Best amquerying Podcasts (2025)

1
#222 - Simon Mason 28:18

1d ago28:18

28:18

Adult crime/thriller/mystery and children's author, Simon Mason is on the podcast chatting about his latest works as well as his experiences over three decades of writing and working within the publishing industry. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Mel…

1
April Bonus Episode 49:01

1d ago49:01

49:01

In the first part of this bonus episode, Bianca interviews Lauren Ling Brown, author of 'Society of Lies.' They discuss Lauren’s journey to publication, the intricacies of writing dual perspectives and timelines, and the importance of social commentary in her work. Lauren shares insights into her writing process, the challenges of character develop…

1
An Ingenious Query Hack 30:57

5d ago30:57

30:57

In this informative author interview, Bianca connects with debut novelist Sarah Damoff to discuss her novel, ‘The Bright Years’ which explores the complexities of family dynamics and addiction. Sarah shares her journey through the publishing landscape, the challenges of finding the right agent, the ingenious query hack she used, and the evolution o…

1
#221 - Abigail Johnson 27:31

8d ago27:31

27:31

Contemporary fiction author, Abigail Johnson is here to chat about writing her first novel and the journey to publication. Abigail shares her experiences of writing courses and being short and long listed for several awards before finding her agent. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen…

1
Why Plot and Specificity are a Query Letter's Best Friends 49:35

12d ago49:35

49:35

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra welcome querying author Debbie Whittall to discuss her query letter for her debut novel, 'Linda/Linda.' Carly and CeCe address the challenges of representing a quiet novel in a query format. The discussion transitions to the pages of the manuscript, highlighting t…

1
#220 - Sarah Harman 23:53

15d ago23:53

23:53

Contemporary fiction writer, Sarah Harman is here to chat about her debut novel, which she describes as a satirical thriller. Sarah shares the details about the nine way auction the book ended up in the UK as well as another auction in the US and a bidding war for the TV rights which were eventually secured by the team behind Disney FX's 'The Bear'…

1
Ann Napolitano on Overcoming Rejection and Despair as Part of the Writing Life & Kirthana Ramisetti on The Art of Foreshadowing 1:05:46

19d ago1:05:46

1:05:46

In the first part of this episode, Bianca interviews Ann Napolitano, inspiring Oprah Book Club pick author of Hello Beautiful. During the multi-layered interview, Ann shares her journey as a writer, discussing the long path to publication, the importance of perseverance, and the role of gratitude in her success. She reflects on her experiences with…

1
#219 - Eleanor Anstruther 36:32

22d ago36:32

36:32

Critically acclaimed literary fiction writer, Eleanor Anstruther tells us about how she has integrated Substack into her writing and publishing journey as well as her endeavours to figure out the best ways of being a hybrid author. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tr…

1
Stage Directions, Opening and How to Avoid Them 35:28

26d ago35:28

35:28

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the importance of clarity in storytelling, character development, and the need for emotional depth in writing. The conversation emphasizes the significance of engaging openings and the necessity of establishing strong connections between plot points. They also offer great ti…

1
March Bonus Episode 1:47:34

29d ago1:47:34

1:47:34

In the first part of this month’s bonus episode, Carly Watters interviews Bailey Hannah, a Canadian romance author known for her ‘Wells Ranch’ series. They talk about Bailey’s experience with going from self-publishing to traditional publishing, the importance of quality editing, and the impact of social media platforms like BookTok on author succe…

1
#218 - Nicholas Binge 32:31

29d ago32:31

32:31

Bestselling speculative sci-fi author, Nicholas Binge is on the podcast chatting about his latest novel, Dissolution as well as his unusual writing process and going from blanket rejections to a five way auction with publishers! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Trope…

1
The Evolution of a Novel: Learning to Let Go 34:31

1M ago34:31

34:31

In this inspiring author interview, Bianca interviews Kath Jonathan, whose debut novel, 'The Resistance Painter', intertwines historical and contemporary narratives. They discuss Kath’s journey as a writer, and the personal challenges she faced, including health issues, over the twelve years she spent writing her novel. The authors chat about the e…

1
#217 - Liza DeBlock 42:51

1M ago42:51

42:51

Literary agent, Liza DeBlock joins us this week to tell us about how she got into publishing and literary agency, what she is looking for in authors to add to her list and something to do with horrifying unicorns in Scotland. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳…

1
It's a Vibe: Plot Points & Emotional Vibes in Storytelling 41:36

1M ago41:36

41:36

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe welcome special guest, literary agent, Lauren Spieller to discuss query letters in romance and fantasy genres. The hosts discuss the distinctions between Young Adult and Adult Fantasy, and the dynamics of character relationships. Lauren provides insightful critiques on a submitted qu…

1
#216 - Alex Hay 29:53

1M ago29:53

29:53

Historical fiction author, Alex Hay joins us this week to chat about the differences with plotting a heist versus a con, his time on the Curtis Brown writing course and landing his agent through the Caledonia Prize. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Me…

1
Knowing the Shape of Your Story 31:40

2M ago31:40

31:40

Warning: mature content. In this insightful segment that will make you laugh out loud, Bianca interviews New York Times best-selling writer, Lamda Literary Award finalist and Shearling Fellowship recipient, Kristen Arnett, the author of 'Stop Me If You've Heard This One.' They discuss the unique aspects of Kristen's writing process, including her e…

1
#215 - Sanam Mahloudji 29:22

2M ago29:22

29:22

Contemporary fiction writer, Sanam Mahloudji joins us to chat about her debut novel, The Persians, the ups and downs of her publication journey and how her personal experiences influenced the novel. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami t…

1
Using the 'Micro to Macro' Hack 34:41

2M ago34:41

34:41

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe dive into the intricacies of middle grade fantasy submissions. They discuss a query about a fantasy novel featuring a cat protagonist, exploring themes of family, sacrifice, and the stakes involved in the narrative. The conversation shifts to critiques of character development, emot…

1
#214 - Éric Chacour 27:47

2M ago27:47

27:47

Contemporary fiction author, Éric Chacour is here to chat about the incredible success of his debut novel, 'Ce que je sais de toi' and the journey he and the novel have been on. We also chat a bit about publication and all the discovery that comes with that. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 T…

1
Those Aha Moments That Arrive at the 80 000-Word Mark 28:21

2M ago28:21

28:21

In this engaging conversation, Bianca, interviews New York Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister. The author’s explore Gillian’s writing process, narrative techniques, and character development. Bianca and Gillian chat about the challenges of writing multi-POV novels, the organic twists that emerge during the writing process, and the importan…

1
#213 - Lynn Buchanan 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

Fantasy author, Lynn Buchanan is here chatting about her writing journey, the Odyssey Writing Workshops and being a part of Brandon Sanderson's team at Dragonsteel. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things writing, trop…

1
February Bonus Episode 1:35:39

2M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

In the first engaging conversation of this bonus episode, Bianca interviews Booker Prize-nominated Charlotte Wood, the acclaimed author of Stone Yard Devotional. They delve into the challenges of writing quiet stories, the significance of visitations in the narrative, and the intentional choices behind the unnamed narrator. Wood discusses her uniqu…

1
Delving Deeply Into Your Antagonist's Psyche 44:37

2M ago44:37

44:37

In this segment of Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss a gothic horror novel submission as well as a psychological thriller. They highlight the importance of starting a story in the right place, the challenges of multi-POV narratives, and the need for clarity in character perspectives. The critique emphasizes the balance between emotio…

1
#212 - Jade Kavanagh 30:28

2M ago30:28

30:28

Literary agent, Jade Kavanagh joins us this week to chat about her career in publishing, what she is looking to add to her list and which genres might be on the up this year! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things wri…

1
The Stories We Tell Ourselves to Make Them More Palatable 33:06

3M ago33:06

33:06

In today’s author interview, Bianca chats with Sarah Chihaya about her memoir, Bibliophobia. During the conversation, they explore the profound impact of literature on identity and mental health. Sarah also reflects on her journey as a reader and writer, the complexities of navigating personal narratives, and the challenges of writing about trauma.…

1
#211 - Lila Cain a.k.a. Marcia Hutchinson & Kate Griffin 27:21

3M ago27:21

27:21

Historical fiction co-authors, Kate Griffin and Marcia Hutchinson have teamed up as Lila Cain for 'The Blackbirds of St. Giles'. Tune in to the episode to hear all about their writing process, how they ended up meeting and writing together and much more! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The C…

1
What is Literary Burlesque and Can You Perform It? 48:08

3M ago48:08

48:08

In this segment of Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and Cece discuss a memoir submission as well as a speculative thriller submission. They highlight the importance of balancing plot points with emotional depth; the significance of character development through interior monologue; how character arcs are crucial in memoir writing; the importance of b…

1
#210 - Celia Silvani 25:50

3M ago25:50

25:50

Contemporary fiction author, Celia Silvani is here to talk about her debut novel, Baby Teeth and the many years it has been in the making! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things writing, tropes and publishing! ✍️ Writ…

1
#209 - Isa Agajanian 27:41

3M ago27:41

27:41

Contemporary fantasy author and illustrator, Isa Agajanian is here to chat about her debut novel, which was originally self-published and has since become traditionally published with Tor. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about …

1
Capturing Your Character’s Voice by Deeply Immersing Yourself in Their Perspective 32:28

3M ago32:28

32:28

In this engaging conversation, Bianca interviews Allegra Goodman about her latest novel, Isola, exploring themes of storytelling, character development, and the writing process. Goodman discusses her journey as a writer, the importance of writing what interests you, and the challenges of crafting a historical narrative. The discussion delves into t…

1
January Bonus Episode Comp Titles Segment 48:53

3M ago48:53

48:53

In January’s bonus episode, Bianca and Emilie Sommer from East City Book Bookshop tackle a variety of book recommendations based on listener comp requests. If you’re looking for our usual Q&A segment, that now gets published as part of our end of the month Substack newsletter. Subscribe to get access to that, and so much more: https://theshitaboutw…

1
#208 - Silvia Saunders 25:18

3M ago25:18

25:18

Contemporary fiction author and winner of the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2023, Silvia Saunders is here chatting about her journey to publication, her debut novel 'Homesick' and more writing adventures. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noa…

1
CeCe Swipes Carly’s Submission 39:23

3M ago39:23

39:23

In this Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe delve into two query letters from aspiring authors. The hosts discuss how negotiation can leak tension in storytelling; why character relationships should drive the narrative; how world-building should enhance character development; why queries for retellings need to focus on unique sto…

1
#207 - Helen Scheuerer 26:08

3M ago26:08

26:08

Best-selling fantasy romance author, Helen Scheuerer is here to chat about her latest novel, moving into hybrid publication and her approach to creating a fantastical universe! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all things w…

1
Exploring How a Single Choice Can Define an Entire Life 34:45

3M ago34:45

34:45

In this engaging author interview, Bianca chats with Karissa Chen about her debut novel, Homeseeking. During the conversation, they explore the inspiration behind the story, the extensive research that was required before Karissa could begin writing, and the challenges of navigating language and cultural identity in literature. Karissa shares her j…

1
#206 - Amanda Prowse 40:24

4M ago40:24

40:24

International best-selling fiction and non-fiction author Amanda Prowse is on the podcast this week to chat about all her novels, keeping up a writing schedule of two books a year and how personal tragedy lead to a life-changing non-fiction book. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen On…

1
A Query That Ticks all of CeCe’s Psychological Acuity Boxes 42:52

4M ago42:52

42:52

In this Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe welcome listeners to a new year of writing while they reflect on their critiquing journey over the past four years. They dive into the critique of two query letters, focusing on the importance of connection, character motivations, and cinematic elements in storytelling. The conversation…

1
#205 - Anna Dixon 29:36

4M ago29:36

29:36

Literary agent and UK Managing Director of Literary, Anna Dixon joins us for the first episode of 2025! Listen in for some great insights into the publishing industry as well as Anna's day to day approach to agenting, looking at query letters and working with authors. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and…

1
Playing to Your Strengths as a Writer 33:27

4M ago33:27

33:27

In today’s episode, Bianca interviews Emmy award-winning journalist and bestselling author, Kate Fagan, about her debut novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Kate shares how she originally came to listen to the podcast, as well as the details of her journey to publication (which included querying podcast host, Carly Watters). Bianca and Kate go on to…

1
Can An Agent Picture a Movie Trailer After Reading Your Query Letter? 36:41

4M ago36:41

36:41

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe provide feedback on two query letters, one for historical fiction and the other for historical fantasy. They discuss the importance of character development, plot clarity, and the balance between world-building and emotional engagement. The conversation emphasizes the need for speci…

1
#204 - Kesia Lupo 36:17

4M ago36:17

36:17

Literary agent, author and former senior editor, Kesia Lupo is back to tell us about her new move into agenting, working across US and UK markets and how she is figuring out the most sustainable way for her to tackle query letters! 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tr…

1
Techniques for Fully Dramatizing Scenes or Bringing Memories to Life 33:13

4M ago33:13

33:13

In today’s author interview, Bianca interviews Jessica Waite about her memoir, The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards. Jessica discusses her writing journey as a form of healing, the challenges of the publishing process, and the complexities of grief. They also discuss the intentional choices behind the book's structure, the use of present tense, and t…

1
#203 - Travis Baldree 30:35

4M ago30:35

30:35

NYT best-selling cosy fantasy author and audiobook narrator, Travis Baldree is here! We chat about his writing journey from breakout indie publishing success and moving into traditional publishing as well as working as an audiobook narrator, Travis' writing process, the third book and his experiences working in video games. Travis' website - https:…

1
The Polarizing “P” Word 35:34

5M ago35:34

35:34

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe analyze two query letters, one for an upmarket novel and one for women’s fiction, providing insights on character development, prologues, and the importance of clarity in storytelling. The discussion emphasizes the need for movement in narratives and the balance between internal con…

1
#202 - Zoe Ross 35:43

5M ago35:43

35:43

Literary agent, Zoe Ross joins us this week to chat about her work with United Agents, her career path through publishing and the many hurdles writers need to overcome to reach publication. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about…

1
All Things Fantasy and Romantasy 32:13

5M ago32:13

32:13

In this engaging author interview, Bianca chats with Sarah Hawley to discuss her journey as a fantasy and paranormal romance author, focusing on her latest novel, Servant of Earth. Sarah shares insights into the writing process, the importance of character-driven narratives, and the nuances of defining genres like romantasy. The discussion also del…

1
#201 - Raghav Rao 30:31

5M ago30:31

30:31

Contemporary fiction author and creative writing lecturer, Raghav Rao speaks with Jamie about his debut novel and his long journey with storytelling and publishing that started with him writing fan-fiction of Redwall. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, …

1
The Challenges of Writing in the First Person 28:09

5M ago28:09

28:09

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, the hosts, Bianca, Carly and CeCe, analyze two query letters submitted by aspiring authors, one of which is a memoir and the other a YA steampunk query. They provide detailed feedback on the structure, content, and emotional depth of the letters, emphasizing the importance of clarity, causality, and character de…

1
November Bonus Episode: Comps Title Segment 43:15

5M ago43:15

43:15

In November’s bonus episode, Bianca and Emilie Sommer from East City Book Bookshop tackle a variety of book recommendations based on listener comp requests. They discuss neurodivergent characters, speculative fiction, crime and mystery, literary fiction dealing with trauma, humorous narratives, art and historical mysteries, speculative westerns, da…

1
#200 - Daisy Chandley 34:10

5M ago34:10

34:10

Literary agent, Daisy Chandley is here to chat about working at PFD and the career path of an agent as well as how she tackles submissions and what she's looking to add to her list. 💖 Join the Patreon 🙏 Support the show and get access to the extended episodes and more! 📚 The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes 🥳 Jamie, Melissa and Noami talk about all thi…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Amquerying Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen