You've done it — you've written a first draft! But before you send it out into the world, there are five common pitfalls that trip up nearly every new writer, and I've seen them time and time again while coaching my writing students.

In this episode, The Tech Guy and I walk through each one: scenes that take place in a vacuum, too many characters, info dumping, a missing emotional arc, and stilted dialogue.

These aren't things to be embarrassed about — they show up in every first draft, including mine. The goal is to know what to look for so your second pass can really make your story sing. Whether you're working on your first novel or you're a reader who's ever thought "wait, where are we right now?" — this one's for you. Tune in and let us know what you think!

Reading is in trouble — and not just for kids. In this episode, I'm sitting down with the Tech Guy to talk about some genuinely alarming statistics about literacy in the United States, discuss why reading matters more than ever, and share some easy, actionable ways you can help turn things around.

From the surprising health benefits of cracking open a book (six minutes of reading cuts stress by 68%!) to how you can get more young readers excited about books in your community, this episode is a shoutout to all the readers out there to take action.

Grab something warm, settle in, and let's talk about why you — yes, you — are making a difference just by being a reader. Let us know what you think!

The announcement you've been waiting for is here, darlings! I'm so excited to reveal the author lineup for the 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Festival — October 8th through 11th, 2026 in Ashland, Oregon.

In this episode, The Tech Guy and I share who's joining us this year, including a brand-new cozy adjacent element that I think is going to absolutely blow your minds. We also talk about what makes this festival unlike anything else in the mystery world, what to expect from the weekend, and a little teaser about the Saturday night dinner theme.

If you've ever wanted to spend four days fully immersed in cozy mystery goodness surrounded by authors and fellow readers, this one's for you. We'll see you in Ashland!