What drives a retired chemist with a PhD to write her first book at this stage of life? For Miami author Gladys Barrio, the answer is simple: her grandchildren needed to know where they came from.

In this episode, host Jolene MacFadden sits down with Barrio to discuss her award-winning memoir, *Empowered by the Dream: A Journey of Resilience*, which traces three generations of her Cuban-Spanish family through the Spanish Civil War, communist exile, and resettlement across Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

Barrio shares what it was like navigating nine schools across four countries as a child, how she developed her writing craft through OLLI courses and critique groups, and why she insists the Spanish translation of her book must be more than a translation. She also talks about her writing ritual, her advice for new memoir writers, and the Hurricane Helene story she is writing now.

Find Gladys at ⁠https://amzn.to/4cPZW1K⁠If you have ever wanted to tell your family's story but didn't know where to start, this episode will give you both the permission and the practical path forward.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

00:36 Meet Gladys Barrio

01:11 Family Saga Across Exiles

03:48 Childhood Displacement

06:20 From Schools to Chemistry PhD

07:32 Learning Memoir Craft

09:14 Next Book: Hurricane Story

10:12 Life Moves and Hurricane Andrew

11:51 Writer vs Author Mindset

12:54 Reading Tastes and Publishing

14:29 Spanish Translation Choices

17:51 Advice and Beating Writer's Block

20:44 Writing Routine and Rituals

22:12 Closing and Show Notes

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Orlando Author Mindy Killgrove on Cozy Mysteries, Indie Publishing, KU vs Wide, and Writing Life | Jolene’s Books & Writer’s Talk

Host Jolene MacFadden interviews Orlando, Florida author Mindy Killgrove, who writes cozy mystery series and romance and is finishing the final book in her Buena Ventura Beach Mystery series set in a fictional Florida beach town. Mindy discusses creating a community-focused cozy setting with varied mysteries, her influences (Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Shakespeare), and her experience with the Orange County Library System through book fairs, local collection requests, and the OCLS Writers Group. The conversation covers indie publishing trends, Mindy’s preference for self-publishing after an earlier small-press experience, and the KU/Kindle Select exclusivity tradeoff; she keeps most of her catalog in Kindle Unlimited due to stronger results, while her first trilogy is available wide. Jolene shares her own wide strategy using Draft2Digital and IngramSpark to reach libraries and ebook services. They compare production tools (IngramSpark print quality, Draft2Digital conversions, and Ingram’s sprayed edges), discuss social media choices (Mindy uses Facebook, Instagram, occasional X, and a YouTube channel with children’s book read-alouds), and newsletter building via BookFunnel. Mindy explains what she likes about writing (growth, reader engagement) and dislikes (marketing/advertising), her organized plotter approach using Microsoft Word, maintaining a series “world bible,” and tips for new writers to start with the story in their head and outline it. They address AI, with Mindy using it for promotional images via Canva while opposing AI-written stories, and they discuss cover design expectations for cozy mysteries and the need to refresh covers over time. Jolene also mentions republishing backlists, copyright registration, and long-term rights planning (including trusts). Mindy closes by sharing that she travels around Florida to attend book festivals and connect with readers and authors. Visit the authors website: https://www.mindykillgrove.com

00:00 Welcome & Show Intro (Jolene’s Books and Writer’s Talk)

00:40 Meet Mindy Killgrove + The Buena Ventura Beach Mysteries

01:43 Favorite Influences & Reading Habits (Austen, Christie, Shakespeare)

02:37 Libraries & Supporting Indie Authors (OCLS and beyond)

04:35 Indie vs Traditional Publishing + Community Support

05:54 Kindle Unlimited Exclusivity vs Going Wide (What Works for Sales)

08:20 Print & Distribution Tools: IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Smashwords Sales

10:32 Author Platform & Social Media Choices (Website, YouTube, Newsletters)

13:48 What Mindy Loves (and Hates) About the Writing Career

16:24 Process & Organization: Plotter Mindset, Outlines, and Series Bible

18:42 Advice for New Writers + Where AI Fits (and Doesn’t)

21:56 Cover Design Trends, Refreshing Backlists & Copyright/Legacy Planning

25:11 Events, Florida Book Fests & Final Wrap-Up

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In this episode of Jolene's Books and Writer's Talk, host Jolene MacFadden sits down with author Pamela D. Marshall, a former television journalist turned children’s book author. They discuss Pamela's journey from journalism to writing, her books on forgiveness and environmental awareness, and the importance of connecting with other authors and utilizing social media to reach audiences. Pamela also shares insights into her writing process, the significance of forgiveness, and her future projects, all amidst reflections on personal and environmental wellness. Visit the author's website: https://www.pameladmarshall.com/

00:00 Introduction to Jolene's Books and Writer's Talk

00:41 Guest Author's Journey to Writing

01:12 Children's Books and Environmental Themes

02:43 Self-Publishing and Networking

03:41 Social Media and Writing

05:10 Developing Plots and Characters

11:52 Writing Schedules and Habits

16:18 Common Traps for New Authors

26:45 Literary Success and Inspirations

32:39 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

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