Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

For authors curious about screenwriting, knowing how to write for the screen is only part of the equation. Writing for the screen is entirely different from putting a novel together, and there is an entire industry surrounding the process that brings its own opportunities, challenges, and often unpredictable paths to success. This week, Craig and Roland explore that world with writer and Emmy-winning producer Elliot Blake, whose de...

Marketing a book is one thing, but building an author career is something else entirely. This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with publishing professional and author brand strategist Jessica Sorentino to explore why the most successful authors focus on building and maintaining relationships with their readers that start long before launch and continue between every release. Today's readers are buying you as an autho...

Children's books may look simple on the surface, but creating one that resonates with young readers takes far more than a good idea. This week on Fully Booked, educator and children's author Bridget Gengler explains why writing for children requires purpose, empathy, and a deep understanding of what young readers truly need. She argues that writing for young minds is about more than entertaining or teaching in the moment, but about...

Social media can feel like one more thing on an author's endless to do list, but what if it could become one of your most effective marketing tools? This week, social media strategist Karlyn Ankrom joins us to explain how authors can stop chasing algorithms and start building genuine connections that turn casual followers into loyal readers. From choosing the right platform to creating content that keeps working long after launch d...

In this episode of Fully Booked, Roland and Craig are joined by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a 28 year U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, former Defense Attaché to France, and author of the Major Jake Forina thriller series. Rick shares how a career spent commanding troops, working with NATO, leading counterterrorism efforts, and building international partnerships has shaped the stories he writes today. From deadly vi...

Blending genres is one thing, but making readers believe they belong together is something else entirely. And when you're combining supernatural elements with crime fiction, there are even more considerations. This week's guest, Caryn McCann, explains how mythology can deepen a mystery by raising the stakes, shaping character motivations, and driving the narrative, but if the supernatural becomes the solution to the mystery, reader...

Every author is looking for the next marketing strategy that will help their book break through the noise. This week's guest, JD Barker, believes that instead of copying what successful authors are already doing, the real opportunity lies in finding the ideas nobody else has thought of yet. That unconventional mindset has helped him build an international bestselling career, launching books in unexpected ways and creating publicity...

What makes a memoir different from an autobiography, and why do some personal stories resonate so deeply with readers? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with memoir coach Ally Berthiaume to explore the power of personal storytelling. From uncovering the deeper meaning behind life's defining moments to understanding why memoirs so often focus on resilience, adversity, and growth, Ally explains what separates a mem...

When writing historical fiction, research can be challenging enough. But what happens when some of the most important details simply don't exist? In this week's episode of Fully Booked, bestselling author Randy Overbeck returns to discuss the unique process of filling in the gaps, as he did while writing his latest novel, which centers on a Revolutionary War spy whose true identity remains one of history's enduring mysteries.

Drawi...

How do you turn real life into fiction when the truth is actually harder to believe than anything you could invent?

This week we explore exactly that question with guest Sandy Malone, whose Caribbean wedding planning business provided an endless stream of unforgettable stories that eventually became both a reality television show and the inspiration for her novels. From real life bridezillas and wedding disasters to couples so outr...

Where is the line between true crime and crime fiction? What can fiction reveal that the facts alone cannot? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland speak with crime novelist and former barrister Simon Michael about drawing inspiration from real criminal cases and why the most compelling stories often emerge not from what happened, but from understanding the people behind the events.

Drawing on nearly four decades in the courtr...

This week on Fully Booked, we speak with author Su Chang about the personal and political risks of telling stories that challenge official history. Writing under a pen name and appearing masked to protect both herself and her family, Su discusses how fiction can preserve truths that institutions often try to reshape or erase entirely.

Our discussion explores the realities of publishing politically sensitive work in today’s wo...

This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with debut novelist Marc S. Perlman to explore how setting can become far more than a backdrop. Inspired by a real journey through an ancient forest on the border of Poland and Belarus, Marc discusses how the eerie landscape at the center of his thriller evolved into a living presence within the story itself. From hidden dangers in the woods to the tension of crossing political b...

This week on Fully Booked, returning guest Jennifer Lieberman joins us for a fascinating conversation about playwriting, theater production, and what authors can learn from writing for the stage. From the differences between novels, screenplays, and plays to the realities of development readings, audience feedback, and workshop productions, Jennifer breaks down why theater remains one of the most collaborative and demanding storyte...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by author, speaker, and radio host Grace Sammon to discuss the emotional responsibility that comes with writing stories rooted in difficult truths. Drawing from her experience writing both fiction and non-fiction, Grace shares how she approaches themes like trauma, abuse, and identity in a way that keeps readers engaged and supported, while still maintaining ...

In this episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with Patty McGee to rethink a fundamental yet often intimidating aspect of writing. While many authors see grammar as a strict set of rules to follow, Patty invites us to view it as an art form, something fluid, expressive, and deeply connected to a writer’s voice. By shifting this perspective, grammar becomes less of a constraint and more of a creative tool for clarity and connect...

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 reader...

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 an...