzahopesnyder.comPreorder Orange Wine from bookshop, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orange-wine-esperanza-hope-snyder/1146776940?ean=9781964721347Instagram: esperanza_hope_snyder Marines Alvarez:http://mareas.binderybooks.comInstagram:@mynameismarinesYouTube: @mynameismarinesCredits: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
6. Successful Strategies & Debut Anxieties
01:01:55||Season 1, Ep. 6Lacey N. Dunham’s debut novel, The Belles, is coming out very soon, so we discuss the intense emotions and anxieties that are common to feel before your book releases (and why maybe all writers need a therapist). Lacey also shares her intentional and highly-successful querying strategy, as well as what it was like getting into the publishing world having come from a rural, lower-class background. 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 info@longroad.pubLacey N. Dunham:Website: https://www.laceyndunham.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/lndhopThreads: www.threads.com/@lndhopBluesky: bookbent.bsky.socialPreorder The Belles: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Belles/Lacey-N-Dunham/9781668084861Show Notes:We mentioned: Evelyn Skye's post on why preorders matter a lot.My interview with Courtney MaumCredits: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
5. From Rejection to Reflection to Publishing Success
43:09||Season 1, Ep. 5In the query trenches and on submission, thriller author Jessica Payne went from piles of rejections to multiple offers from agents and publishers.How? She reflected on her rejections and learned to pivot.Plus, we discuss her experience with digital publisher Bookouture, and how she got her latest two-book deal with Penguin Random House.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 info@longroad.pub-Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangstonJessica Payne:Website: www.jessicapayne.netSubstack: https://jessicapayneauthor.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicapayne.writer/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jessicapayne.bsky.socialShow Notes:We mentioned: Jane FriedmanCourtney Maum’s book Before and After the Book DealAgent Rachelle Gardner’s explanation of why so many books die on submission: https://www.threads.net/@rachelle_literary_agent/post/DHi4X0Rs1vAhttps://goodstoryco.substack.com/p/the-one-trick-to-getting-publishedGotham Ghost WritersCredits: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