Creative, Inspired, ALIVE

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.comHello Protagonists! In this post, you’ll find:🎥 The video replay of our October meeting📚 Your invitation + discussion questions for Winter Hours, our Holiday Party Book Club Pick💛 RSVP & Zoom link (below the paywall)💕 Joanna The “Reading with Wonder” Book Club is for our community members who want to dive deeper into how great books work and reflect on their creative process. ✨ Come connect with us! ✨🎥 Replay: The EverlastingIf you missed our last Book Club meeting, you can now watch the full replay above.Here are the highlights of our discussion of The Everlasting:Everyone loved the novel, praising its craft, structure, and character development, but still debated its time-travel logic, moral ambiguity, and genre classification.Style and Structure* Time-loop execution: We all marveled at Harrow’s deftness with the time-loop structure, noting how she avoided boredom in the repetition by shifting perspectives and effectively using small, recurring touchstone moments to center the reader without excessive repetition.* Logic gaps: Several participants struggled with the time-travel mechanics, specifically how aging worked across loops (and other examples not shared here to avoid spoilers). One reader noted a moment where the villain tells the protagonist not to worry about the time-travel complications, which felt like Harrow telling us to relax about mechanics and enjoy the story.Themes and World-Building* Moral nuance or ambiguity: We all appreciated that the novel avoided simple “good vs. evil” binaries and explored morally questionable actions taken for a perceived good. We debated whether the ending provided enough information to assess the creation of Dominion vs. the alternate history. Many felt Harrow left it ambiguous and missed an opportunity to deepen the nuance.* Magic system: Readers noted the restraint in the fantasy world-building; beyond the yew tree and dragons, there is little traditional magic. Some appreciated the restraint and others wanted more. For example, the depiction of dragons as unbothersome creatures disappointed a few readers, but others felt it was a fresh subversion of fantasy expectations.* The power of story: We talked about the meta effect of Harrow writing a legendary character who is then writing a legendary character. We felt this connoted the power of story in shaping our culture. I asked: Could story be the base unit of reality?Romance and Genre* Romantasy vs. Fantasy: The group generally agreed the book is fantasy with romance elements rather than romantasy, because the fantasy plot could stand on its own and the romance is not the primary driver, but an amazing enriching element. * Romantic chemistry: Some loved the slow-burn romance developed through mutual understanding of wounds and power. Others found the characters too saintly or fumbling, which detracted from their personal felt sense of attraction and chemistry.Literary Context and Awards* Hugo Award: We discussed the book’s Hugo win, suggesting the award may favor stories with social commentary and storytelling risks over solely epic fantasy world-building. A fun similarity we noted was that NK Jemisin’s The Fifth Season series, which won the Hugo three years in a row, also used second person to great effect. * Harrow’s genre blend: One reader considered Harrow’s previous work book club-friendly lighter fantasy. We saw that The Everlasting can appeal to fantasy, romance, and literary readers, possibly broadening the fantasy reader funnel. We noted that The Tainted Cup, last year’s Hugo Award winner, crossed fantasy and mystery, and that the genre blends create fresh fiction. During the Mini Creativity Coaching portion, we explored:* We all experienced our own time loops by doing a calendar audit. We made a list of 15 activities we did in the last week and then assessed if our energy went up, down, or remained steady when we did each activity. Lastly, we brainstormed ways to increase time in energy-up activities and delegate or dump energy-down items.* We shared our ideas, including body doubling for hard tasks to make them social and connected, adding positive sensory elements like music or tea to neutral activities, and cheering for each other in saying no to things that we no longer want to do. As always, the replay is available to paid subscribers to keep our discussions cozy and private.📚 You’re Invited: Winter HoursMake a warm cup of cocoa and come to our Holiday Book Club Party! Whether you’re a curious reader or a fellow writer, we’d love to have you join us. No need to be “an expert”—just bring your thoughts and your love of books. Come connect!Our Holiday Book Club pick is:Winter Hours by Mary OliverPoetry can hold great wisdom in a simple package. I picked this collection hoping that it might help us close out the year with calm inspiration, restorative rest, and creative reflection.Meeting Date:Sunday, December 6th, 20268pm ET / 5pm PTZoom link below💬 During the book discussion, we’ll chat about:* Prose, Prose, Poems, and Poems* Winter Hours blends prose, prose poems, and traditional poetry in one collection. How did this combination work for your reading experience and reflection?* Oliver lays out her three rules for poetry: “Every poem I write, I said, must have a genuine body, it must have sincere energy, and it must have a spiritual purpose.”* What would your rules be for a piece of writing?* Which poem in Winter Hours embodies these elements the most?* The Power of Winter and the Natural World* Oliver is a master of paying attention to the natural world. What observations moved you in her work? Have her reflections changed what you notice around you?* Winter has many strong associations - cold, harsh, quiet, solitary. What are Oliver’s observations of winter landscapes saying about the importance or necessity of winter in our inner and outer world? How did they make you feel?* Our Creative Process* How does Winter Hours provide guidance for our creative process?* What are the associations Oliver makes between winter and art? Between the season and the artist? Between the natural cycle around us and within us?* What piece within the collection moved you the most?💬 During the Mini Creativity Coaching portion, we will talk about:* The Importance of Rest* We’ll talk about the different types of rest, creative rest, emotional rest, physical rest, and sensory rest, and discuss how to create space for these components in our lives. We think this is going to be a wonderful conversation!✨ Introverts welcome: Cameras on or off. Your presence is enough.🔐 RSVP & Zoom LinkTo protect the privacy of our discussion space and prevent Zoom-bombing, the RSVP and Zoom link are posted below the paywall.If you’d like to join us in the Book Club, you can upgrade to a paid membership here:Or refer friends to receive complimentary months:* 1 referral = 1 month free* 2 referrals = 3 months free* 3 referrals = 1 year free💛 💛 💛 💛 💛

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest today is Jasmine Guillory, a bestselling author of nine adult romance novels, including the Reese’s Book Club pick, The Proposal. This fall, she is trying something new, making her young adult debut with a Dirty Dancing-inspired story about a young girl finding her way back to dance and to love. Her latest book, It’s Only Dancing, is out now.Together, we talk about:* dancing on the page,* YA novels for a YA audience,* earning the happily ever after,* rediscovering your joy, and so much more!💕 Joanna🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Jasmine:You can find Jasmine on Instagram or on her website. Her newest novel, It’s Only Dancing, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.comHello Protagonists! In this post, you’ll find:🎥 The video replay of our September meeting📚 Your invitation + discussion questions for The Everlasting, our next Book Pick🗓️ Upcoming Book Club Picks💛 RSVP & Zoom link (below the paywall)💕 JoannaThe “Reading with Wonder” Book Club is for our community members who want to dive deeper into how great books work and reflect on their creative process. ✨ Come connect with us! ✨🎥 Replay: We Need Your ArtIf you missed our last book club meeting, you can now watch the full replay above.We had such a fantastic discussion of We Need Your Art and talked about:* Does the world really need your art? Our first discussion point centered on Amy McNee’s core argument and the title of the book WE NEED YOUR ART. Some members questioned whether the world really needs a lot of “bad art.” Others argued that while the world may not literally need every individual work of art, people can become more fulfilled, self-aware, and connected through making it; therefore, art has value even when it never becomes commercially successful or reaches a large audience. We agreed that art serves us in the act of creating regardless of the quality.* Are you really an artist? We talked about how difficult it can be to identify as a writer or artist before receiving traditional markers of success. Many of us hesitated (and still hesitate) to claim that identity because we fear judgment or questions about what we’ve published. We all agreed that finding a sense of internal validation before sharing work can help center us, and that markets are selective and unpredictable, and rejection does not determine the value of our art.* We want an audience! We all agreed that wanting to be in conversation about our art and wanting an audience was natural, and that audience does not have to be enormous. A small group of people who genuinely connect with the work feels meaningful. We also discussed the tension between creating for ourselves and creating for the market. Many felt market awareness can help with decisions about genre, length, structure, and audience, but trying to manufacture something solely for commercial appeal feels inauthentic and almost impossible.* Let’s not be perfect. Perfectionism was the most strongly discussed creative roadblock, particularly at the end of a project. We talked about how finishing can be hard because we lose perspective having spent so much time immersed in the material. Things may feel obvious, stale, or flawed to us, but fresh to a first-time reader. Distinguishing between thoughtful revision and perfectionism driven by fear was tricky for many of us. We noted that external deadlines can help limit perfectionism and force a release of work.* Maybe tomorrow? McNee argues that repeatedly failing to show up for creative work can weaken trust in oneself. Many of us found that to be a helpful way to understand procrastination. We all agreed on the benefit of small daily goals, but debated McNee’s idea of setting a daily maximum. Participants found that honoring flow rather than stopping it didn’t create burnout, but it did sometimes cause neglect of other areas of life. * What does success look like to you? We found that McNee didn’t consider some of the more practical difficulties in trying to support yourself with your art. We agreed with her mandate to get clear on what success looked like for each of us. We talked about how clarifying that definition makes it easier to decide what path to pursue and prevents outside measures of success from becoming the only standard.During the Mini Creativity Coaching portion, we explored:* The importance of celebrating creative milestones! McNee points out that artists often reserve celebration for major public achievements, even though creative work contains countless difficult steps. We each thought of small milestones to celebrate and the types of celebration that felt good to each of us. Ideas included going out to a nice dinner after turning in a manuscript, enjoying a favorite show after an amazing writing session, and saying little love messages to yourself aloud after small talks.As always, the replay is available to paid subscribers to keep our discussions cozy and private.📚 You’re Invited: The EverlastingWhether you’re a curious reader or a fellow writer, we’d love to have you join us. No need to be “an expert”—just bring your thoughts and your love of books.Our next Book Club pick is:The Everlasting by Alix E. HarrowOne of my favorite reader friends described this as “literary romantasy.” I was sold on that alone. Then another reader friend said it was her favorite fantasy of the year. And then, it went and won the HUGO Award. We have to see what this is all about.Meeting Date:Sunday, October 25, 20268pm ET / 5pm PTZoom link below💬 During the book discussion, we’ll chat about:Tone and Structure* Harrow used a cyclical structure, repeating the story, but with subtle changes each time. What did you think of this construction?* What other time loop/cyclical stories did this remind you of? How did they compare in scope and mechanics?* Were you able to predict how they finally escaped the time loop? If so, why or why not?* What differences stood out most to you between the different sections? Which did you prefer?* Whose point of view did you prefer, Owen’s or Una’s? Did the use of the second person work for you? What impact did it have?Old Myth, New Story* What did you think of Una as a reimagined Arthurian hero?* Owen, a timid historian, comes to understand significant things about his field. What do you think this novel is saying about history and truth?* What do you think Harrow was saying about the use of legend and myth by having a character writing a legend, having a character as a legend, and herself an author retelling a legend?* Harrow often writes about who gets to own stories (The Ten Thousand Doors of January and Starling House). How does The Everlasting expand on that theme?The Romance* The novel blends fantasy and romance. Which element stood out most for you, and why? Is it fair to call this novel “romantasy”? Why or why not?* How did Harrow build romantic tension through the novel? What is the difference between admiration and romance, and where did they blend or diverge?Hugo Award* The Hugo Award is an annual literary prize given by members of the World Science Fiction Convention for the best science fiction or fantasy works. The Everlasting won this year. (The Tainted Cup, another book club pick, won in 2025.) If you were part of the committee, would you have voted for The Everlasting?* What role do you think literary prizes and awards play in directing our storytelling and culture?💬 During the Mini Creativity Coaching portion, we will talk about:* Calendar Audit. Relive your past week in your mind. Make a list of 15 activities you did. Be specific: weekly staff meeting, wrote 300 words most days, drafted a newsletter, filled out an expense report, made lunch, picked up the kids from school, had dinner with a writer friend.* Put an arrow next to each activity.* Up - If your energy went up when you did the activity.* Sideways - If your energy was flat when you did the activity.* Down - If your energy went down when you did the activity.* How can you increase the time in activities where your energy rose? What changes might help make your energy rise during the neutral activities? For the energy-down activities, how can you delegate, dump, or do these activities differently? This Hugo Award winner will give us so much to discuss!✨ Introverts welcome: Cameras on or off. Your presence is enough.Upcoming Book Club PicksIn case you missed it, here are our book picks for the first quarter of 2026:🔐 RSVP & Zoom LinkTo protect the privacy of our discussion space and prevent Zoom-bombing, the RSVP and Zoom link are posted below the paywall.If you’d like to join us in the Book Club, you can upgrade to a paid membership here:Or refer friends to receive complimentary months:* 1 referral = 1 month free* 2 referrals = 3 months free* 3 referrals = 1 year free💛 💛 💛 💛 💛

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest today, Helen Scheuerer, is the Sunday Times bestselling romantasy author praised for their strong, flawed heroines and action-packed plots. Helen built her career as an indie author, and her new trilogy is published with Penguin and Simon & Schuster. Her latest book, Kiss of the Black Flame, the first in The Bookbinder’s Bargain trilogy, is out now.Today, we talk about:* the rise of romantasy,* her indie publishing journey,* crafting a series vs. a stand-alone novel,* and so much more!💕 Joanna🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Helen:You can find Helen on Instagram or on her website. Her newest novel, Kiss of the Black Flame, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest today is Jodi Picoult, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels, with over 63 million books in print and translations in forty languages. She has written everything from her breakout novel, My Sister’s Keeper, to young adult books co-written with her daughter to musicals for the stage. She is also one of the country’s most outspoken defenders of the freedom to read. Her latest book, Hollow Bones, is out now.Today, we talk about:* researching and writing about complex medical conditions,* revisiting beloved characters in new novels,* the freedom to read in a tumultuous world,* and so much more!💕 Joanna and Evelyn🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Jodi:You can find Jodi on Instagram. Her newest novel, Hollow Bones, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest, CHLOE BENJAMIN, is the New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists and The Anatomy of Dreams. The Immortalists was a #1 Indie Next pick and was named a best book of 2018 by NPR, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly. Her latest book, Under Story, is the September Good Morning America Book Club pick and is out now.Today, we talk about:* the lushness of language,* questions that haunt us,* taking care of ourselves in the writing process,* and so much more!💕 Joanna 🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Chloe Benjamin:You can find Chloe on Instagram or on her website. Her newest novel, Under Story, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest, Evelyn Skye, is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of our very own Creative, Inspired, ALIVE community. She has written eleven novels, including collaborations with Netflix and Disney, spanning young adult fantasy to heartwarming contemporary women’s fiction. Her novel The Incredible Kindness of Paper was named one of Newsweek’s Best Summer Reads of 2025. Her latest book, Ideal Life, is out now.Today, we talk about:* optimization culture,* Evelyn’s secret writing sauce,* multigenerational points of view,* among other delights!💕, Joanna 🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Evelyn Skye:You can find Evelyn here at Creative, Inspired, ALIVE, and on her personal Substack, Spare Time with Evelyn Skye. Her newest novel, Ideal Life, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our next guest, Amie McNee, is a writer, teacher, speaker, and incredible advocate for creativity. Her mission is to dismantle the limiting narrative surrounding creatives so that we may each become the Artists the world needs us to be. She has published three works of historical fiction, and her non-fiction, We Need Your Art, is our September book club pick.Today, we talk about:* the insidious problem of perfectionism,* the abundance of small goals,* the infinite appetite for art, and* the glorious importance of choosing yourself, among other delights!💕, Joanna🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ [Our Website] | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Amie McNee:You can find Amie McNee on Instagram, Substack, and her website. Her book on creativity, We Need Your Art, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our next guest, Catherine Cho, is the acclaimed author of The Devoted and the memoir Inferno. She was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year 2020 and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Catherine also runs her own literary agency, Paper Literary. Originally from the United States, she now lives with her family in London.Today, we talk about:* the dual life of an agent and writer,* researching the underbelly of society,* the future of literary fiction,* finding the beginning of a story,* and so much more.💕, Joanna & Evelyn🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Catherine Cho:You can find Catherine Cho on her website. Her newest novel, The Devoted, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

Hello Protagonists!Welcome to another episode of the Creative, Inspired, ALIVE podcast—where we go behind the scenes with the storytellers shaping our culture.Our guest, Mara Brock Akil, is an award-winning writer, producer, director, and showrunner. At the age of 30, she became the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast network television with her sitcom Girlfriends. She created BET’s first drama series, Being Mary Jane, and co-created the romantic drama, Love Is, on OWN. She founded Story27 with Netflix and is currently creating her sixth series, the teen drama Forever. Her debut novel, The Revelation of Dionne Daphne, was just published by Storehouse Voices.Today, we talk about:* the public and private lives of women,* comparing screenwriting and crafting novels,* the magic of female friendships,* our collective healing through story,* and so much more.💕, Joanna🎥 Watch the ConversationYou can watch the full video on:→ Our Website | Youtube | Substack appCaptions and full transcripts are always available on the website version (just click the “CC” button or the transcript tab below the video).🎧 Prefer to Listen?Stream the episode wherever you get your podcasts:→ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | or your favorite platform🎙️ Browse all past episodes HERE📝 Want to Ask a Future Guest a Question?We invite the community to submit questions via our community chat—available in your browser or in the Substack app. We love including your curiosities in the conversation!Connect with Mara Brock Akil:You can find Mara on Instagram or on her website. Her newest novel, The Revelation of Dionne Daphne, is available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe