Lesbians Who Write Podcast Lesbians Who Write
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A weekly show about writing and lesbian fiction. Join Clare Lydon and TB Markinson for conversations about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the writer’s life. Email questions and comments to lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com, or visit www.lesbianswhowrite.com to sign up to their newsletter.
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LWW 198: How to Write the Perfect Book
Programming note: TB and Clare make a major LWW announcement right before getting to the episode’s topic.
In fantastic news, TB and Miranda’s latest book is with the editor. What a relief! They’re already plotting the next story and TB loves the shiny and new stage before getting words on the page. In surprising news, TB’s in a fantastic mood, despite being exhausted, but for an exciting reason.
Big announcement, folks! Clare’s upcoming book is titled Just Kiss Her. On the flip side, Clare's experience with setting up her Shopify store has been anything but smooth sailing. It seems she's been encountering quite a few frustrations, possibly leading to some colorful language.
Before getting to the topic, they rank their top 5 books in their series (Lizzie for TB and London for Clare).
They crash on to the topic: how to write the perfect book. Have they kept a secret magic formula hidden throughout five years of this podcast? Regrettably not. However, they do offer valuable advice on crafting the best book possible. Tune in for some golden insights you won't want to overlook.
Please send in your comments and questions for the duo to discuss on the next episode. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB -
LWW 197: Future Publishing Predictions
TB and Miranda are chugging away on their book and they’re getting close to the end. TB’s remembering how hard it is to end a story. Also, TB has frustrating Amazon news and a wonderful tax announcement, which is a weird and rare thing to say. Lastly, TB is so over winter, and she just wants to be warm.
Clare’s newest book is with the editor. Toot toot! She’s been keeping busy with admin tasks, the unsexy but vital aspects about being an indie author. Sadly, she’s also had to deal with the translation pirates. Clare’s going to be on a panel at the Self Publishing Show in London this June. So exciting!
They crash on to the topic: future publishing predictions. While the duo doesn’t have a crystal ball, they’ve been in the business long enough to see some trends. Have a listen to hear their predictions and not surprisingly, TB brings the dark while Clare supplies rays of sunshine.
What predictions do you have? Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB
Links:
Around the World in 80 Days Mini Reading Challenge: https://iheartsapphfic.com/2024/03/20/announcing-the-around-the-world-in-80-days-mini-reading-challenge/
IHS April Sale Submission Form: https://bit.ly/3THNRAC
IHS Patreon Author of the Week: https://www.patreon.com/posts/3-truths-lie-by-101364151
Alliance of Independent Authors: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/ -
LWW 196: Rule Breakers: Times We’ve Gone Against the Grain
TB has translation news. Devil’s Advocate is now available in French. Oooh la la! TB and Miranda are writing again now that Miranda is on the road to recovery. It’s nice to get words on the page again. TB finds herself in another confrontation with Amazon as it appears increasingly challenging to perform basic tasks on KDP.
Clare spent the week at London Book Fair and was on a panel. She’s hit the big time! Even better, she’s met some new sapphic fiction authors and caught up with old friends. Clare’s next book is not far from going to the editor. How exciting! More importantly, Spurs women beat Man City! Clare is so happy.
They crash on to the topic: when they’ve broken rules or rebelled conventional wisdom. Both of them aren't inherently inclined to break rules, yet there have been occasions in both their professional and personal lives where they've done so. Listen to the episode to find out when they have gone against the grain and how it worked out.
Tell us when you’ve broken a rule and what happened when you did. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB
Link:
French version of Devil’s Advocate: https://www.reinesdecoeur.com/les-livres-lesbiens/l-avocate-du-diable-tb-markinson-miranda-macleod/ -
LWW 195: Biggest Change in Publishing in Last 5 Years
Anniversary alert. Our first episode went live five years ago on March 2, 2019. Toot toot!
TB is busy per usual, but there’s an added complication right now. Miranda recently had surgery and TB’s been helping take care of her. In publishing news, Amazon and ACX seem determined to put books into the wrong categories. Keep on eye on your book categories, peeps. In fantastic news, the I Heart Sapphic BookFinder has more than 6,000 books in the database. Amazing!
London Ever After is out! Toot toot! Also, the London rebrand has been finalized. Even better, Clare’s next book is already under way. She’s smashing it this year. To honor her 10-year anniversary, Clare will be celebrating for a year. Keep an eye out for sales, giveaways, and more. She also spent 5 days in Spain and enjoyed some marvellous cheesecake.
They crash on to the topic: what they believe has been the biggest change in publishing since the start of this podcast. Join us as we unravel the biggest shifts since 2019. Trends may ebb and flow, but some truths endure. Tune in to explore the evolution of the exciting world of indie publishing.
Tell us what you think has been the biggest change in publishing. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB
Links:
A Song in Her Heart: https://mybook.to/SongAudioTBM1
I Heart SapphFic Bookfinder: https://iheartsapphfic.com/bookfinder/
London Ever After: https://www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/london-ever-after/ -
LWW 194: Newsletters
TB’s first audiobook of 2024 is out in the world and TB was amazed when ACX only took 4 days to get it on Audible. Also, she’s loving writing the monthly Lizzie instalments for Patreon peeps. In translation news, the French version of Devil’s Advocate will be out soon, and the German one won’t be too far behind.
Clare is frazzled because London Ever After is launching at the end of February, which coincides with Clare’s ten-year anniversary of when she published her first book. Toot toot! She’s been busy recovering and redoing all the blurbs for all the London books to prepare for the release of London 9.
They crash on to the topic: newsletters. Many authors claim newsletters are vital, but are they that important for your writing career? Clare and TB dig into this topic giving their honest assessment. Have a listen to find what they think about newsletters.
Tell us what you think about newsletters. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB
Links:
A Song in Her Heart: https://mybook.to/SongAudioTBM1
Marketing with Sam: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sunday-marketing-98288298
Lizzie Patreon Installments: https://www.patreon.com/posts/latest-lizzie-is-98477616
London Ever After: https://www.clarelydon.co.uk/2024/02/london-ever-after-first-chapter-preview/
Clare’s Interview: https://www.mylondon.news/news/real-life/i-laughed-raised-lack-female-28544226
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LWW 193: Go Your Own Way
TB is so over 2024. She’s had nothing but battles this year including ones with Amazon, websites, and a cold. The good news, Say Cheese is out in the world! Also, I Heart SapphFic had its best month ever. Only if TB could get over her wretched cold, she might not hate 2024 so much.
London Ever After is back from the editor and Clare’s sending it to her first readers. Toot toot. Now she needs to set a launch date. In more London romance news, she’s in the process of recovering all the books. Exciting! In fun Clare news, she’s been going to a lot of football matches.
They crash on to the topic: go your own way. In the writing business, there’s plenty of advice, tips, and suggestions people tell writers to follow. But should you? Clare recently had a clang of reality that got her thinking about advice. Have a listen to learn how they decide to ignore/implement/tailor advice and tips to suit them.
Tell us what you think. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com and leave us a comment.
Happy listening!
Clare & TB
Links:
Say Cheese: https://mybook.to/CheeseLWW
IHS Valentine / Anti-Valentine Sale Submission form: https://bit.ly/492bHgV
Customer Reviews
Invaluable
This is the most useful podcast I’ve ever heard. Clare and TB share their considerable experience and knowledge of the writing life and business, helping avid readers and author-hopefuls like me learn more about the otherwise daunting world of writing and publishing.
Great podcast
I listen every Monday on my way home from work and it really enlivens the trip. I really enjoy the banter and hearing the behind the scenes moments.