An in depth look at my experience with Authors AI.
*Some of the links below are affiliate. You get the same price and support me and indie bookshops at the same time! Yay!
Book Nook Segment:
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
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Resources Mentioned:
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Even if you're not in the place you think you want to be with your writing or reading, maybe nothing has gone wrong, maybe you're exactly where you need to be.
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Looking for good book recommendations? Here's a quick update on the best books I've read since October.
*Links below are affiliate. You get the same price and support me and indie bookshops at the same time! Yay!
#5. Vinegar Girl by Anne Taylor
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#4. Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards
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#3. Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
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#2. Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas
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#1. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
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Other Books Mentioned:
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Want more book recommendations? Check out this episodes for more ideas!
What Readers Want and How to Get Kids to Read with Janssen Bradshaw
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Making your story entertaining isn't just your only hope of anyone reading it, it's also your job as writer, your only job.
Entertainment is the reason we're all here.
*The links below are affiliates. If you enjoy my work, please consider using my links and supporting me and at no extra cost to you.
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Sara B. Larson Links:
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No one wants to read your book, that's why you'll have to make them. Step one: Make it readable.
Grammar, sentence structure, and spelling aren't sexy, but they are essential in grabbing your readers and holding on till the last page.
Resources:
https://bookshop.org/widgets.js
Other Mentions:
Jenna Moreci - 10 Worst Writing Quirks
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Three ways to reward yourself to success when arbitrary punishments and false deadlines are letting you down.
*The links below are affiliates. If you enjoy my work, please consider using my links and supporting me and at no extra cost to you. :)
Books Mentioned:
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Resources Mentioned:
How to Get Your Butt in the Chair and Keep it There (Beating around the Book Season 1 Ep. 31)
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It's been said that every story has already been told. If that's true how do we keep telling stories? One way is with retellings and inspired by's and author Tiana Smith is here to tell us all about it.
This post contains some affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase may be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love.
Book to Movie Club:
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Tiana's Books:
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Find Tiana:
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Bee and I talk about why artists seem to be tortured souls, if there is any truth to the stereotype, and if we think it truly helps in the work.
This post contains some affiliate links. If you click on the link a small percentage of your purchase may be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and other amazing businesses!
TBR Segment:
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Other Mentions:
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Three suggestions for getting over creative block, and they're more fun than you might think!
This post contains some affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase may be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and other amazing businesses!
Book Nook:
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Resources and Websites Mentioned:
Thomas Edison, Power Napping Article
Thomas Edison's Secret Trick to Maximize His Creativity by Falling Asleep Article
From Thomas Edison to Winston Churchill Here are the Sleeping Habits of 12 Great Leaders Article
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Whether you've seen Bridgerton or not this episode discusses actionable ideas for staying true to your characters, specifically in the portrayal of sex scenes.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase may be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Bookish Inspirations:
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
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A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Made Me Do It (Post)
Traditional Cuban Rice Pudding
Other Websites/ Articles Mentioned:
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If you ever get stuck in the middle of a story here's some ideas and suggestions that could help!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook:
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Other Books:
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Other Resources Mentioned:
The Nutshell Technique Youtube
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I've been binging the 10 Minute Writers Workshop. Here's some favorite advice so far, with my two cents tacked on, of course. ;)
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook:
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Other Resources Mentioned:
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As creatives it can be easy to get in our heads about things like 'What if everyone hates it?' This episode explains why that probably won't happy, and why even if it does, it's not a problem. It's especially not your problem.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook:
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Other Resources Mentioned:
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This episode is a quick look into what objectification is, why it's so important to stop it, especially in our industry, and what we can do about it.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Beauty Redefined:
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Brene Brown:
Other sources mentioned:
The 10 Minute Writers Workshop Podcast
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If you're listening to this podcast you probably agree that reading should be fun, like Janssen does. As a book blogger, mom, and former elementary school librarian, she helps us tune into the needs of readers from young to old, and explains tips and tricks to promote reading for even the most stubborn opposers.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Find Janssen at:
Book Nook Books:
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Best selling author Amy Harmon shares wonderful insights about her newest book, The Song Book of Benny Lament and answers questions about the disconnect that can happen between writing and storytelling and how to bridge the gap.
Book Nook Book:
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If you've ever been anxious or nervous about your work someone might tell you that you have Imposter Syndrome, but Imposter Syndrome is not your problem.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook Book:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
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Other Books and Links:
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Writing Wisdom from Amy Harmon on Beating around the Book
Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome (Harvard Business Review)
What Is Imposter Syndrome? (Very Well Mind)
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Books and stories cover a wide range on the sex and intimacy scale from 'Erotic' to 'Clean' and Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a licensed sex therapist, is here to help us explore that range and how it can intersect with and enrich our lives.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook:
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Find Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-FIfe:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-finlayson-fifes-podcast-archive/id1479472319
Other Resources:
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Miranda Anderson is a creative lifestyle and practical minimalism expert AND she's a book lover like us. She opens up the bookish box to new ideas to use and think about books in your home and life. And offers suggestions on how to spread the love so that you and your family, friends, and community can enjoy the books you love more than ever before.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Find Miranda:
Book Nook:
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The romance myth is that everything is more fun and sexier if you DON'T plan it or talk about it. In this episode I breakdown why this is a lie, how this is impacting our stories and our communities, and what we can do about it.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book to Movie Club:
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe
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Recommended Books:
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Lindsay and Bee merge three methods to build a system for you to consistently get your butt in the chair and keep it there. So you can be successful with your writing and reading goals.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Book Nook Books:
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The Science of Getting Started
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Bee's Book Recommendations:
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The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
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Kim Tells us about her experience trunking her first novel, as well as resources and tips for finding new good reads over and over again. She is my book Guru!
Where to Find Kim:
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Our book world is full of passionate readers and writers. But what do you do if you're having doubts? What happens when your craft gets hard or you're just feeling too busy to read or write? That can be discouraging and difficult. This pep talk will give you quotes and suggestions to offer a different perspective through your book troubles.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Books Mentioned Affiliate Links:
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This epilogue is the final episode for Infectious. A few loose ends are tied up and the stage is set for a sequel. It's been wonderful to have you join Maddy and her journey through Infectious. We hope you enjoy it!
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We loved having you join us for the entertainment of INFECTIOUS and now we're going to make it even more worth your while by sharing insights and specific examples of how it could be better. There are some small spoilers, so if you haven't already listened to INFECTIOUS but would like to, we recommend you do that first. Enjoy the show!
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Bee and Lindsay have a sisterly pep talk over post novel blues, the kind you get when you finish a good book that you didn't want to end, or have been working toward a goal and now that it's done you don't know what to do.
Links and credits:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=post-Potter%20depression
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/fleur-morrison/theres-no-cure-for-the-post-book-blues_a_21655697/
https://people.com/celebrity/j-k-rowling-sad-to-finish-harry-potter-series/
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Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
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Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
-->Listed in: Arts
Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
Find us on instagram @beatingaroundthebook
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Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.) Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live Find us on instagram @beatingaroundthebook
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Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.) Infectious Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live Find us on instagram @beatingarounthebook
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Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
Infectious
Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, it gets worse when she accidentally releases a virus. Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live
Find us on instagram @beatingaroundthebook
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Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this brings you the gift of entertainment and makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
Infectious
Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, everything gets so much worse when she accidentally releases a deadly virus.
Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live
Find us on instagram @beatingaroundthebook
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Happy Holidays! 2020 has been rough. We hope this brings you the gift of entertainment and makes your season a little brighter. (Written in 2018. This is not a covid novel.)
Infectious
Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, everything gets so much worse when she accidentally releases a deadly virus.
Maddy has to work with a secret government agency to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live
Find me on instagram @beatingaroundthebook
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If you haven't listened to Ch 1 and 2, listen to them first!
Infectious in a contemporary young adult novel that was written in 2018. It is not a covid novel, though it does deal with a fictional virus.
Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, everything gets so much worse when she accidentally releases a deadly virus into her new town.
Maddy has to work with a secret government agency and follow some deranged scientists clues to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
*Infectious is about a PG - PG13 rating for a few mild curse words, some innuendo, and small amounts of violence.
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We know 2020 has been a hard year. So we want to bring a little more cheer and entertainment into your life this holiday season. Please enjoy a Trunk Novel on us. Happy Holidays!
Infectious in a contemporary young adult novel that was written in 2018. It is not a covid novel, though it does deal with a fictional virus.
Sixteen-year-old Maddy doesn't want to be the new girl, but as bad as it is that her parents made her move, everything gets so much worse when she accidentally releases a deadly virus into her new town.
Maddy has to work with a secret government agency and follow some deranged scientists clues to save the people she loves in the town where she never wanted to live.
*Infectious is about a PG - PG13 rating for a few mild curse words, some innuendo, and small amounts of violence.
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Have you written a book? Ever wondered what's next? Now you know. Here are the 8 steps to edit your novel before a professional sees it.
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Charlie shares her journey to becoming an author, tips for faster writing, and industry insight.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Books Mentioned Affiliate Links:
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Other Links:
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New York Times Best Seller Amy Harmon shares advice and words of wisdom that inspire and encourage in writing and in life.
Find her website here: https://www.authoramyharmon.com
Pre-order her next book (The Song of Benny Lament) here: https://www.authoramyharmon.com/thesongbookofbennylament.html
And follow her on insta @amy.harmon2 for more of her awesomeness!
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Your main character should get all your best lines, but give your secondary characters a little life too. Most of us aren't interested in lifeless skeletons. Your readers and your plot will thank you.
"The key to creating better plots rests in a deeper understanding of character." — Kristen Lamb (Great Characters - The Beating Heart of Great Fiction)
Writing and Editing for relatable secondary characters and a few examples we've found.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link a percentage of your purchase will be paid to me, at not extra cost to you. I only recommend resources that I love. If you chose to use them, thank you for supporting me and the businesses I love!
Books Mentioned:
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Other Links:
Nate Bargetze: https://www.natebargatze.com
Eurovision Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6Co-nd0lM
Lit Service Podcast: https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation
Helping Writers Become Authors Blog: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
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A podcast on a screenwriting method by Jill Chamberlin and how to apply it to novel writing and editing. After listening to the episode, check out the link to the book, her website below, and a YouTube, from Film Courage, of her explaining the technique.
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https://www.jillchamberlain.com
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