My guests today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY are three massively popular creators in the book space on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Bindery: Jaysen Headley (a.k.a. Ezeekat), Zoranne Host, and Marines (Mari) Alvarez.

Today, we talk about:

* how they discover books and how they choose which books they promote on their social media channels

* weathering the changes that platforms like TikTok and others are undergoing

* what it's like being a full-time or part-time creator

* Bindery: a new way (beyond traditional publishing and self-publishing) for writers to connect with creators and publish books

* what Zoranne, Jaysen, and Mari are looking to publish (the kinds of books/authors they want to work with)

* how writers can submit their manuscripts to Bindery and the creators

* book trend predictions for 2025 and 2026, and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

🟨 Want more writing advice and community?

Join 24,000 writers at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

- Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

- author interviews

- behind-the-scenes of writing life,

- creativity mini-challenges,

- and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of Zoranne, Jaysen, and Mari?

You can find these amazing creators here:

Zoranne: TikTok, Instagram, Bindery (Fantasy and Frens)

Jaysen: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Bindery (Ezeekat Press)

Marines (Mari): TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Bindery (Mareas)

My guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Margarita Montimore, bestselling author of Oona Out of Order, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her latest novel, The Dollhouse Academy, is out now!

Today, we talk about:

* pep talks for yourself to get through the ups and downs of publishing

* how many rejections she weathered before landing a book deal

* dealing with professional jealousy of other writers (especially if they are friends!)

* writing tricky narrative structures (like multiple POVs or timelines)

* and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

🟨 Want more writing advice and community?

Join 25,000 writers at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

- Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

- author interviews

- behind-the-scenes of writing life,

- creativity mini-challenges,

- and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of Margarita?

You can find Margarita on her website, Instagram, and Bluesky, and her books at your favorite bookstore or online retailer!

My guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, whose latest novel, Mutual Interest, has been described as a witty and joyful, queer Edith Wharton in gilded age New York.

Today, we talk about:

* the most important benefit of having writer friends or critique partners

* finding the belief in yourself that you can write a full-length novel

* the difference between publishing a debut novel versus a sophomore novel, including whether it was easier to write a book the second time around

* why she chose to hire a freelance publicist, and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

🟨 Want more writing advice and community?

Join more than 25,000 writers at CreativeInspiredHappy.com :

- Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers,

- author interviews

- behind-the-scenes of writing life,

- creativity mini-challenges,

- and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of Olivia?

You can find Olivia on Instagram—including her tour info—and you can pick up a copy of her new novel, Mutual Interest, anywhere books are sold!

Word-of-mouth, including through book clubs, is such an important way for readers to discover books, so I am very excited that my guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Mackenzie Newcomb, founder of the Bad B***h Book Club, which has 32,000 members.

Today, we talk about:

* what makes a great book club book? Aka what kind of books are more likely to be chosen for a book club?

* readers' surprising pet peeves about characters

* what makes an unlikeable character, likeable

* how authors can best connect with book club readers

* what makes a great book club meeting,

and so much more.

🟨 Full video version of this interview is available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of the Mackenzie or the Bad B***h Book Club?

You can find the main Bad B***h Book Club website here, or become a Patreon member to get extra community features like voting on their book club picks.

And for book reviews and recs, you can find Mackenzie at Mack in Style.

My guest today is Kate Fagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of four non-fiction books and a brand new novel. She is also an Emmy Award-winning journalist who has worked at Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and more.

Today, we talk about:

* building a varied career with different kinds of writing,

* making a name for herself in the traditionally male-dominated field of sports journalism,

* her shift from non-fiction to fiction, and the differences in the writing, publishing, and publicity aspects of them,

* her unique craft tricks for writing a fictional memoir, The Three Lives of Cate Kay,

* and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

Want more of Kate?

Her novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay, is available now wherever books are sold.

You can also find Kate on her website and Instagram.

Kate Fagan is an Emmy-award winning journalist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of WHAT MADE MADDY RUN, as well as THE REAPPEARING ACT and ALL THE COLORS CAME OUT. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her wife, Kathryn Budig, and their two dogs.

🟨 Full video version of this interview is available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Hello, Protagonists!

My guest today is Heather Demetrios, a critically acclaimed novelist and writing coach who specializes in guiding writers in finding their voice, bringing their ideas to their full written potential, mindfulness, mental health in creative practices, and more.

Today, we talk about:

* the differences between a writing coach and a freelance editor

* mental health practices that support your writing

* how to balance writing what’s true to your heart and “stories that sell”

* tips for getting over fear or self-doubt at the start of a project

* and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

🟨 Full video version of this interview is available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of Heather?

You can learn more about Heather’s writing coach services and her books at heatherdemetrios.com or her Substack, The Lotus and Pen.

Heather Demetrios is a critically acclaimed author, writing coach, and mindfulness facilitator based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her publishers include Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and HarperCollins. Her work has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, Dutch, and Romanian.

She has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a recipient of the PEN America Discovery Award for her debut novel, Something Real. Her novels include Little Universes, I’ll Meet You There, Bad Romance, as well as the Dark Caravan fantasy series: Exquisite Captive, Blood Passage, and Freedom’s Slave. Her non-fiction includes the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Code Name Badass: The True Story of Virginia Hall, and she is the editor of Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love.

Heather works with writers on integrating mindfulness into their writing practice, process, and life. In addition to being the Executive Director of Clouds in Water Zen Center, she is a Trained Mindfulness Facilitator through UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center. She is also the program director of Rebecca Dykes Writers in collaboration with the Highlights Foundation, where she works with writers who tell stories about trauma for young readers. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Clinical Social Work to further support creatives.

My guest today is Suzanne Young, New York Times author of over 20 novels, including The Program series. She's also written a novel with a rock star.

But the dream I alluded to is that last year, Suzanne packed her bags, sold her house, and moved to Italy, where she now spends her days writing under the Italian sun and hosting writing retreats in gorgeous villas from Tuscany to Venice.

Today, we talk about:

- tips for weathering the ups and downs of publishing so you can have a long career,

- going on book tour with Blink-182 singer Tom DeLonge,

- her decision to move to Italy,

- designing the "Writing in Italy" retreats,

- D.I.Y. tips for how you can create your own great writing retreat (closer to home),

- and so much more!

Happy holidays, and enjoy the show!

🟨 Full video version available free at CreativeInspiredHappy.com, along with $1,000 & $2,500 Scholarships for Aspiring Writers, a Book Club for Writers & Curious Readers, behind-the-scenes insights into a bestselling authors' life, mini-creativity challenges, and more.

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com

Want more of Suzanne or Writing in Italy?

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Program series. Originally from New York, Suzanne is a dual US and Italian citizen, currently living in the breathtaking Veneto region of Italy. She has published more than 20 novels, including Girls with Sharp Sticks, In Nightfall, and What Stays Buried.

When not writing, Suzanne is a high school English teacher and the founder of Writing in Italy, hosting author retreats throughout Italy. You can also find Suzanne and her three photogenic dogs on Instagram at @authorsuzanneyoung.

Hello, Protagonists!

My guest today is J.C. Cervantes, New York Times Bestselling author. Her books for children, young adults, and adults have been published in more than twelve countries and have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes and Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, as well as Amazon’s, Apple’s, and Audible’s Best Books of the Month.

Today we talk about:

* becoming an author without a fancy degree,

* listening to your intuition/gut when you’re writing,

* writing books for different target audiences,

* working with iconic author Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson series),

* and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the show!

>> Want more of J.C.?

J.C. currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world. Her books are available anywhere books are sold.

J.C. online: Website / Instagram

Podcast booking inquiries:

info@creativeinspiredhappy.com