Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

In this episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with veteran author Matt Hughes to explore what it really means to build a sustainable writing career beyond the glare of bestseller lists. Drawing on decades of experience across genres, markets, and industries, Matt shares how his unconventional path from crime fiction to science fiction and fantasy led to a deeply rewarding creative life. His experience demonstrates how craft, persist...

Marketing a cross-genre book can be challenging, but usually there’s at least some overlap between audiences. Romantic fantasy readers, for example, know exactly what they’re getting. But what happens when your book sits between two completely different markets? That’s the challenge facing this week’s guest, Charles E. Wallace Jr., whose story-driven book has the potential to appeal both to true crime readers and to those looking f...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re joined by true crime author and radio host Alan R. Warren for a fascinating discussion on the genre of true crime, and why he believes the most compelling stories are those told through the lens of their time. With nearly 40 books to his name, Alan shares how his work goes far beyond recounting events, focusing instead on the historical, cultural, and social forces that shape both the crime and the ...

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland speak with prolific children’s author Molly Arbuthnott about what it really takes to move from an initial idea to a growing catalog of published work. From making the decision to pursue writing full time to developing stories and themes that connect with young readers, today's conversation explores both the creative and practical sides of writing for children.

The discussion also go...

In this episode of Fully Booked, we’re joined by author and book coach Jen Braaksma, who shares her journey from teacher to full-time writing coach, and how that path shaped the way she helps writers bring their stories to life. With experience working with over a hundred authors while also publishing her own novels, Jen offers insight into what a book coach actually does and the role guidance can play when a manuscript isn’t quite...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by science fiction author Evan Kidwell for a conversation about why power-driven social hierarchies remain such a compelling force in YA fiction. Using the caste system and bloodline structure from his own debut novel as a starting point, Evan explains how stories built around rank, exclusion, and emerging power speak directly to the adolescent experience.

The epis...

In this episode of Fully Booked, we welcome back returning guest Clay Vermulm to explore what truly makes horror work. Is it simply monsters, gore, and jump scares, or something far deeper? From grief and catastrophic loss to the power of isolation, our discussion takes us through the core emotional elements that allow great horror to connect with readers. By personifying these universal fears as supernatural forces, horror writers...

This week, Fully Booked welcomes back author Randi-Lee Bowslaugh for a thoughtful conversation about second editions and what it really means to revisit a published book. While the lifeblood of a sustained writing career often lies in sequels and new releases, there are compelling strategic and creative reasons to update and republish an older work. From expanding content and incorporating new research to strengthening earlier writ...

Bestselling science fiction author Rick Partlow joins Fully Booked to discuss one of the most elusive skills in publishing: sustained productivity. With nearly 90 novels written since 2011 and an average output of 3,000 words a day, Rick explains how disciplined routines, detailed outlining, and long-term series planning have enabled him to build expansive fictional universes without losing momentum. From the early days of KDP, whe...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with debut author Ben Leman to discuss the long and often humbling road from idea to finished novel. What began as a deeply personal promise to a friend evolved into years of research, multiple full rewrites, and a deliberate commitment to getting the story right before sharing it with readers. Ben walks us through the realities of drafting, scrapping, rebuilding, and learning how...

Credibility and authenticity are two of the qualities that make crime thrillers work, but without insider knowledge they can be difficult to achieve. In this episode of Fully Booked, former detective Peter J. Charles joins Craig and Roland to break down what authenticity really means in crime fiction, and why the details readers cannot always articulate are often the ones that make a story feel true. Drawing on decades of real expe...

In this episode of Fully Booked, science fiction author Pat Daily shares the story behind his break from traditional publishing and the hard-earned lessons that led him to take full ownership of his work. From slow production timelines to editorial mishandling and rigid contracts, Pat walks through the key decisions that led him to buy back the rights to his debut novel and transition to self-publishing.

While going independent bro...

As AI continues to reshape the publishing landscape, authors are being pulled into a complex debate around data, rights, and compensation. In this week's episode of Fully Booked, we’re joined by publishing veteran Julie Trelstad to explore how writers can protect and profit from their work in an increasingly AI-integrated world. Julie introduces Amlet, a forward-looking rights registry designed to help authors retain control over h...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore one of the most critical decisions in the publishing process: how to choose the right editor for your book. Developmental editor and book coach Sue Toth joins us to explain the different types of editing, how they compare to coaching, when and why professional support is worth the investment, and how to prepare your manuscript before handing it off.

Specializing in series editing, ...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, author Tricia Copeland joins Craig and Roland for an in-depth look at fantasy world-building and character-driven storytelling. Tricia shares how her initial story idea evolved into a four-book series of interconnected realms, and how that experience ultimately propelled her into the realm of YA fantasy. From hybrid vampire-witches navigating identity to anxiety-stricken fairy queens thrust i...

Marketing can be one of the most daunting challenges for authors, especially those who would rather be writing than promoting. In this episode of Fully Booked, we speak with Kae Wagner, founder of the Bold Authors Network, about how writers can shift from dreading marketing to embracing it as an essential part of being a self-publisher. Drawing from decades of marketing experience and her own journey as a writer, Kae shares modern,...

In this special year-end roundup, Craig and Roland look back at some of the biggest developments and trends that shaped the self-publishing world in 2025. It was a year defined by the continuing rise of AI, but in some ways, it also sparked a renewed push for authors to make stronger connections with their audiences. Not only do the hosts recap key moments and movements from the past year, but they also offer insights into what the...

What does it take to turn a passion for writing into a sustainable, income-generating career? In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with Maria Secoy, founder of All Write and an experienced book coach, who shares a clear and practical path for writers ready to take control of the business side of publishing. From managing production costs to building a publishing schedule that works with Amazon’s algorithm, she offers...

What if the book you’re writing isn’t really the product you’re selling? In today's episode of Fully Booked, publishing strategist Michael R. Drew takes us through the deeper business logic behind nonfiction publishing. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience and over 130 bestsellers, Michael explains why the most successful nonfiction authors begin not with the book itself, but by first defining the outcome they want it to a...