Read And Write With Natasha

Watching someone turn a lifetime of confusion into a clear story is one of the most moving parts of my work, and this conversation proves why. My book coaching client, Author and activist Karen Kendra Holmes, joined me to share the journey behind her memoir, 40 Years and Wandering No More, including the painful “cliff” moment that opened the book and the breakthrough she felt after the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference helped her finally name who she is.We talked about what it means to write a transgender memoir that serves two audiences at once: trans readers who need language, courage, and a sense of possibility, and cisgender readers who want to understand real lives beyond stereotypes. Karen also reflected on the emotional weight of putting memories on paper, why structure matters more than inspiration, and how a practical writing roadmap can turn scattered ideas into a finished manuscript on a real deadline.Subscribe for more conversations with writers and changemakers, share this with a friend who loves memoir, and please leave a review if you want to support the show.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

Tyler Snure started building his fantasy world as a kid, published at a young age, and now maps his future toward becoming a full-time author. In this episode, we talked about what that really looks like day-to-day: writing when your schedule is packed, staying consistent when distractions are everywhere, and making peace with the fact that big goals are built from small, repeatable sessions.Tyler walked me through how he learned the publishing process, where he outsourced (like cover design and illustration), and why the self-publishing path fits his personality better than traditional publishing timelines. If you’re researching Amazon KDP, indie publishing, or how to publish a book without an agent, you’ll hear a grounded, practical perspective from someone actively doing the work. Tyler shared why podcasts and interviews have been his most successful marketing channels, how he chooses which shows to pitch, and why a broad marketing mix helps you identify your highest-return efforts. If you enjoy conversations about the writing life, self-publishing, and smart book promotion, subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast with a fellow book lover.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

Romance can be wildly escapist and still be honest about how sex actually works, and that tension is where this conversation gets really good. I’m joined by romance author Christina Braver, a former social worker and healthcare tech professional who now writes full-time from the Pacific Northwest, and she brings both heart and clarity to a topic that’s usually reduced to tropes and assumptions. She’s frank about the pressure of a flooded romance market, the reality of losing money some years, and why she keeps writing anyway. We get specific about what sex-positive romance and realistic sex representation can look like on the page.Christina also talks about writing storylines that reflect real health experiences, including endometriosis, hysterectomy recovery, and menopause related libido changes. If you’ve ever felt like romance novels taught you a “script” that doesn’t match real life, this is a refreshing reset. Subscribe for more honest conversations about writing and publishing, share this with a romance reader who loves depth, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

A promise made to a mom at graduation turned into a time capsule of war, grief, humor, and survival. I sat down with author Don Eggspuehler, a former US Marine Corps pilot and Vietnam veteran, to talk about Letters to Mom, a book built from real letters he mailed home week after week, long before email, texts, or video calls existed. Those pages weren’t written with hindsight or a public audience in mind, which is exactly why they land with such force today. Doug walked us through flying combat missions out of Nam Phong, Thailand, living in jungle tents, and heading into Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He shared what it felt like to run night missions into North Vietnam under total radio silence, and why fear often shows up after the mission, not during it. We also talked about what happened after he came home: losing friends, feeling bitter, feeling unwelcome, and carrying survivor’s guilt for years, plus the unexpected relief that came from rereading his own words decades later. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow book lover. What’s one letter, journal, or memory you wish you could preserve before time reshapes it?Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

A lot of people dream about “extra income,” but they get stuck on one question: what do I actually buy, and where do I sell it? I’m joined by Aaron LaPedis, award-winning author of The Garage Sale Millionaire and How To Become A Garage Sale Millionaire, to break reselling down into simple moves you can repeat, even if you’re starting with almost no money. Aaron explained why eBay is built for selling (especially when you use completed listings to price realistically) and why Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor can be gold for buying when sellers need items gone. We also talked about what tends to flip well, from collectibles and comic books to “brand new in box” finds, plus why packaging can make or break a price. If you’ve ever wondered whether estate sales are worth it, he shares how to handle the crowds and how serious buyers get an edge. We also swapped notes on AI for resellers: using ChatGPT to write listings faster, using photo search to identify mystery items, and using barcode scanning apps like BookScouter to avoid bad buys. Along the way, Aaron made a strong case for valuing your time like a business owner, not a bargain hunter, and he opens up about the bigger picture: hustle, health, family, and what “success” actually costs. Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

Great writing doesn't sell books. Most writers find that out too late.My guest this week is Terry Whalin — editor, former literary agent, acquisitions editor, and author of more than 60 books. He's sat on both sides of the desk, and he's blunt about what new authors get wrong.We start with the myth that a book makes money. Terry's case: most authors need a bigger definition of success — authority, speaking gigs, career leverage — because the royalties are usually modest. Then we get practical about platform. Why social media alone is a bad bet, why your newsletter and website are the only channels you actually own, and why five years of consistency beats one big launch.We also take on self-publishing versus traditional without the usual shouting. Terry walks through the distribution reality — what it really takes to get into bookstores, not just Amazon — and why the marketing lands on you either way. You'll hear what makes an acquisitions editor stop reading on page one, why a proposal is a business plan, and where AI helps with research versus where it walks you straight into plagiarism and copyright trouble.If this one's useful, send it to a writer friend and leave a review.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

How do you turn a life-changing experience into a memoir readers can't put down?In this episode, author Melinda Lee Schmidt shares the story behind The Rebel Hugger and how a simple idea—asking strangers for permission to hug them—became a powerful memoir about connection, boundaries, belonging, and self-worth.Melinda takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal journey into a compelling story. We also discuss the realities of self-publishing, working with a book coach, navigating Amazon KDP, and the book marketing strategies that have helped her reach readers—from podcast interviews and newsletters to the surprisingly effective practice of simply telling people about her book.Whether you're writing a memoir, considering self-publishing, or looking for practical book marketing advice, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable insights.In this episode, you'll learn:How to turn personal experiences into a compelling memoirWhy vulnerability is essential in memoir writingThe biggest lessons Melinda learned from self-publishingHow working with a book coach improved her bookBook marketing strategies that actually work for indie authorsIf you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow writer or aspiring author.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

“Bestseller” has become one of the easiest words to fake in publishing, and it’s costing authors money and readers' trust. I sit down with publishing expert Michele DeFilippo, who brings decades of real-world experience helping authors produce high-quality books without giving away control, rights, or royalties.We talk about why self-publishing no longer carries the old vanity-press stigma, and why the power has shifted now that Amazon and print-on-demand make global book distribution accessible. Michelle breaks down the difference between needing a publisher and needing professional publishing services, plus the red flags of hybrid publishing companies that charge authors upfront and still take a cut of sales. We also get practical about what “professional” actually looks like: editing, cover design, book typesetting, ebook formatting, and the kind of investment it can take to make your book compete with traditional releases.We also dug into author scams, including how “bestseller” schemes game Amazon’s algorithm, what a real bestseller metric looks like, and why distribution tools like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark still don’t do your marketing for you.If you’re planning to self-publish, want to avoid costly traps, or simply want your book to look unmistakably legit, hit play, subscribe, share with a writer friend, and leave a review so more authors can find the show.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

Thirty seconds sounds too small to matter until you notice how many you throw away each day. I sit down with Dr. Gerald Robison, a pastor and longtime Bible teacher turned prolific author, to talk about the mindset behind his book 30 Seconds That Can Change Your Life—and the moment that made him take time seriously. Facing tongue cancer and the possibility that his time was short, he stopped chasing only big goals and began reclaiming the small gaps most writers waste.We dig into the "unused moments"—waiting in the car, standing in line, the transitions where you'd normally reach for your phone—and how those windows can become real writing time. Gerald shares micro-habits that make a page-a-day feel doable, and we wrestle with the burnout question every author faces: when does productivity serve the work, and when do you need rest, quiet, and reflection to actually write well?Then we turn to the writing life and the business behind it. Gerald walks me through traditional, independent, and hybrid publishing—the marketing realities and the book-rights pitfalls authors often miss until it's too late.If you care about protecting your writing time, building sustainable creative habits, and understanding how books really get made, you'll leave with ideas you can use today.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.

Marijuana is getting easier to buy, easier to brand, and easier to shrug off. That's exactly why I wanted a grounded conversation with Dr. Raymond Wiggins, a licensed physician with decades on the front lines and author of Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana.For him, cannabis isn't abstract. He shares personal family losses and a disturbing case of sudden psychosis after early use that changed a young life overnight. We also dig into the clinical side: what he's observed around anesthesia and recovery, from harder-to-sedate patients to higher medication needs, and the uncomfortable question of what regular THC exposure might be doing beneath the surface.From there, we take on legalization, the profit motive he believes is driving it, and why he argues "medical marijuana" still carries real mental health and addiction risks. We get into today's ultra-high THC products—concentrates, edibles, and why delayed dosing can spiral into an ER visit. We close on psychedelics and microdosing, where Wiggins urges caution and points to how early-stage science gets oversold in the wellness world.If you care about public health, parenting, or making informed choices in a fast-changing cannabis landscape, you'll leave with specific claims to research, questions to ask, and resources to explore.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.