Is your novel idea exciting… but the path from first spark to finished book feels confusing, overwhelming, or totally opaque? Do you daydream about epic worlds, lush magic systems, and big emotions… but worry you’ll never quite figure out how to actually build the story (or the career) you want?

You’re not alone. I’ve worked with so many talented writers whose imaginations are on fire, but who feel stuck between drafting, revising, worldbuilding, and navigating the publishing landscape. The creativity is there. The ambition is there. But the process still feels murky and out of reach.

The missing ingredient is almost always the same: a clear, sustainable way to develop both your novel and your author career, from someone who’s walked the hybrid path.

In this interview, I sit down with award-winning fantasy author Leslye Penelope to talk about how she develops a novel from idea to finished book, how she balances traditional and self-publishing, and how she builds powerful worlds, magic systems, and character arcs without losing creative control.

You’ll learn:

✨ How Leslye went from self-publishing A Song of Blood and Stone to landing a St. Martin’s Press deal (and a spot on Time’s list of the 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time)
✨ Why she chose to self-publish first as a Black epic fantasy romance author—and how she protected her vision and her rights
✨ The levels of professional editing she invested in as an indie author
✨ How she structures her writing life as a hybrid author, including her co-writing sessions, fast-drafting process, and multi-draft revision approach
✨ The plotting frameworks she leans on
✨ How she approaches character work using wounds, misbeliefs, Enneagram types, and theme so her protagonists actually arc on the page
✨ Her philosophy of worldbuilding
✨ How she designs magic systems with real limits and costs, drawing on research and lived traditions so the magic feels fresh.

If you’re dreaming of a long-term speculative fiction career but feel overwhelmed by the craft, the worldbuilding, and the business side, this episode will give you a grounded, practical roadmap for developing your next novel (and protecting your creative freedom) from first spark to final draft.

Grab Leslye's FREE worldbuilding checklist right here!

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Is your writing polished but still not hitting with the emotional punch you want? Do your scenes look great on the surface… but readers don’t lean in, don’t feel connected, and don’t feel compelled to turn the page?

You’re not alone. I’ve read thousands of opening pages from talented writers who have gorgeous prose, solid craft, and thoughtful worldbuilding. But something still feels a little flat. Competent, but not electric. Beautiful, but not alive.

The missing ingredient is almost always the same: interiority.

In this solo episode, I break down what interiority actually is, why it is the most important element of your novel, and how to use it to create characters readers feel bonded to from page one.

You’ll learn:

✨ What interiority really is and why it is more essential than plot or character arc
✨ Why readers need both your protagonist’s emotions and their interpretation of events
✨ The difference between dry narration and interiority-rich writing (with examples from Suzanne Collins and Rebecca Yarros)
✨ The first major Pillar of Interiority: Intellectual and Emotional Processing
✨ How to use therapist-style questions to deepen your protagonist’s internal world
✨ A simple technique to place interiority on the page so it feels seamless, natural, and woven directly into the story
✨ How external action and internal processing work together to hook readers and agents from the very first page

If your scenes feel distant, flat, or like something important is missing, this episode will teach you how to bring your protagonist’s mind onto the page in a way that feels organic, alive, and completely unputdownable.

Grab the free Interiority Workbook (examples, graphics, and guiding questions) in the show notes.

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

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Self-publishing can feel overwhelming, confusing, and expensive… but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

In this episode, I sit down with publisher, book coach, and summit host Alexa Bigwarfe (founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell and the Women in Publishing Summit) to break down your publishing options and demystify what it really takes to self-publish like a pro. You’ll learn how to choose the right path for your book, where to invest your money, and how to start thinking like an author–entrepreneur instead of “just” a writer with a dream.

We’ll talk about:
✨ The real differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing (and who each path serves best)
✨ Why self-publishing is not the “free” option and the core investments you need to plan for
✨ The non-negotiables for a professional book: editing, cover design, formatting, and more
✨ How knowing your genre (and your reader) shapes everything from your story beats to your marketing
✨ What “author platform” actually means and why your email list matters more than any social feed
✨ Simple ways to start building an audience before your book is finished, even if you feel “brand new”
✨ How to approach self-publishing like a long game, including realistic timelines and expectations
✨ When a pen name or hybrid press might make sense for your goals and how to avoid predatory vanity presses

By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of your publishing options and a practical roadmap for treating your book like the powerful, long-term asset it can be, instead of a one-and-done passion project.

Grab Alexa’s free Publishing Pathways & Distribution Guide HERE.

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show