The TufFish Show

Welcome Brooke Adams Law to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fabulous deep conversation with Brooke Adams Law is perfect if you’ve been in your head with getting your book out into the world. When you’re working on something that’s bigger than you, fear will not only show up, it will remind you that it’s there too. So no matter what phase you’re in (writing, editing, publishing, promoting), let the wisdom Brooke shares help you get refocused, grounded and moving to your next level.

Brooke Adams Law is an award-winning author and founder of the Writing Brave movement. Brooke helps creative, intuitive women claim their author identity so that they can start, finish and publish brave, dazzling books.

Brooke’s debut novel Catchlight won the Fairfield Book Prize, was named a Best Indie Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews, and was featured on Good Morning America’s blog.

You can visit Brooke’s website at http://www.wearewritingbrave.com and take her free quiz to discover YOUR writing routine personality type.

Visit - https://www.wearewritingbrave.com/
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/Catchlight-Brooke-Law/dp/1949116182

Welcome Susanne Dunlap to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about historical fiction, there’s so many nuances that go into it in order to create a powerful story. And it’s these details that Susanne Dunlap and I discussed in this episode. Setting, character development, a strong familiarity for the period of time the story, and even dual timelines are areas where Susanne shared so much wisdom. I can’t wait for you to listen!

Susanne Dunlap is the award-winning author of historical fiction for adults and teens, and an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. Her books span periods from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, all feature strong female protagonists and illuminate something about women's history. Many owe their genesis to the research she did for her PhD in music history from Yale University. She lives in Biddeford, Maine with her 15-year-old dog Betty.

Visit - https://susanne-dunlap.com

Book purchase link - The Courtesan's Daughter

Welcome Shawn Peters to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you think about getting feedback on your writing, whether it’s from an editor or a beta reader, do you feel excited or nervous? Do you feel overwhelmed with how to process all of the feedback you’ve received, so that you don’t miss anything? If any of these questions have run through your mind before now, let this conversation with Shawn Peters help you work through them. Shawn’s energy is vibrant, and he shared so much goodness not only about feedback and processing edits, but also structure and character development. And after you’ve listened, we’d love to hear how you incorporated his tips.

Shawn Peters has written a little bit about a lot of things in a lot of places. Ads for huge premium cable networks and all kinds of small businesses. Movie ideas that ended up on the shelf and domestic date-nights that ended up in the newspapers. Columns about fantasy sports and finally, a pair of books about a neurodiverse hero in the making. Shawn lives in Massachusetts with his wife who is a real superhero (aka a public school teacher), as well as their two children, a dog and a cat that might appear during this podcast if she decides to.

Shawn's debut MG adventure novel, The Unforgettable Logan Foster, was published on January 18th, 2022 by Harper Collins, and the paperback was released on November 8th, 2022. It’s currently nominated for The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award and The Bluestem Award. The sequel, The Unforgettable Logan Foster and the Shadow of Doubt, is out now as well.

Visit - http://www.shawnpeterswrites.com
Book purchase links:

THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER (Paperback) https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Logan-Foster-1/dp/0063047683
THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER AND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT (Hardcover) https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Logan-Foster-Shadow-Doubt/dp/0063047721
Signed Copies of THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER SERIES - https://aesopsfable.com/search?q=%22shawn+peters%22

Welcome Sarah Vie to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As writers, we do our best to craft and develop an incredible journey or story for our readers, yet are we mindful of the stories we tell ourselves? This deep conversation with Sarah Vie goes into this exact thing - the stories we tell ourselves and how we can reprogram them. Edit the narrative in a more expansive and positive way, so we are willing to take calculated risks with our writing and our businesses in order to grow.

Sarah Vie Is an award winning author, energy facilitator and manifesting light worker. She helps women shift their limited inner energy so that they can attract massive abundance in their lives.

Visit - http://Sarahvie.com

Book purchase link Sarahvie.com/books

I wish I’d known - Memoir and a guide to release ancestral patterns.

Let your inner golden sparkle shine - Children's book teaching children how to believe in themselves

Welcome Valerie James Abbott to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When my previous guest, Valerie James Abbott, told me about her latest accomplishment, I had to have her back on the show to share with you. As a recap, our first conversation centered around shifting point of view and the illustration process for her children’s book, and this conversation is about how Valerie republished Padapillo from English into Spanish. Valerie’s desire was for this edition to feel as if it was always written in Spanish, so our conversation is a deep dive into her process, so that she achieved her goal. 

Valerie James Abbott is the co-founder of the national pediatric Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Campaign and a nationally recognized parent-leader for early childhood hearing loss detection and intervention. She serves as director of Listen Up! at Padapillo PBLLC, an organization dedicated to improving community awareness about postnatal hearing loss. Her award-winning children's book Padapillo is based on the true story of how her family discovered and came to terms with their child's mysterious permanent hearing loss.

Visit - www.valeriejamesabbott.com

Book purchase link: https://www.valeriejamesabbott.com/bookstore

Welcome Lauren Sapala to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What a fabulous deep conversation with Lauren Sapala about being highly intuitive and how that affects your writing or creative process. One of the biggest things when you are running a business or working on a creative project is getting as comfortable as you can with not knowing all the answers and being uncomfortable. If you are stuck with your writing, are highly sensitive or highly intuitive, then let Lauren’s wisdom offer some ways through it.

Lauren Sapala is the author of The INFJ Writer, Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers, and The INFJ Revolution, as well as The West Coast Trilogy, an autobiographical fiction series. She is also a writing coach for writers of the INFJ and INFP personality type and blogs about writing, creativity and personality theory at laurensapala.com.

Visit - www.laurensapala.com

Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Sapala/author/B01G7RO33E

Welcome Samantha Otto Brown to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

So many of the writers I work with share their concerns about balancing real life with writing. Whether they are running their own business, juggling a couple of different jobs, or spending time with family, it can feel challenging to navigate “all the things” and work on your book. If this is resonating, then let this conversation with Samantha Otto Brown offer encouragement and a reminder that you’re not alone. During our chat, Samantha shared some guidance she received which helped her shift her perspective and give herself permission to go at the pace she needed to write and publish her book.

Samantha Otto Brown is based in St. Louis, Missouri. She works in medical publishing and corporate PR/social media. Sub Wife is her first book-length publication.

Visit - Samanthaottobrown.com
Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Sub-Wife-Samantha-Otto-Brown/dp/1737867605

Welcome Lisa Roe to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What do you do when you get feedback for your book that might have bigger implications when you address them? That’s what this in depth conversation with Lisa Roe covers. During our chat, Lisa shared ways to develop stronger characters and how to handle structural changes to your book. She likened the process to smoothing out a bedsheet to get all the wrinkles out, and the way she moved between her writing process and her metaphor was brilliant. Because in the end, you want to make sure that any changes you do are worked out entirely, so that the reader gets the best experience with your book.

Lisa Roe graduated from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and spent many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City until she accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories. A classic first born, reluctant empty nester, Dr. Doolittle wannabe, and the author of Welcome to the Neighborhood, Lisa lives in New Jersey with her husband and three incorrigible dogs.

Visit - lisaroe.com

Book purchase link: Welcome to the Neighborhood

Welcome Natalya Androsova to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Working on anything that’s a long term project, like a dissertation or a book, requires something more than stamina. It requires trusting the writer within you, and that’s what Natalya and I talked about in this deep and powerful conversation. Natalya shared so much wisdom about trusting the nudge to share your writing, honoring the balance between listening and applying feedback and staying true to what you wrote originally, and connecting with your inner writer when the inner critic shows up.

Natalya Androsova is an award-winning writing and dissertation coach with over two decades of experience teaching writing. Her passion is helping writers become more courageous, authentic, and kind to themselves. Through her coaching, writing groups, and retreats, she has helped hundreds of writers overcome writer’s block, achieve clarity and writing momentum, as well as complete their projects.

Visit - www.writingdissertationcoach.com
Book purchase links:

7 Minutes to Freedom
https://www.amazon.com/Minutes-Freedom-Writing-Meditations-Liberate/dp/1777453720/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Dissertation Without Tears
https://www.amazon.com/Dissertation-Without-Tears-Critic-Nourish/dp/1777453739/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33R5YRO5G8E9G&keywords=dissertation+without+tears&qid=1652198534&s=digital-text&sprefix=dissert%2Cdigital-text%2C444&sr=1-1-catcorr

Welcome Wendy Koenig to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

If you haven’t worked with an outline at all for writing your book, let this conversation with Wendy Koenig give you some tips for how to incorporate one after you’ve written the first draft. Wendy shared so many tips for how to shape and structure your book by using an outline after writing the first, and rough, draft of a manuscript. She not only  demonstrates how this helps with character development, but also can be applied across multiple genres.

Wendy Koenig is a novelist and poet who lives in New Brunswick, Canada. Two of her novels have won international awards, as well as some of her poetry and a short story. She loves animals, especially her two cats: Missy (named after that character in Dr. Who) and Jake (named from the Blues Brothers).

Visit - www.wendylkoenig.com
Book purchase link: https://a.co/d/disL7xu

Welcome back Wayne Applewhite to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fun conversation with my co-author and friend, Wayne Applewhite, is a wonderful way to celebrate the release of our audiobook! We narrated our book, You Know it’s a Verb, Right?, and it was a wonderful experience for us. In this chat, we talked about what it was like to narrate our book, how we planned and prepped, and how the imperfect recordings were handled for a seamless and engaging experience for our listeners.

Wayne Applewhite is a lifelong learner. His leadership practices started in high school as he witnessed firsthand that leadership was something more than what met the naked eye. Using his curious and ever asking observational notions, Wayne knew early on that leadership was more - much more - than being in charge by title only.

Wayne was co-founder of a leadership development firm, Just Leadership, LLC, and holds a Doctor of Management degree.  He has an eclectic experience base that he brings to the community and to the nation at large.  Wayne has over thirty-five years of diverse and challenging leadership experiences, coupled with a solid foundation of continuing education. He has held challenging positions such as Associate Professor (Boston University), Director of Graduate Military Programs (Boston University, Metropolitan College), Associate Dean, Instructor, Lecturer, Adjunct Professor, Outside Director, Thought Leader, Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, Officer in Charge, Commander, and COO. In each of those leadership positions, Wayne continued to build his leadership skillset as he also pursued formal and informal education.

Most recently, he is the co-host of 27 Minutes with Sheila and Wayne!, a podcast focused on providing tips on being a better "you" while at work, play or life with a mission to change the world “One verb at a time!”  Wayne’s latest book, You Know it’s a Verb, Right?, co-authored with Jennifer Milius, is about leadership.

However, if you ask him, his greatest joy and accomplishment, is being a husband and a dad

Visit https://mindsyncing.com/
Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/You-Know-its-Verb-Right-ebook/dp/B08RLQ6WF4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Welcome Elena Paige to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fun conversation with Elena Paige demonstrates the power of transformation a  book can have. Writing a book can be an intuitive process for many authors and feel like digging into more layers, so Elena shares how this happens for her. Whether it's the characters, the reader, or the author, Elena shares how transformation is possible for each in a fictional book. 

Elena Paige is a middle-grade author with a background in counseling psychology. She loves creating stories which inspire and transform young readers - either through empowering them, entertaining them, or encouraging them to be more creative and imaginative.

Her books, while being filled with magic and wonder, have real life characters with real life issues - like fitting in, trusting yourself, dealing with inner conflict and more!

Her greatest value in life is CREATIVITY - nurturing it, enhancing it and using it! She loves encouraging children to believe in themselves and accept their own way of creating, even if it's outside the box. The most amazing creatives of our time rarely fitted in!

Her absolute favorite book as a child was No Flying in the House. She always knew magic was real, but when all attempts to bring her favorite teddy to life failed, she adopted a dog instead. Her Moodle dog, named Lucky, is always by her side when she writes. On Sunday mornings you can find her hiding under her bed covers reading, while her children are wondering where their favorite book has disappeared.

Visit - ElenaPaige.com

Book purchase links for the first book in every series:

Evie Everyday Witch (Secret Magic)

The Magicians' Convention

The Splendid Secrets of 66 Lilly Pilly Lane

Lolli and the Lollipop (Meditation Adventures for Kids)

Taki & Toula Time Travelers (Hercules Finds His Courage)

I Love Being Free (Happy Heart Rhymes)

Welcome Debbie Weiss to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This powerful conversation with Debbie Weiss demonstrates the parallels between writing a book, healing through loss, and embarking on your second act. Debbie shares that as she set out to write her memoir, she learned when it was time to make big changes so that she had a strong story to tell. She also shared ways that she's leveraged the themes within her memoir to promote her book, which are great tips for any genre.

Debbie Weiss is a former attorney who earned her MFA in creative nonfiction from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2020. Weiss’s essays have been published in The New York Times's “Modern Love” column, HuffPost, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Elle Décor, and Reader’s Digest, among other publications. She lives in Benicia, CA with her second life partner, Randal.

Visit - https://debbieweissauthor.com/

Book purchase link: Available As Is

Welcome Stella Wilde to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Two of the most powerful things that writing, and being creative, does is that it allows for self-expression and self-exploration, and this conversation with Stella Wilde shows this in multiple ways. Your writing has the ability to help you get to know yourself, figure out your gifts and how to express them, and get honest with yourself for what you need to make your goals and dreams happen. Sometimes it's about immersing yourself in the process and sometimes it's about taking a step back, so if you're in need of some inspiration, let Stella's wisdom offer you that nudge to get you back into the flow.

Stella Wilde is a cosmic pathfinder, intuitive advisor, and manifestation mentor. She believes that Astrology and Tarot are essential tools for self-discovery and for navigating life's possibilities and complexities. Since she could hold a pencil, writing has been her first love, and she pursued her passion by earning an MA and MFA in Creative Writing.

Visit - https://stellawilde.com

Book purchase link: 2023 Lucky Stars

Welcome Annie Cathryn to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This fun conversation with Annie Cathryn shows that when you have the willingness to expand your circle and explore your curiosities, sweet results happen. By expanding her circle, Annie shares how she navigated incorporating feedback, determining the sub-genre for her book, and the importance of having the right people on your team. By leveraging her journalism background and a desire to include her love of chocolate, Annie shares tips on how to create a believable experience for the reader when you need to learn more about your character's profession.

Annie Cathryn has always dreamed of becoming an author and lives by the motto, “Creating is Living.” The Friendship Breakup is her debut book baby, born out of love. 

When not writing or reading, she’s organizing her personal library collection by color and discovering delectable chocolate.

She earned a journalism degree and a master’s in communications from Marquette University, and lives in Chicagoland with her husband, daughter, and two fur babies.

Visit - https://anniecathryn.com/

Book purchase link: The Friendship Breakup 

Welcome Kacey Rayburn to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Have you ever questioned why something happened or why you had certain experiences, only to realize in hindsight how all the dots were connected and leading you to where you are now? This powerful conversation with Kacey Rayburn demonstrates this and shows how beauty can come from unexpected places and inspire our writing, if we so choose to see it. 

Kacey Rayburn grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Born into a family of granny witches and gravediggers, she enjoys long walks in the cemetery. She has a sweet fang for chai tea, mermaids, and folk horror.

Visit: https://www.kaceyrayburn.com

Book: Sing Our Bones Eternal

Welcome Barbara Davis to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with Barbara Davis is perfect if you're doubting whether or not you have what it takes to get your book into the world. She shares the importance of finding and having supportive relationships, setting healthy boundaries to thrive as an author, and trusting in yourself, including to takes steps of faith but also to be messy and willing to fall down. 

After years in the jewelry business, Barbara finally surrendered to the muse, leaving the corporate world in order to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She was born in New Jersey, has lived in Charleston, Raleigh, and Dover, New Hampshire, and has recently moved back to Florida to be close to her first love--Mickey Mouse.

When she's not writing, Barbara is a voracious reader, foodie, and lover of music, a rabid football fan, and a devoted Florida Gator. She also enjoys traveling with the hubby Tom, who over the years has learned much more about publishing and the craft of writing than he ever wanted to know.

Visit - https://barbaradavis-author.com

Book purchase link: The Keeper of Happy Endings

Link to all of Barbara's books

Welcome Dallas Woodburn to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Finding your voice as a writer is a process that develops and evolves as you move along this path of being an author, and this incredible conversation with Dallas Woodburn demonstrates how it's something that grows with each paragraph, chapter and book. As a multi-genre author, Dallas shares so much wisdom about finding and staying true to your voice, even when you're writing and promoting books that are in multiple genres. 

Dallas Woodburn is an award-winning writer of fiction, nonfiction, and plays; an in-demand book coach; and host of the Thriving Authors Podcast. She has helped dozens of women around the world write and publish the books inside their hearts to grow their businesses, grow their impact, and grow their legacies. Dallas’s debut YA novel, The Best Week That Never Happened, was a #1 New Release on Amazon, a Featured Bestseller on Apple Books, and the Grand Prize Winner of the Dante Rossetti Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. She is also the author of the YA novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life and the short story collections Woman, Running Late, in a Dress and How to Make Paper When the World is Ending. Her novel Before & After You & Me and nonfiction book 1,001 Ways to be Kind are both forthcoming in 2023. Dallas lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area in a comfortably messy house with overflowing bookshelves.

Visit - www.DallasWoodburn.com

Book purchase links:

How to Make Paper When the World is Ending

Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life

The Best Week That Never Happened

Welcome Cynthia James to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This powerful conversation with Cynthia James is a perfect reminder that your work, your message, your voice, your book is needed and to keep showing up so that it does. Cynthia is shares ways to overcome imposter syndrome so that you don't deprive people of your wisdom. And even if you feel resistance coming up with "your wisdom" I invite you to pause, stay open, and listen to the wisdom from Cynthia to help you dig deeper and create a book you are excited to get into the world.

Cynthia James is a transformational coach and inspirational leader, guiding people to make changes at a deep level for lasting healing. Cynthia excels as a speaker, coach, singer, and multiple award-winning author of What Will Set You Free and Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence and #1 Amazon Bestseller for I Choose Me: The Art of Being a Phenomenally Successful Woman at Home and at Work. Her newest book, Does My Voice Matter, released on September 27, 2022.

Cynthia James embodies the quote “I am not what I have done. I am what I have become;” and, she leads others to do the same. Her own life was transformed as she transcended a violent and abusive childhood. Through education and personal healing, she created the foundation for all her programs. Her work in self-care strategies and emotional integration support leaders, women and organizations internationally.

Visit - www.cynthiajames.net

Book purchase link: Does My Voice Matter

Welcome Gloria Coppola to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When your writing seems to be blocked or that inner critic says who you are to write this book, let this powerful conversation with Gloria Coppola help you to reconnect, find the joy, and even go deeper with your writing. Perfectionism can be a joy and dream killer, and when it comes up, it can cause you to question yourself and doubt your inner wisdom. So when you need a cheerleader in your corner or a reminder of what's possible for you, let Gloria's joy and wisdom comfort and encourage you to keep going and get your voice into the world.

Gloria Coppola, visionary, best selling and award-winning author and educator, international professional life coach, specializes in helping others find their true purpose.

She enjoys engaging others to live their soul-driven life and empowering them personally and professionally. Offering soul purpose consultations, which are life changing and publishing services that help writers reach their audience through conscious connections.

When Gloria isn't writing or coaching you will find her traveling and offering annual writing retreats to unlock your imagination.

Visit - www.ppp-publishing.com and www.gloriacoppola.com

Book purchase link: Too Many Goodbyes

Welcome Sandra Young to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Creating the emotional tug within fiction is so important because as a writer, you want to immerse the reader into the story, and that's the theme of this conversation with Sandra Young. We touched on ways to include show vs tell, tips to develop setting, tips for character development as well as how to weave in other hobbies and passions into your writing. 

Sandra L. Young’s passion for vintage fashion inspired her to write her debut novel, Divine Vintage, published this February with The Wild Rose Press. She’s researched and gathered a large, impressive vintage collection spanning the late 1800s to 1990s, wearing pieces onstage through years of performing in singing groups and community theater. Her website at SandraYoungAuthor.com features a few of her fun garments that are included in the book.

Visit - SandraYoungAuthor.com 

Book purchase link: Divine Vintage

Welcome Jen Craven to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Something that copywriting and book writing have in common is storytelling, and Jen Craven beautifully demonstrates how this can come together through emotional connection. This conversation is packed full of tips for character development, especially when handling multiple points of view, and structuring your story. 

Jen Craven is the author of upmarket women's fiction, where one decision changes everything. The author of two historical fiction novels, Best Years of your Life is her debut contemporary work. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family.

Visit - www.jencraven.com

Book purchase link - Best Years of your Life 

Welcome Uma Girish to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with Uma Girish dives deep into letting your 3 am WHY be your portal to purpose. When you allow your writing, your creativity to shift into this perspective, you'll be able to deal with perfectionism and tend to overwhelming emotions that may come up as you set out to get your book into the world. 

Uma Girish is a Spiritual Mentor, Human Design Guide, and Award-Winning Author. She mentors her clients to find and live a life of purpose through the lens of Human Design by addressing their emotional wounds caused by loss, generational trauma, or other forms of grief that have not been honored.

Visit - https://umagirish.com

Book purchase links:

Understanding Death: 10 Ways to Inner Peace for the Grieving

Losing Amma, Finding Home: A Memoir About Love, Loss and Life's Detours

Lessons From Grace: What A Bay Taught Me About Living and Loving

Visit - lindsaymward.com

Book purchase links for all of Lindsay's books

Welcome J.H. Dahler to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Getting that first draft out of your head and down on paper or screen can be especially challenging, so use this conversation with Jodie to help you get through the messy middle. Jodie shared how she worked with alpha and beta readers, came through how she structured her book and the world within it, and the lessons she is applying to help her write book two of the series in less time that the first book. As any author knows, as you move closer to getting the book published, another journey begins - marketing - and Jodie shared some tips for using Tiktok.  

J. H. Dahler is the author of The Forest Girl, her debut fantasy novel. After eighteen years as a librarian, she waved goodbye to spend more time with family and focus on writing her epic fantasy series. Hiking and traveling are at the top of her to-do list, especially to ancient ruins and stunning landscapes, but she’s also dedicated to the cozy life: curling up with a good book and snuggling her two dogs. Jodie lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland, with her son and husband.

Visit - www.jhdahler.com

Book purchase link - The Forest Girl 

Welcome back Alexa Bigwarfe to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This extra special episode is packed full of so much wisdom from the incredible Alexa Bigwarfe. Alexa's first fiction novel, 4 Days in Paris, releases December 6, under her pen name Lexi Haddock, and I couldn't wait to have her back on the show! In our previous chat, we talked about finding your target readers and the publishing space, this time we talked about her transition to becoming a published fiction author. If you are considering a pen name or working through your first fiction novel, then let episode be a resource to help you grow as a writer, both in the craft and in the business.

Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author and the founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit and owns two hybrid publishing houses, Kat Biggie Press and Purple Butterfly Press. Alexa is publishing her first fiction novel, 4 Days in Paris, under her pen name, Lexi Haddock.

Visit - https://lexihaddock.com/

Book purchase link - 4 Days in Paris

Welcome Joyana Peters to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation is jammed packed with so much goodness about self-publishing your book! Joyana leveraged "field trips" for research as well as her writing critique group to write her first book. She shared so many nuggets on how she incorporated the feedback and book research such that each round of writing and edits got stronger.  Choosing to self-publish her books, Joyana shared various tips on how she did this so that she produced and marketed high-quality books.

Joyana Peters is the Indie author of the award winning novel, The Girl in the Triangle. The Girl in the Triangle won a number of awards in 2021- including the IBPA's Ben Franklin Award for best historical fiction and the Book Excellence Award for best multicultural fiction. Joyana is also building up a self-publishing coaching business to empower other authors with the joy and autonomy of the process.

Visit - https://joyanapeters.com/

Book purchase links:

https://books2read.com/TheGirlintheTriangle

https://books2read.com/SaintPetersburg

Welcome Misty Black to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Misty had a goal for her business to write and publish 20 books while keeping each book intentional and created out of love. In doing so, she developed several different series, each with their own look and feel, that enabled her to have multi-book launches within a year. She also made sure her fictional stories had non-fiction discussion topics, so that her young readers could have their own experiences after each book.

Misty Black is a children's book author, a mother of three, a decent cook, and a terrible singer who enjoys annoying her teenagers by singing at the top of her lungs. She is a 12-times bestselling, award-winning, author of 22 children's books and is working on 117 more, but who's counting? Misty is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and board game enthusiast. Her business experience and mad Monopoly skills have helped her sell over 90,000 copies in 3 years, and she enjoys teaching others about the craft.

And as a special thank you to our listeners, Misty has created a special coupon code for you to get $20 off for the Get It Written Workshop! To take advantage of this generous offer, visit https://www.mistyblackauthor.com/get-it-written-about, then use 20DISCOUNT and you'll get the workshop for $37.

Visit - mistyblackauthor.com

Book purchase links:

Bubble Head, It's Time for Bed!

Grandmas Are for Love

Clutz the Cat Can Do Hard things

Get It Published Program - https://www.mistyblackauthor.com/get-it-published-about

Welcome Alyssa Dver to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As you pursue your goal of being an author and running an author business, there will be times when you face one of the three Fs - fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of regret. Yet what's important is what you do next when you recognize it's happening, and this conversation with Alyssa is full of so much wisdom to not only understand what's happening, but how to move through it successfully. 

Confidence Crusader, Neuro Nerd and Success Equalizer, Alyssa leads the American Confidence Institute, that has empowered over 350,000 people at organizations including the US Air Force, US Tennis Association, Spotify, Wayfair, Panera, Amazon, Dell, Staples, UPenn’s Innovation Center and dozens more.

Supporting her mission to bring more confidence to the world, Alyssa is the Confidence Educator for IT Cosmetics, a global L’Oréal brand. She’s a 2-time TEDx speaker, hosts the podcast Real Confidence and contributes to Thrive Global and many other online media. Her 7th book, Confidence is a Choice: Real Science. Superhero Impact., was recognized by the International Book Awards and endorsed by experts at Harvard Medical School, Wharton’s Neuroscience Center, MIT’s Trust Center, Yale’s Office of Diversity, UC Berkeley Executive Education, and other top academic and business leaders.

With a commitment to make workplace diversity, equity and inclusion a reality, Alyssa founded and chairs the ERG Leadership Alliance, the largest association training employee group leaders, executive sponsors and allies.

In 2021, Alyssa received a Stevie award for Achievement in Thought Leadership.

What fuels her confidence? Her unusually patient husband, 2 very tall sons, and their quirky, but really cute, rescue pooch.

Visit - www.AmericanConfidenceInstitute.com

Book purchase links: Alyssa Dver's books 

Welcome Sivan Hong to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

During this inspiring conversation, Sivan shares how she created a children's book series that focuses on inspirational social stories to help young children learn how to work through and overcome challenges. Sivan shared her process from concept through illustration and the loving and purposeful choices she made to ensure she made her books accessible to all types of learners.

Sivan authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Her inspiring books focus on neurodiverse children, who overcome their challenges with perseverance and bravery. Sivan also serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Rita Allen Foundation, Multicultural Children’s Book Day and the ASPCA.

When she’s not working, Sivan enjoys being a wife to her lovely husband and a mother to their two wonderful children. They have a dog and cat and live in Connecticut.

Visit - sivanhong.com

Book purchase links:

Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween 

George J. and the Miserable Monday 

Emily D. and the Fearful First Day 

Avery G. and the Scary End of School 

Welcome Tara Alemany to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What do you want to accomplish with your book? As an author? These are questions that Tara Alemany shared insights to during this powerful conversation. Tara offered three foundational keys to consider when writing your book as well as two exercises to help you become more intentional with your author business and reach (or get closer to) those big goals you have.

Tara Alemany is a multi-award-winning author, speaker, business consultant and publisher, as well as a recovering serial entrepreneur and host of the Publish with Purpose virtual summit.

Her boutique publishing company, Emerald Lake Books, which she co-owns with her best friend, Mark Gerber, specializes in working with positive people to create high-quality books designed to achieve the author’s goals.

In her spare time, Tara serves as a facilitator for the Independent Book Publishers Association’s member roundtables. She is also a winemaker, a military Mom to 2 young adults (one of each), and is owned by a black cat.

Visit - emeraldlakebooks.com | tararalemany.com | emeraldlakebooks.com/summit2022

Book purchase links:

The Best is Yet to Come

Publish with Purpose

Welcome A.M. McPherson to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with A.M. McPherson is full of goodness from structuring a book and a series to weaving in themes important to you and being willing to make changes that help you to own the story you want to create. One of the big themes in our conversation is about giving yourself permission to let you and have fun, and as an example, A.M. shares why she change her first book's cover, even though she loved the original design. 

A.M. McPherson is a self-published author who needs more naps in her life. She graduated from Kent State University with her Associates of Arts degree where she studied many things, including writing.

She enjoys a good cup of tea while she writes (though some dark chocolate doesn’t hurt either). Superheroes, Scooby-Doo, and Gilmore Girls are a few of her favorite things. She also loves to hike with her family, watch way too many YouTube videos, and be creative whenever possible.

Visit www.ammcpherson.com

Book purchase link: The Guardian's Daughter

Welcome Danica Davidson to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you want to be known as an author, but not for any one specific genre, it can be difficult to break out of the first genre that was published, yet this conversation with Danica demonstrates it is possible by letting her creativity, curiosity and desire to reach young readers be the drivers. She also shared valuable tips for tackling difficult topics while making it age appropriate.

Danica Davidson is the author of 18 books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her books range from serious nonfiction (I Will Protect You) to action/adventure science fiction (her two Minecrafter series) to manga how to draw books (including the world's first book on manga chalk art) and comics. In 2018, she was the main speaker at an education event in Brussels for members of the European Union, where she talked about how her books can empower kids.

Visit - www.danicadavidson.com

Book purchase link: I Will Protect You

Welcome Michael Webb to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

If you're wondering how to effectively organize your fantasy world so that there's consistency in a trilogy or how to position your book effectively, then let this conversation with Michael Webb be a resource. Michael started his writing journey with a chapter that he wanted to try for himself, which lead to a trilogy and over 40,000 copies sold. He shared so many valuable nuggets that can reach not only into fantasy but other genres too. 

Michael Webb is a young-adult fantasy author who lives in Dallas, GA in the United States. He only recently took up writing and fell in love with it. The Shadow Knights Trilogy is his debut series, and it has already sold over 40,000 copies. He's looking forward to writing more soon.

Visit - www.michaelwebbnovels.com

Book purchase link - The Shadow Knights Trilogy

Welcome Jennie Nash to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

The business side of being an author can feel like a daunting undertaking, but when you're serious about being a published author, the details of remembering the publishing world is a business matter. Jennie's experience as a writer and time at Random House helped her to not just learn the business, but also coach and develop book coaches. This episode is full of goodness as you look at being in the author business, including how to know if you need a book coach and when.

Jennie Nash is the author of 11 books in 3 genres, including Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book: Plan and Pitch Your Idea and Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out. She is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that certifies book coaches so they can support writers as they do their best work. Visit her at authoraccelerator.com

Visit Jennie at authoraccelerator.com if you’re interested in hiring a coach; at bookcoaches.com if you’re interested in becoming a coach; and at jennienash.com for all other inquiries.

Book purchase links:

Fiction Blueprint: Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out

Nonfiction Blueprint: Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book: Plan and Pitch Your Idea

Book coaching book: Read Books All Day & Get Paid For It

Welcome Cassie Sanchez to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What started out as a mission to find her purpose and a challenge from her son to write a book, Cassie Sanchez proves that when you trust your nudges and bring your real self to your work, joy and growth follow. Cassie shares how working backwards enabled her to develop the fantasy world, even though it felt counterintuitive at the time. She also shares some wonderful tips on building your author presence, especially before the book is published.

Growing up, Cassie Sanchez always wanted superpowers and to be a warrior princess fighting alongside unlikely heroes. Suffice it to say, she lost herself in books, from fantasy to sci-fi to a suspenseful romance. Currently, Cassie lives in the southwest with her husband, Louie, while pestering her two adult men-children. She can usually be found drinking too much coffee while working in her office with her dogs, Gunner and Bullet, warming her feet. When she isn’t writing about magic and sword fights, she enjoys golf, spending time with friends, or partaking in a satisfying nap.

Visit - https://www.cassiesanchez.com

Book purchase link: https://amzn.to/2Y9kIWr

Welcome Anastasia Zadeik to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Feedback can be a scary thing as you shift from writing for yourself to writing for an audience, so if the idea of putting yourself out there is uncomfortable no matter if it's your first time or hundredth, let Anastasia's guidance and wisdom help you reframe and shift your perspective. Anastasia shared different techniques, including the four words she uses that helped herself to stay open to feedback, even when the self-protective side or imposter syndrome wanted to intervene. 

Anastasia Zadeik is an author, editor, and storyteller. Dedicated to helping writers bring their stories to the page, stage, and screen, she serves as Director of Operations for the San Diego Writers Festival and sits on the board of the literary non-profit So Say We All. She regularly performs in narrative non-fiction showcases, and her work has appeared in The San Diego Decameron Project, writeordietribe.com, and Shaking the Tree: Brazen. Short. Memoir. She lives in San Diego with her husband and their empty-nest rescue dog, Charlie. Her first novel, Blurred Fates, released on August 2, 2022.

Visit - www.anastasiazadeik.com

Book purchase link: Blurred Fates

Welcome Emma G. Rose to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This incredible conversation with Emma demonstrates the healing power of writing for the author and readers. Emma creatively combines young adult fantasy and world building techniques with her desire to write about difficult topics and weave in responsible mental health messages. By leveraging the space fiction creates, she is able to use characters and plot devices to help readers have conversations beyond the books. 

Emma G. Rose is a Maine author, podcast host, and publisher. She intended to become an intrepid girl reporter like Nellie Bly. Then she spent a Christmas Eve standing on a riverbank waiting for rescue divers to pull a body from the water. That's when she stopped waiting and wandered off to explore the world instead. Somewhere out there she discovered indie publishing, which allowed her to publish a book a year since 2019. Now, she hosts the Indie Book Talk podcast, where she and co-host Shelley Shearer explore the expanding universe of indie books.

Visit www.emmagauthor.com

Book purchase links:

Nothing's Ever Lost

Near-Life Experience

Assembling Ella

Welcome Sandee Sgarlata to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with Sandee Sgarlata was powerful! I mean - I had goosebumps! Sandee demonstrated the importance and power being sharing your story. By opening up with others, she not only helped them, but herself too. And as you know, when you feel writer's block creeping in (or pulling up a seat and taking over), finding a way through that can be challenging. However, Sandee shared so much wisdom about how to move through as well as four key things to tell yourself, so you can keep moving forward.

Sandee Sgarlata is a two-time award winning author, certified life coach since 2004, public speaker, retired U.S. national and international figure skating coach, gold medalist in ice dancing, and has spent the past 20 years helping people create lasting changes in their lives. Due to several tragedies that deeply affected her, along with hitting rock bottom with drug abuse in 1990, she has spent the last 30 years in her own quest to find and maintain a sense of peace and happiness, especially during times of stress and chaos.

Sandee’s recent best-selling book, Happiness Solved: Climbing One Hundred Steps, is a self-improvement book, part memoir, and workbook. She is also the host of the Happiness Solved Podcast which is ranked #10 out of the top 80 happiness podcasts.

Sandee’s coaching practice offers group coaching programs, online courses, and one-on-one coaching for elite athletes and corporate leadership.

Visit - https://www.sandeesgarlata.com or https://www.happinesssolved.com

Book purchase link: Happiness Solved: Climbing One Hundred Steps

Welcome Tracey Enerson Wood to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

During our conversation, Tracey shared how she steps through her process to uncover the story she wants to tell. Tracey shared so many nuggets on the power of world building and how it not only immerses the reader into the story through setting, but also strengthens character development. 

Tracey Enerson Wood has always had a writing bug. While working as a Registered Nurse, starting her own Interior Design company, raising two children, and bouncing around the world as a military wife, she indulged in her passion as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She now focuses on historical fiction, telling the stories of amazing women whose stories have been lost to time, and honoring military heroes, with books that tell their stories and inspire others.

Visit - https://traceyenersonwood/

Book purchase links:

The War Nurse

The Engineer’s Wife

Life Hacks for Military Spouses

Homefront Cooking: Recipes, Wit, and Wisdom from American Veterans and Their Loved Ones

Welcome Anne Marie Bennett to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Combining her love of writing, using her imagination and educational background, Anne Marie believes in the power of teaching and finding your purpose. When she felt the nudge to write and publish fiction, she followed it and built a beautiful community too. Anne Marie shared so much wisdom to incorporate into your writing and marketing efforts as an author.

Anne Marie Bennett is the author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. Her previous novel, Dragonflies at Night, is the winner of the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence and the Reader's Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention. She lives in eastern Massachusetts with her big-hearted, silver-haired, number-oriented husband, one beloved adolescent feline, and a treasury of birds, squirrels and chipmunks who keep them all entertained. Frequent stays in coastal Maine continue to inspire her writing.

Visit - https://annemariebennett.com

Book purchase links for Anne Marie Bennett

Welcome Meg Nocero to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

One of the big themes I've heard as a podcast host and developmental editor is dealing with blocks. Whether it's a closed door or overcoming imposter syndrome to find and use your voice, so you can trust yourself to align to your purpose and write the story you want - or need - to tell. And this powerful conversation with Meg tackles this very theme. Meg shares how she leveraged her legal background as the transitions her career and life have taken to help her write, not one, not two, but three books, and one of which is her memoir. If you are feeling blocked along your writing/author journey, then be sure to listen to what Meg offers in this episode.

Meg Nocero, is an attorney, TEDx inspirational speaker, a certified happiness coach, and award-winning author of three books: The Magical Guide to Bliss, Sparkle & Shine, and Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. Meg appeared on stage in Miami with Oprah, on CNN Español, and BookCon live. She hosts a Youtube/podcast show called Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People and an IG Live called Amazing Authors.

Since she resigned from her career as a federal immigration prosecutor, she founded Butterflies & Bliss LLC and S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc., a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to young innovative leaders in her community. S.H.I.N.E. was just recognized as a winner in the Education, Arts & Culture, Networking, and Community Organization category of the Inaugural Anthem Awards—a national awards program that celebrates purpose and mission-driven work.

Visit - www.megnocero.com

Book purchase links:

Butterfly Awakens 

The Magical Guide to Bliss

Sparkle & Shine

Welcome Lisa Stringfellow to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation with Lisa is packed with wisdom on receiving feedback and working through revisions as you bring your book idea to ready to go manuscript. Lisa also shared key tips for researching and pitching agents, so be sure to get your pen and paper ready as you listen.

Lisa Stringfellow writes middle grade fiction and has a not-so-secret fondness for fantasy with a dark twist. Her debut fantasy A Comb of Wishes is published by HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books and was released on February 8, 2022. It was selected as an ABA Indie Introduce title for Winter/Spring 2022 and an Indie Next Kids' title for March/April 2022. Lisa received the inaugural Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Manuscript Award in 2019 for the novel manuscript. Her work often reflects her West Indian and Black southern heritage. Lisa is a middle school teacher and lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her children and two bossy cats.

Visit https://lisastringfellow.com

Book purchase link: A Comb of Wishes

Welcome Merle Saferstein to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This conversation is a powerful reminder to any writer that your work matters. Merle and I talked about leaving a legacy, sifting through material to determine what belongs in your book and what doesn't and why, and how sharing your shadow side can help your readers feel seen and less alone.

Merle R. Saferstein is an educator, speaker, and author. She has been journaling for 48 years and has amassed a collection of 380 journals, the majority of which are the basis for her legacy journal Living and Leaving My Legacy, vol 1. After twenty-six years as a Holocaust educator where she worked with hundreds of Holocaust survivors helping them to leave their legacy, she retired and created Living and Leaving Your Legacy®. Through classes, workshops, and lectures, she has guided thousands of people in sacred legacy work, writing for wellness, and journaling. Her short story collection, Room 732, pays homage to the historic Hollywood Beach Hotel. Merle lives in Miami, Florida with her husband of fifty-five years and has two children and two grandchildren.

Visit - www.merlersaferstein.com

Book purchase link: Living and Leaving My Legacy, Vol 1

Welcome Eileen Cook to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Eileen and I had a powerful and in depth conversation all about the craft of writing. Leveraging her psychology background, we talked about why people, thus characters, do what they do and how you can get to really know your characters, so that your writing draws in your reader. Setting and plot are key, so we covered these tenets and how they blend together.

Eileen Cook is a multi-published, award winning author with her novels appearing in nine languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. She’s an instructor/mentor with The Creative Academy and Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program where she loves helping other writers find their unique story to tell.

Visit - https://eileencook.com

Book purchase links for all of Eileen's fiction and non-fiction titles

Welcome Sita Romero to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Sita and I had a wonderful conversation about how to finish writing your book. Getting started can be easy and so much fun when you're inspired and the ideas seem to flow, and when you're approaching the finish line, you see the light at the end of the tunnel and that helps carry you through. It's working through the murky middle that is the challenge, and Sita shared so much wisdom on how to work through the middle, finish your first draft, and how to refine and improve that draft into a manuscript.

Sita Romero received her MFA in creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte. Her work has been published in print and online literary journals. Before writing full-time, Sita worked in women’s health for 15 years. She grew up in Florida and now lives in Virginia. Her debut upmarket contemporary fiction novel, Words We Cannot Say, released April 19, 2022.

Visit - https://sitaromero.com/

Book purchase link: Words We Cannot Say

Welcome Laurie James to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Laurie will tell you that her book "found her" and in doing so, she trusted and followed her inner knowing, and found the "universal story" so her readers could see themselves. Laurie and I talked about ways to allow for self-care as well as the writing journey she went on to bring this book to life, including when to hold on and when to let go. Although not all books have a subtitle, Laurie's does and she shared how this came to be too. 

Laurie James is a mother, caregiver, divorcée, turned author and transformative coach. Laurie’s book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go is about her eight year journey when she is sent down an unwanted path after her mother has a heart attack and her husband’s lawyer delivers some shocking news. Sandwiched between caring for her parents, managing caregivers, raising four daughters, and trying to understand her husband’s choices, she is faced with reevaluating everything she thought she knew as she tries to keep her family together. Laurie is a free spirit, lover of nature, skiing and sailing. You can often find her walking by the beach or playing in mountains with her adopted husky, Lu. For more information on Laurie and her book, please visit www.laurieejames.com.

Visit - www.laurieejames.com

Book purchase link: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go 

Welcome Pat Black-Gould to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This is a deep and powerful conversation! Pat shares how she leveraged her theatre and psychology backgrounds as well as working with writing critique groups to ensure the setting, character development and dialogue all came together in this poignant and powerful story so that she could connect with both children and adults. 

Pat Black-Gould is a clinical psychologist and an author. Her short stories have appeared in literary journals and anthologies. Her children's book, The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey, is scheduled for publication on June 14th, 2022. She and co-author, Steve Hardiman, are currently writing a coming-of-age story based in the Vietnam era.

Visit - https://patblackgould.com/

Book purchase link: The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey

Welcome Sandi Schwartz to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This is the perfect conversation to listen to if you're writing non-fiction for both children and adults. Sandi's excitement for what happens after you get your manuscript written is contagious! We talked about writing for both target audiences, and to top it off, Sandi shared some wonderful publishing and marketing tips.

Sandi Schwartz is the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project; author of the parenting book Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer; co-author of the children’s book Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness; and journalist specializing in parenting, environmental, and wellness topics. Her mission is to inspire and educate families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Yahoo!, Good Housekeeping, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Scary Mommy, and more. She has two school-aged children with whom she enjoys sharing ecohappiness adventures.

Visit https://ecohappinessproject.com

Book purchase link: Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer

Welcome Christina Dankert to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Christina shared so many tips for bringing her children's picture book to life including how she made sure her book would relate to both adults, the customer, and children, the client. One of the steps for a published book is editing, and Christina shared why she chose to work with editor before she started pitching for publication. 

Christina Dankert is a second-grade teacher and children's book author. She believes it is through children's literature and by reading to the children in our lives that we can change the world.

Visit https://christinadankert.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-kindness-machine/9781955119092

Welcome Leslie Rasmussen to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Leveraging her sit-com screenwriting talents for witty dialogue, Leslie shares some fabulous nuggets on how to use dialogue to create relatable characters. From considering POV to using index cards, Leslie shared so much wisdom that you can incorporate into your writing.

Leslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and has spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife. Leslie is a member of The Writers Guild of America, as well as Women In Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.

Visit https://www.lesliearasmussen.com

Book purchase link: After Happily Ever After

Welcome Libby Fischer Hellman to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Libby and I had a fascinating conversation about writing in multiple genres and building suspense in each. Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, you can leverage suspense to create a satisfying experience for your reader, and this episode will help get those juices flowing.

Libby Fischer Hellmann left a career in broadcast news in Washington, DC and moved to Chicago a long time ago, where she, naturally, began to write gritty crime fiction. She soon began writing historical fiction as well. Sixteen novels and twenty-five short stories later, she claims they’ll take her out of the Windy City feet first. She has been nominated for many awards in the mystery and crime writing community and has even won a few. She has been a finalist twice for the Anthony and four times for Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year. She has also been nominated for the Agatha, the Shamus, the Daphne, and she won the The Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year in 2021. In the past she has won the IPPY, Foreword Magazine’s Indie Awards, and the Readers Choice Award multiple times.

Libby also hosts Second Sunday Books, a monthly podcast where she interviews bestselling and emerging authors. 

Visit http://libbyhellmann.com

Book purchase links: https://www.amazon.com/Libby-Fischer-Hellmann/e/B001HMMDZU

Welcome Maggie Smith to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Resilience and reinvention are key themes that Maggie shared during our conversation. She explained the importance of having a strong concept for your book, especially as you develop your characters, go through the editing process, and choose the best publishing path for you and your book.

In a career that’s included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith now adds novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies. In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar, where she interviews debut authors about their novel and their path to publication and blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. A board member of the Chicago Writer’s Association, she’s Managing Editor of their Write City Magazine, and coordinator of Book Nook, which highlights Chicago-area independent bookstores.

Visit https://maggiesmithwriter.com

Book purchase link: Truth and Other Lies

Welcome Karen A. Chase to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Karen's path leveraged her photography, marketing and writing background such that she published her own books in different genres as well as helped other authors build and establish their businesses. She shared so many nuggets to help authors embrace their role as a business owner and leader. What a fabulous conversation about being in the author business!

Karen A. Chase is an independent author and a Daughter of the American Revolution with the Commonwealth Chapter in Virginia. Her first novel, Carrying Independence, book one of the 3-part Founding-Documents Series, is historical fiction about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was a nominee for the 2020 Library of Virginia Literary Awards, and was awarded #12 of the 100 Best Indie Books of 2019. Her first book, Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log, garnered seven independent publishing awards, and in 2021 she released a new short food-themed story (with recipes), Mary Angela’s Kitchen. Originally from Canada, Karen is now chasing histories from Richmond, VA.

Visit http://KarenAChase.com

Book purchase link:

All Book Buying Links: http://karenachase.com/books or signed copies: https://karenachase.square.site/

Welcome Lorraine Hawley to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Lorraine Hawley writes stories about tweens, teens, and fantastical worlds. While she has attempted to write non-magical stories, her characters refuse to stay reality grounded, leaping off the pages to fly. So she gave up trying to be what she is not. Lorraine is a fantasy writer who hopes to share magic with the world.

Lorraine and I talked about how to find your writing community, including a writing critique partner. We also talked in depth about character development and point of view, especially for characters with sensory sensitivities.

Visit https://lorrainehawley.com/

Book purchase link - Curious World of Dandy-Lion

Welcome Sonja F. Blanco to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Sonja and I had a fun conversation that touched on several facets of writing, including structuring your book, point of view, character development, especially villains or antagonists. We talked about how to clear "monkey brain" so that the story can come through you and turn the image in your mind into words on the page.

Sonja F. Blanco grew up in New England where she ran barefoot through the woods, chased lightning bugs, and tapped maple trees for syrup.

Having an ancestor who was hung as a witch, Sonja is naturally drawn to all things magical and fantastical—trees and cemeteries in particular.

Witty comics easily amuse her, as do heavily jowled Hell Hounds that talk in their sleep.

She writes fantasy as if it were real, because believing makes it so.

Visit https://sonjafblanco.com

Book purchase link: Witch of Ware Woods

Witch of Ware Woods - Flood & Fire: This prequel novella is exclusive to Sonja's tribe; sign up for the download and newsletter at: https://sonjafblanco.com/f2

Welcome Emily Myers to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When your book really feels like a combination of two different genres, what do you do? Emily's answer is to blend them by letting the story become what it's meant to be. This conversation is packed with how she navigated romance and thriller with her first two books, including character development and setting. We also switched gears a bit and Emily shared some great insights for authors building their brands in social media.

Emily is the author of two romantic thrillers, The Truth About Unspeakable Things and Bound by the Unspeakable, the second of which will launch this summer. Emily is a story teller at heart and is excited to branch into other niches of the romance and mystery and thriller genres after the launch of her second book. In addition to writing, Emily loves dreaming up fun marketing campaigns for her books and encouraging other aspiring authors to follow their dream and publish their first book.

Visit www.emilyamyers.com

Book purchase links:  The Truth About Unspeakable Things and Bound by the Unspeakable 

Welcome Natasha Carlow to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This is a powerful conversation you won't want to miss! Natasha opens up and shares how leaning into your why and your vulnerability create powerful stories for children and adults alike. Her mission to share a message of kindness is a theme that shines in her books. Natasha shares in detail how she went about the research for her most recent picture book in order to reach and touch the hearts of a community so dear to her heart.

Natasha Carlow is an Itinerant Counsellor and author residing in the sunny twin Island state of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the mother of two rainbow babies and writes about grief and loss and parenting after loss. She is a contributing writer at Pregnancy After Loss Support and has been featured in Her View From Home Magazine. She is the author of Happy Tears and Rainbow Babies and Mike Nero and The Superhero School.

Visit www.Natashacarlow.com

Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Natasha-Melissa-Carlow/e/B07R2FG8HP%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Welcome Deborah Shepherd to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Deborah and I talked about her journey to bring her first book to life. After writing the first draft, she put it away for 30 years before revisiting and reworking it until she resubmitted it for publication. Deb demonstrates how finding the right communities to nurture your craft and drawing from your own experiences enables your storytelling to touch hearts and readers. 

Deborah K. Shepherd came to writing later in life, after retiring from her position as director of a domestic violence resource center. She holds a BFA in drama from the University of Arizona, and an MSW from the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. She is the mother of two adult children, the grandmother of two, and lives with one husband and two rescue dogs on the coast of Maine, where she spends her non-writing time in the garden or with a stack of books.

Visit https://deborahshepherdwrites.com

Book purchase link: So Happy Together 

Welcome Densie Webb to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Densie's approach to "go against the grain" and served her well and such, she shared tips and ideas to help writers come through their path to write their book as "there is no right way." We talked through the editing process, including when you might want to switch points of view (POV) to strengthen your story.

Densie Webb (not Denise) has spent a long career as a freelance nonfiction writer and editor, specializing in health and nutrition, and has published several books on the topic. She grew up in Louisiana, spent 13 years in New York City, and settled in Austin, TX. She is an avid walker (not of the dead variety, though she adores zombies, vampires and apocalyptic stories), drinks too much coffee, and has a small “devil dog” that keeps her on her toes.

Visit http://www.densiewebb.com

Book purchase link: When Robins Appear

Welcome Julie Valerie to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Julie shared nugget after nugget including how to work through the structure of your book, the difference between the book theme and its message, story having energy as well as how to get to the end of the first draft.  So much goodness, you won't want to miss it!

Julie Valerie married her college sweetheart, and they live in Virginia with their four children and two English Labradors. She is the bestselling author of Holly Banks Full of Angst and The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks, Books 1 & 2 in the Village of Primm series, both with Lake Union Publishing. Learn more about Julie and subscribe to her newsletter at julievalerie.com.

Visit julievalerie.com

Book purchase links - 

Holly Banks Full of Angst and The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks

Available in paperback, ebook, and audio (Audible, MP3 + CD) wherever books are sold. Also available in libraries. 

Welcome Michelle Mazur to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This powerful conversation with Dr. Michelle demonstrated the importance of positioning and messaging your book, whether it's fiction or non-fiction, especially since "publishing is the start of a marathon." We also talked about when it's time to create a new edition for your previously published book and how to determine when something should be included in a book versus a different format, like a podcast or blog.

Michelle Mazur is a messaging expert who works with brilliant business owners who are shaking things up but having trouble talking about it. She combines the tools of successful social movements with the qualitative research skills she earned in her Communications Ph.D. to help them craft their powerful, captivating message.

Visit www.drmichellemazur.com

Book purchase link: 3 Word Rebellion 

Welcome Jenn Bouchard to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

By seeking spaces where she could listen to published authors share their stories and tips, Jenn leveraged what she learned to help create write, publish and promote her first novel that includes a love of food and coastal Maine. Jenn shared some creative ways for cultivating her brand's awareness, which is so important as an author and running a business.

Jenn Bouchard's debut novel First Course was published in 2021 by TouchPoint Press. Her short stories have appeared in the Bookends Review, Litbreak Magazine, the Penmen Review, and the Little Patuxent Review. A high school social studies teacher of 22 years, she lives in the Boston suburbs with her husband and two children.

Visit www.jennbouchard.com

Book purchase links:

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/first-course/9781952816499

Amazon (US): https://amzn.to/3CP19BO

Book Depository (worldwide): https://tidd.ly/3kt1Iu3

Welcome Stacey Aaronson to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

This episode is full of so much wisdom as Stacey shares what happens when she followed her inner knowing on a soul level to write her memoir. During our conversation, Stacey shared the importance of relevance and structure, especially as it relates to memoir. We also talked about beta readers and some tips for how to vet, so it's a good fit for all of you.

As a lifelong grammar nerd and lover of books, Stacey Aaronson has been in her element for the last ten years: building books for her author clients as a ghostwriter, editor, cover designer, layout artist, and publishing partner within her business The Book Doctor Is In. She finally fulfilled her own dream of becoming a published author when her memoir, Raising, and Losing, My Remarkable Teenage Mother, was released in June 2021. Stacey lives a quiet, creative life on an island in Washington state with her partner of 22 years, their Maine Coon kitty, and a delightful plethora of deer, birds, and squirrels. 

Visit www.staceyaaronson.com

Book purchase link:

Signed books (my website): www.staceyaaronson.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Losing-Remarkable-Teenage-Mother/dp/1736460501

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781736460511

Welcome Meredith Stoddard to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Meredith shared so much goodness about things to think about when writing a series as well as techniques she uses to ensure each book aligns to its theme while strengthening the series. She also shared some tips for balancing her time and energy between writing and promoting her series. 

Meredith R. Stoddard writes folklore-inspired fiction from her writing shed in Virginia. She studied literature and folklore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. before working as a corporate trainer and instructional designer. Her love of storytelling is inspired by years spent listening to stories at her grandmother's kitchen table. She also advocates for the preservation of traditional fiber arts and the Scottish Gaelic language.

Visit http://www.meredithstoddard.com/

Book purchase links:

The River Maiden

Cauldron

Thrice To Thine

Nothing Good Gets Away

Welcome Ellen Goodwin to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Permission to be brave and how energy patterns impact our work as writers were key nuggets from this wonderful interview with Ellen. She shared her insights for the cause of procrastination as well as different methods to overcome it when we face it. As writers, sometimes one of the hardest things to do is turn a blank page with a blinking cursor into a draft, and the wisdom Ellen shares in this episode are gold to get unstuck and writing again.

Ellen Goodwin is a productivity consultant, TEDx speaker, and author who uses neuroscience-based principles to enable individuals and businesses to overcome all types of procrastination, be more focused and manage their energy instead of their time to be more efficient effective with their lives. Ellen believes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to productivity, which is why she advocates for experimentation to find the tools and techniques that will work seamlessly with your life and your business, no matter what you want to accomplish. She is the author of DONE: How To Work When No One Is Watching and the co-host of The Faster, Easier, Better Show podcast.

Visit https://ellengoodwin.com

Book purchase link: DONE: How To Work When No One Is Watching

Welcome Mary Helen Sheriff to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Mary's experience showed how embracing change is so vital as an author. With her debut novel, she changed genres, POVs and character leads, yet each change made her writing, thus her book, stronger. She shared how she navigated these changes as well as the community she's created that's all about books and travel.

Mary Helen Sheriff is the author of the award-winning southern women’s fiction, Boop and Eve’s Road Trip. She serves as the CEO of Bookish Road Trip and a blogger at “...the gift of story.” After 14 years teaching elementary school, middle school, college, and professionals, Mary has taken a break from the classroom to focus on writing. She has an MFA from Hollins University, an MA from Old Dominion University, and a BA from UVA. She lives in Henrico County, Virginia with her two children, two cats, and one husband.

Visit maryhelensheriff.com

Book purchase links:

Print book: https://bookshop.org/a/22556/9781631527630 (or any online book retailer)

ebook: https://books2read.com/boopandeve

Welcome Linda Rosen to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

From leveraging a writer's workshop, to working with a book coach, to forging new networks, Linda demonstrates over and over again the power of connection, community and relationships as a writer. The insights she shared showed how creativity in all its forms help you go from concept to a manuscript ready for publishing.

Linda Rosen's books are set in the "not-to-distant past" and examine how women reinvent themselves despite obstacles thrown their way. A central theme is that blood is not all that makes a family - and they always feature a piece of jewelry! Her debut novel, The Disharmony of Silence, released one week before Covid shut the world down and her sophomore novel, Sisters of the Vine, published one year later. Linda is a snowbird living half the year in New Jersey, with her husband, and when she has to swap sandals for shoes and socks, they head to Florida.

Visit www.linda-rosen.com

Book purchase links:

The Disharmony of Silence and Sisters of the Vine

Welcome C. D'Angelo to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Following your voice and focusing on the next step versus the whole staircase was the theme of this conversation with the amazing C D'Angelo. She shared nuggets for bringing a book to life by working with a community, whether it's an editor or two or a supportive group of fellow authors, as well as the importance of having a brand as an author.

C. D’Angelo is an Italian American author living in Winter Garden, Florida with her husband. She has been a psychotherapist for twenty years and began writing in 2013 to add to her many hobbies (playing ukulele, drawing, painting, crocheting, cross stitching, sewing, and any other craft available to try!). Soon writing became more than a hobby and now her passions and life experiences have made their way into her relatable stories of the Italian culture in women's fiction. The Difference is her debut novel, and more stories are on the way.

Visit www.cdangeloauthor.com

Book purchase link: The Difference

Welcome Michelle Cox to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

A few of the nuggets Michelle shared during our chat included: tips for historical fiction research and balancing information overload, the audiobook process she followed as well as things to think about when deciding a publishing path.

Michelle Cox is the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have won over 50 international awards and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Foreword, Elle, Redbook, Brit&Co., POPSUGAR, Buzzfeed, and many others.

Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. She lives in Chicago with her husband, three children, and one naughty Goldendoodle and is hard at work on her latest novel.

Visit https://michellecoxauthor.com/

Book purchase links:

A Girl Like You

A Ring of Truth

A Promise Given

A Veil Removed

A Child Lost

Welcome Ryan Dalton to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Ryan and I talked in depth about the querying process and success tips for working with beta readers. He also shared how music plays a part in his writing process. 

Ryan Dalton spends his time thinking up stories when he's not wearing a cape and fighting crime. He's a singer, a voiceover artist, a pretty decent amateur chef, and a lover of all things geek. Ryan lives in an invisible spaceship that's currently hovering St. Louis, Missouri.

Visit https://www.ryandaltonwrites.com

Book purchase link: The Last Adventure

Welcome Saralyn Richard to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

"Stories are magnets" is one of the many wisdom nuggets Saralyn shared. Leveraging empathy, life experiences and observation, Saralyn explains how every book is a mystery or puzzle, no matter the genre during our conversation. She also talked about her latest book (and first thriller) launching early 2022.

Award-winning and best-selling author, Saralyn Richard was born with a pen in her hand and ink in her veins. A former educator, she loves connecting with readers. Her humor- and romance-tinged mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you.

Visit http://saralynrichard.com

Book purchase links:

A Murder of Principal

Bad Blood Sisters

Welcome Judith Keim to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Judith's tips for writing book series and handling multi-book launches were some of the fantastic nuggets she shared during our conversation. We also talked about things to consider when participating in a book anthology. So much goodness shared!

Judith Keim is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.

She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family.

Visit https://judithkeim.com

Book purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FTHWKYK/

Welcome Melissa Face to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Melissa and I talked about when it's ok to call yourself a writer, putting yourself out there, and the importance of a positive supportive community. Whether it's a writing critique group or one you cultivate between family and friends, that encouragement along with self-care are so important to taking care of yourself, and as a result, your writing. She also shared a book that she's read three times because it's been that instrumental in her writing journey.

Melissa Face is the author of I Love You More Than Coffee, an essay collection for parents who love coffee a lot and their kids...a little more. Her essays and articles have appeared in Richmond Family Magazine, Tidewater Family Magazine, Scary Mommy, and twenty-five volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul. She lives in Prince George and teaches world literature at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology. Read more at melissaface.com.

Visit https://melissaface.com/

Book purchase link: I Love You More Than Coffee

Welcome Alexa Bigwarfe to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What a fabulous conversation with Alexa! What started with the desire to move through grief from the loss of her daughter to following her ability to solve puzzles, Alexa has published several books, started her own publishing company, and is the host for a successful virtual multi-day publishing event and all with the goal to serve others. During our chat, Alexa shared invaluable tips for thinking through publishing routes, target audience/readers, and the power of relationships. 

Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author and the founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. Her courses and training focus on author platform growth and creative ways to market books, especially for those who know nothing about marketing. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit and owns two hybrid publishing houses, Kat Biggie Press and Purple Butterfly Press.

Visit http://writepublishsell.com/

Book purchase link: Alexa's books

Welcome Susan Wilking Horan to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Susan shared how having different writing goals helped her create the various books she's authored, including serving those who have been diagnosed with cancer or who love someone who has. We also talked about how to move through writer's block through simple changes and leveraging neuroplasticity. Such a powerful conversation! 

Susan Wilking Horan is a survivor of 3 different cancers, wellness advocate, lawyer, and speaker. She also has authored seven books and contributed to the ever-popular Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has also had the pleasure of working alongside her husband for many years at the family business, classic cartoon powerhouse Fleischer Studios. Find Susan at http://www.susanwilkinghoran.com

Visit http://www.susanwilkinghoran.com

Book purchase link: Betty Boop's Guide to a Bold and Balanced Life: Fun, Fierce, and Fabulous Advice Inspired by the Animated Icon

Welcome Diane Barnes to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Diane and I share a background in journalism, and it was so cool to see how she leveraged hers throughout her path as an author. Diane shared so many nuggets as she talked about her writing process as well as the querying process. 

Diane Barnes is the author of More Than, Waiting for Ethan, and Mixed Signals. She is also a marketing and corporate communication writer in the health care industry. When she’s not writing, she’s at the gym, running or playing tennis, trying to burn off the ridiculous amounts of chocolate and ice cream she eats. She and her husband Steven live in Massachusetts and dream of moving to Turks and Caicos – at least for the winter months.

Visit https://www.dianembarnes.com

Book purchase links:

MORE THAN

Waiting for Ethan

Mixed Signals

Welcome Barbara Conrey to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Barbara and I talked about how when you're an author, you're also running a business. This mindset shift is so important because it requires something different from you and requires you to put yourself out there. Barbara shares wisdom for how to go about this shift and frames it as though it's a marathon, not a sprint. She also shares how she took challenging emotions of anger and grief and channeled them into her first book that centers around a young child with glioblastoma.

Barbara Conrey is the USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye. Barbara worked in the health care industry for many years before opting for early retirement, which lasted all of three months. She then accepted a position in finance, for which she had absolutely no background. Four years later, she decided to write a book.

But not about finance.

Travel is a passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Barbara’s greatest passion is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. There are stories to be told about beagles, and Barbara incorporates some of those stories into her books. Barbara lives in Central Pennsylvania, close to family and friends, and of course. Miss Molly.

Visit https://www.barbaraconreyauthor.com

Book purchase link: Nowhere Near Goodbye 

Welcome Lainey Cameron to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Lainey shared one wisdom bomb after another as we talked about imposter syndrome, second book syndrome, and the importance of staying open to all paths for publishing. 

Lainey Cameron is a digital nomad and author of women’s fiction. A recovering tech industry executive, her 11-time award-winning novel, The Exit Strategy, was inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom.

It’s been called a “rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together” and tells the story of a Silicon Valley investor who first meets her husband’s mistress across the negotiating table.

A digital nomad—meaning she picks locations around the world to live (and write) for months at a time—Lainey is an avid instagrammer. She’s the founder and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction podcast, proud member and volunteer with Women’s Fiction Writers Association, believes community makes the author's life worthwhile, and is on a mission to obliterate the term aspiring writer.

Originally from Scotland, Lainey has a soft spot for kilts and good malt whisky.

Visit https://www.laineycameron.com

Book purchase link: The Exit Strategy

Welcome Jodi Meltzer to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Jodi's ability to blend writing pieces that connect with adults as well as books that connect with children is a true gift. During our conversation we talked about this, divine breadcrumbs, honoring your authentic self, some of the key elements to writing for children and so much more. 

Jodi Meltzer is a multi-award-winning children’s book author who has also written extensively about grief, divorce, and parenting for various publications, including HuffPost, The Mighty, Scary Mommy, and Thrive Global. Before motherhood, she was an accomplished anchor/ reporter who covered everyone from Hillary Clinton to The Goo Goo Dolls. She transitioned to mommy blogger in 2010―the year her baby boy swallowed her whole. She escapes his grips with sarcasm, bold coffee, and ’80s music/movie binges with her rescue dog curled up on her lap. A Boston native, she recently relocated to Tampa in search of more sunshine, literally and figuratively. To learn more about Jodi and her books, Goodnight Star, Whoever You Are and When You Lived in My Belly, visit jodimeltzer.com.

Visit www.jodimeltzer.com

Book purchase link: Goodnight Star, Whoever You Are

Welcome Antoinette Truglio Martin to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

During our conversation, Antoinette shared so many nuggets such as writing a book you want to keep talking about after it's published, leveraging your listening skills to help your writing, and tips for world building.

Antoinette Truglio Martin is a speech therapist and special education teacher by training but really wants to be a writer when she grows up. She has been collecting and writing stories forever. Over the years, Antoinette had been a regular columnist in local periodicals and had several essays featured in newsletters and literary reviews.

Antoinette's popular children’s picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup was published in 1993 (Albert Whitman Co.). Antoinette’s memoir, Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer (She Writes Press 2017), chronicles her first year battling breast cancer as a wimpy patient. Becoming America’s Stories (Red Penguin Books) a middle-grade historical fiction series, debut in 2020. The award-winning first book, The Heart of Bakers and Artists, takes place in 1911 and follows nine-year-old Lily Taglia, an American-born child of Sicilian immigrants, coming of age in a crowded New York City three-room Lower East Side tenement. The Dreams of Singers and Sluggers picks up where The Heart of Bakers and Artists leaves off. Lily, her family and friends reach for their dreams as new Americans. Read Becoming America’s Food Stories where there are always good stories around good food.

Antoinette proudly holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook/Southampton University (2016). Be sure to stop by her website and blog, Stories Served Around The Table at https://antoinettetrugliomartin.com/ to read about past and present family adventures, book happenings, and life musings.

Visit www.storiesserved.com

Book purchase links:

The Heart of Bakers and Artists 

The Dreams of Singers and Sluggers 

Becoming America's Food Stories 

Hug Everyone You Know 

Welcome Heidi Torres to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Heidi and I had a great conversation where she talked about having a message to share and leveraging your team. She also talked about incorporating personal stories into her book and how to discern which ones to include or not.

Heidi Torres built connections at an early age when she studied at twelve schools and lived in three countries. She pursued a fifteen-year career in sales and progressively led and developed sales teams that spanned three states. After a promotion to Human Resources Supervisor, she began overseeing the HR needs of over 200 employees. Torres then earned a BBA in HR Management from Texas Woman’s University, became a SHRM-Certified Professional, and landed positions as an HR Generalist and a Talent Acquisition Manager through networking. She serves on the DallasHR Board, attends the MBA program at West Texas A&M University, and is the author of The CEOs of Networking.

When not working, Torres volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and enjoys spending time with her husband, rescue cats, and ducks. 

Visit http://www.hrheidi.com

Book purchase link: The CEOs of Networking

Welcome Mallory Howell to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Mallory and I talked about bringing a vision - a book - to life and how family inspired both of her children's books. 

Mallory Howell is a wife, mother, stepmother, author, and former teacher. She was born and raised in East Tennessee and still resides there with her family. She stepped away from the classroom after the birth of her second son in November 2018 and now stays home with her two boys. She enjoys family camping trips, gardening, reading, cooking, and writing. Mallory published her first children's book, Soda Pop Drop, in 2018 and her newest book, The Little Ninja That Could: Conquer Kindergarten, in August 2020.

Visit: http://www.authormalloryhowell.com

Book purchase links:

The Little Ninja That Could Conquer Kindergarten

Soda Pop Drop

Welcome Mary Ann Tippett to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Mary Ann shared so many nuggets during this powerful conversation about overcoming "Who am I" as so many authors face when following their hearts as they write their first, next or current book. We also talked about the power of focus and to use it to help you go from a blank page to a first draft.

Mary Ann Tippett writes uplifting fiction from her home in Ottawa. She has a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University. After writing and publishing novels she wrote in 3 days, such as Clara & Pig, Finding Clara, and Pairs With Pinot, she published her first non-fiction guide on writing, How To Write A Novel In 3 Days: The Zone Method.

Visit https://maryanntippett.ca/

Book purchase links:

Write A Novel In 3 Days: The Zone Method

Finding Clara

The Shape of Us

Pairs With Pinot

Clara & Pig