Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

In this eye-opening episode of Fully Booked, returning guest Ariel Anderssen shares her firsthand account of the collapse of Unbound Publishing. After successfully crowdfunding her debut memoir through the hybrid publisher, Ariel soon encountered missed royalty payments, a lack of transparency around sales data, and growing frustration. It was only through threatened legal action that she recovered her earnings, leading her to real...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re exploring the essential role that community plays in a writer’s journey, particularly in genres that thrive on collaboration and shared passion. Our guest is Clay Vermulm, a dark fiction author and podcaster who shares how he transitioned from a background in wrestling and film to a full-time writing career, and how creative communities helped guide and sustain that path. Clay is not only an active ...

How do you write fiction that readers can truly see? In today's episode of Fully Booked, we speak with author Gary Smith about crafting vivid, immersive stories by drawing on real-life experience, strong character instincts, and a deep sense of place. From his free-flowing, scene-by-scene writing method to his use of real locations and photography, Gary shows how authenticity and visual clarity work together to bring stories to lif...

In this episode of Fully Booked, we talk with Dr. Ravi Iyer, a physician, TEDx speaker, and nonfiction author who knows how to turn big concepts into books that truly connect. Dr. Ravi shares how writing a book is a lot like giving a great talk. It’s all about knowing your message, understanding your audience, and delivering your ideas with clarity and emotion. Drawing on insights from cognitive science, he explains how nonfiction ...

This week, Craig and Roland welcome Lauren Carter Reilly to the podcast—a trailblazing author who’s rewriting the rules of self-publishing by steering clear of Amazon entirely when it comes to finding readers for her Gothic horror series The Wonderful Lady B and her upcoming romantic comedy In This Fair Chase.

Lauren’s writing career has roots in her background as a classically trained actress, a background she used to captivate an...

What does it take to write a full-length novel every week for months on end? In this episode of Fully Booked, we talk with author Alison McBain about her ambitious goal to write 52 books in a year, and how her first attempt led to 34 completed novels in 34 weeks, spanning a wide range of genres. While she didn’t hit her full target, writing over a million words in a focused sprint gave her the tools and confidence to try again, thi...

On this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the idea of writing with intentional ambiguity, a technique that involves leaving certain details unsaid to encourage deeper reader engagement. By strategically withholding information, authors allow readers to draw their own conclusions, imagine unwritten backstories, and interpret character motivations in different ways. Swedish author Karl Hörnell joins Craig and Roland to discu...

After a decade of running an ARC service, we’re very familiar with getting reviews and how important they are to making your book stand out from the crowd. But attracting attention is just one way that reviews can help drive sales. This week, Fully Booked is joined by Roxanne Burkey and Charles Breakfield, co-authors who have built an entire strategy around using reader feedback to amplify their books’ visibility and build stronger...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re joined by romance author Elle Christopher, whose debut novel is rooted in profound personal loss and emotional transformation. After the sudden death of her husband, Elle turned to writing as a coping mechanism for both herself and her five children. What started as a private act of healing eventually evolved into an immersive love story that has already struck a chord with early readers.

Drawing fr...

In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we’re exploring how to build momentum in your fiction and make sure readers have a hard time putting your book down. Author and workshop leader Natasha Blandford, who writes as N.L. Blandford, joins Craig and Roland to discuss how to write compelling hooks and cliffhangers that keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. Drawing on her experience writing dark psychological thrillers and...

You don’t have to be a comedian to bring humor into your writing, and just because your book isn’t a comedy doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from a few well-placed laughs. As veteran comedian, keynote speaker, and author Jan McInnis explains in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, humor is a powerful way to connect with your audience and make your message more memorable. Together, we explore what makes humor such an effective storytel...

This week on Fully Booked, we’re joined by military thriller author and former U.S. Air Force special agent Derrick M. Jackson to discuss how real-life experiences can be used to shape compelling fiction. Rather than writing a memoir about his time in the military, Derrick crafted a high-stakes thriller infused with emotional authenticity pulled directly from the most intense moments of his career.

By drawing not just on the events...

This week, we’re welcoming back a familiar face in both the self-publishing world and on this podcast. Dave Chesson, the creative force behind industry-leading tools like Publisher Rocket, returns to discuss one of his other major successes—Atticus. After more than two years on the market and continuous user-driven improvements, Atticus has steadily evolved and built a large, dedicated following. By blending the best features of wr...

Besides a great book, what is it that makes readers remember you and keep coming back for more? According to award-winning brand strategist and personal brand navigator Lauren Clemett, an author’s success is directly tied to their branding. With years of experience helping authors amplify their visibility worldwide, Lauren reveals how the science of neurobranding shapes the way readers connect with your books—and why identifying yo...

One of the most crucial aspects of writing is understanding your audience so that the stories you tell truly resonate. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore this concept with author and speaker Randi-Lee Bowslaugh, who connects with her readers by sharing her personal experiences with mental health and autism. By blending storytelling with an engaging, accessible style, Randi ensures her books reach the people who need the...

Writing a book is one thing—getting it published and into readers’ hands is another challenge entirely. For first-time authors, the process can feel overwhelming, but today’s guest, business consultant and author Jennifer Musser, shares a strategy to make it manageable. By breaking the writing and publishing process into smaller components—outlining, drafting, cover design, formatting, marketing, and more—Jennifer explains how auth...

From visiting unfamiliar locations to speaking directly with locals, nothing beats experiencing key elements of your story firsthand. When possible, this kind of immersive research can make the difference between a good book and one that truly transports readers. In today’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with award-winning author Dr. Randy Overbeck to explore how direct, on-the-ground research enhances storytell...

Can writing a book transform your career? In this episode of Fully Booked, we sit down with author and technologist R.D.D. Smith to explore how professionals can use writing as a powerful tool to build credibility and open new opportunities. Drawing from personal experience, Roger shares how writing books helped him gain industry recognition, secure career-changing roles, and even land a prestigious CTO position.

No matter your ind...

Conflict drives every great story, but what truly makes a hero compelling? And why are villains often the most captivating characters on the page? In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we delve into the intricate "hero-villain dance" with novelist and former educator Lori Paul Johnson. By exploring the moral complexity of antagonists and the archetypal struggles of heroes, Lori breaks down storytelling techniques that keep readers ho...