Margs & Manuscripts

Cait & Jenna
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The book world is bigger than any one corner of it. Margs & Manuscripts brings it all together — writers, authors, agents, editors, bookstore owners, and readers — for real, unfiltered conversation about writing, publishing, and the reading life. Hosted by Cait and Jenna, two writer friends who pour a drink and let the conversation flow.

  1. Why Indie Authors Feel Set Up to Fail | Bitty Balducci

    2d ago ·  Bonus

    Why Indie Authors Feel Set Up to Fail | Bitty Balducci

    A conversation about publishing quickly turned into something bigger. After discussing author scams, we sat down with Bitty Balducci to talk about indie publishing, traditional publishing, BookTok, gatekeeping, and why so many authors feel like they're navigating the industry completely alone. We discuss:  Why Bitty chose indie publishing  Querying frustrations  Long traditional publishing timelines  Whether BookTok is really "ruining publishing"  Why indie authors are expected to figure everything out themselves  The importance of following creative inspiration when it strikes And yes, we also talk about the wild novella Bitty wrote in less than a week after a dream-inspired idea refused to leave her alone. In This Episode  How a dream-inspired idea became a published novella in less than a week  Why Bitty believes writers should follow creative momentum when it strikes  The inspiration behind Shades Drawn and its timely, Black Mirror-style premise  Querying frustrations and the challenges of fitting books into industry expectations  Why some authors choose indie publishing over the traditional route  The realities of marketing and selling books as an independent author  Whether BookTok is changing publishing—or simply exposing existing problems  The role of gatekeeping in today's publishing landscape  Why traditional publishing timelines can feel disconnected from modern readers  Creative freedom, risk-taking, and building a writing career on your own terms  The importance of transparency and information-sharing within the author community  Hot takes on publishing, creativity, and the future of books and authorship

    17 min
  2. The Scams Targeting Indie Authors Right Now | Bitty Balducci

    3d ago

    The Scams Targeting Indie Authors Right Now | Bitty Balducci

    What happens when the scam emails stop looking like scams? This week we're joined by author Bitty Balducci to talk about the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting indie authors. From fake HarperCollins editors and fraudulent book clubs to AI-generated audiobook narrators and manuscript theft, the stories are far more convincing than most authors realize. Bitty shares scams she personally encountered, including one that cost her hundreds of dollars and another that nearly led to a major payment to an AI-generated narrator. We also discuss why authors are especially vulnerable, how scammers exploit the publishing industry's learning curve, and why more people aren't talking about these experiences. If you're querying, self-publishing, marketing a book, or simply trying to navigate the publishing world, this conversation could save you time, money, and a lot of frustration. What is the biggest scam you've encountered as an author—or in life? Let us know in the comments. Guest: Bitty Balducci In This Episode  The surprisingly sophisticated scams targeting indie authors today  Fake HarperCollins editors, fraudulent book clubs, and manuscript theft attempts  How scammers use real names, real companies, and AI-generated content to appear legitimate  The audiobook narrator scam that nearly cost hundreds of dollars  Why even experienced authors struggle to spot modern publishing scams  The emotional vulnerability scammers exploit in writers and creatives  Red flags to watch for when receiving publishing, marketing, or promotion offers  Why authors don't talk about scams often enough—and why that needs to change  Practical tips for protecting your work, money, and personal information  How the publishing industry could do more to educate and support authors  Why transparency and community may be the best defense against scams

    31 min
  3. Discovery Writing, Outlining & Trusting Your Characters | Lauren Okie

    Jun 16

    Discovery Writing, Outlining & Trusting Your Characters | Lauren Okie

    What happens when your characters know the story before you do? This week, we sit down with romance author Lauren Okie to talk about discovery writing, outlining, second drafts, and learning to trust your creative instincts. From writing Tropesick while querying her debut novel to protecting the creative spark in a publishing industry full of distractions, Lauren shares an honest look at the realities of writing books that surprise both the author and the reader. Lauren Okie didn't set out to write a book about tropes. She set out to write characters compelling enough to tell her where the story wanted to go. In this episode, Lauren joins Jenna and Cait to discuss the writing process behind Tropesick, her approach to discovery writing, and why she believes character should always come before plot. The conversation explores outlining versus improvisation, second drafts, deleting scenes you love, and the challenge of protecting creativity in an industry that often prioritizes metrics over art. For writers, this episode is packed with practical advice on trusting your instincts, identifying what belongs in your story, and finding your way through the messy middle of drafting a novel. For readers, it's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the mind of an author whose stories blend romance, humor, grief, and literary ambition. In This Episode  How Lauren Okie developed the concept for Tropesick Writing a second novel while querying a debut  Discovery writing versus outlining  Why character should drive story  Learning to trust your creative process  The role of second and third drafts  Identifying duplicate scenes and unnecessary subplots  Craft books that changed Lauren's approach to writing  Romance as a vehicle for complex, meaningful storytelling  Protecting the creative spark in publishing Books & Authors Mentioned Tropesick — Lauren Okie The Best Worst Thing — Lauren Okie You Between the Lines — Katie Naymon Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — Gabrielle ZevinRefuse to Be Done —  Matt BellMemorable Quotes "Every book I start is a partial lobotomy." "You can't understand the story until you've written the whole book." "At the end of the day, it's you and the blank page." "You need to romanticize the hell out of writing this book." About Lauren Okie Lauren Okie is the author of The Best Worst Thing and Tropesick. Known for emotionally layered romance, sharp humor, and character-driven storytelling, Lauren's work explores grief, love, creativity, and the stories we tell ourselves about happily ever after.

    47 min
  4. She Turned a Situationship Into a Bestselling Book with Author Alissa DeRogatis

    Jun 9

    She Turned a Situationship Into a Bestselling Book with Author Alissa DeRogatis

    What happens when a five-year situationship finally ends and leaves you wondering what comes next? For author Alissa DeRogatis, the answer was writing the book she couldn't find on the shelf. In this episode, we chat with Alissa about turning heartbreak into storytelling, self-publishing Call It What You Want, selling tens of thousands of copies, signing with Sourcebooks, and building a career by showing up authentically online. We also dive into the realities of book marketing, why comparison is one of the biggest traps for writers, and how her writing community, Hot Girls Who Write, grew from a simple desire to help other authors feel less alone. Plus, we get a behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming novel, How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle, and the real-life experiences that inspired it. In This Episode  How a situationship inspired Call It What You Want Self-publishing without an editor—and why she has no regrets  Selling 50,000+ copies before signing with a traditional publisher  The journey from indie author to Sourcebooks author  Why comparison culture can derail writers  Using vulnerability as a marketing superpower  What actually worked on TikTok (and what didn't)  The realities of building an author brand online  Why authenticity is a major theme in How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle The story behind Hot Girls Who Write  Creating community in an industry that can feel isolating  Book covers, branding, and trusting your creative instincts About Alissa DeRogatis Alissa DeRogatis is the author of Call It What You Want and the upcoming How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle. After self-publishing her debut novel and building a passionate online readership, she signed with Sourcebooks and has become known for her honest, relatable storytelling about modern relationships, heartbreak, and personal growth. She is also the founder of Hot Girls Who Write, a writing community dedicated to helping authors connect, learn, and support one another through every stage of the writing journey. Books & Resources Mentioned Call It What You Want — Alissa DeRogatis How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle — Alissa DeRogatis Connect with Alissa Instagram: @alissade TikTok: @alissade Substack: Alissa DeRogatis Hot Girls Who Write Listen & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Margs & Manuscripts wherever you get your podcasts. Leaving a rating or review helps more readers, writers, and publishing-curious creatives discover the show. And if you've ever turned a heartbreak into a creative project, we'd love to hear about it. Tag us on Instagram and join the conversation. 🍸📚

    41 min
  5. Places We'll Go Book Launch | Margs & Manuscripts LIVE

    Jun 2

    Places We'll Go Book Launch | Margs & Manuscripts LIVE

    Episode Summary What started as an Instagram friendship turned into a podcast, a publishing journey, and now a live book launch celebration. In this special first-ever live recording of Margs & Manuscripts, Jenna sits down with co-host Cait Waynelovich to celebrate the release of her debut novel, Places We'll Go. Together, they look back on the unexpected path that brought them here—from meeting online and bonding over the chaos of writing, to launching a podcast, building a creative community, and finally holding a published book in their hands. Cait shares the decade-long journey behind Places We'll Go, including how a difficult season of life inspired the first scene, why the story became a love letter to travel, and how real-life adventures across Barcelona, Morocco, Paris, and Normandy shaped the novel. They also discuss the realities of writing, navigating creative ambition, finding your voice, and learning that art doesn't need to please everyone else to matter. Plus: Romance-writing confessions, questionable community theater productions of Mamma Mia!, camels, World War II Jeeps, and the kind of off-the-rails conversation you've come to expect from Margs & Manuscripts. In This Episode  The origin story of Margs & Manuscripts  How Cait and Jenna became friends through Instagram  Why writing can be surprisingly lonely  The inspiration behind Places We'll Go Travel, self-discovery, and the "age 27 crisis"  Writing romance and intimacy on the page  Twenty-plus drafts and the reality of revision  What Cait wishes she could tell herself five years ago  Audience Q&A from the live event  What's next after Places We'll GoAbout the Book Places We'll Go follows a travel influencer whose carefully curated life begins to unravel, sending her on a journey across Europe in search of something she didn't realize she'd lost: herself. Set against the backdrop of Barcelona, Morocco, Paris, and Normandy, this heartfelt debut explores friendship, ambition, identity, love, and the courage to choose your own path—even when it looks nothing like the one you planned. 📖 Places We'll Go is available now wherever books are sold. Connect with Margs & Manuscripts 🍹 Follow the podcast for honest conversations about writing, publishing, creativity, and all the messy moments in between. Website: MargsAndManuscripts.com  Instagram: @margsandmanuscripts Mentioned in This Episode Places We'll Go by Cait Waynelovich  Rick Steves  Elizabeth Gilbert Under the Tuscan SunEat, Pray, LoveMamma Mia! (the community theater edition) 😅 If you're enjoying the podcast, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow reader, writer, or creative dreamer. It helps more than you know.

    36 min
  6. Sara Ney Unfiltered: 50 Books, Tropes, & Romance Writing Chaos

    May 19

    Sara Ney Unfiltered: 50 Books, Tropes, & Romance Writing Chaos

    Romance author Sara Ney joins us for one of the funniest and most unfiltered conversations we’ve had on the podcast yet. From writing 50+ romance novels and navigating BookTok-driven publishing trends to hockey romance, favorite tropes, spicy scenes, and rapid-release writing schedules, Sara pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to build a long-term career in romance publishing. We talk indie vs. traditional publishing, bookstore signings, writing routines, weird author quirks, reader expectations, and why every ex-boyfriend somehow thinks the book is about him. Sara also gives us her best meet-cutes, favorite romance dynamics, and accidentally coins what might be the greatest romance-writing tagline of all time. Also discussed: • the now-infamous hot dog story • “foreplay is my forte” • why dry humping deserves a comeback • BookTok trend pressure & publishing chaos • Starbucks writing rituals • writing 50+ books without losing your mind • fake dating, hockey romance & favorite tropes • why romance readers know exactly what they want About Sara Ney:  Sara Ney is a bestselling romance author known for her sports romances, college romances, and fan-favorite series including How to Date a Douchebag, Jock Row, and Campus Legends. With more than 50 published books across indie and traditional publishing, Sara has become a staple in the contemporary romance space thanks to her humor, unforgettable banter, emotionally grounded love stories, and wildly addictive characters. Her upcoming releases include Married to the Scottish Player and Revenge Puck.

    52 min
  7. Mom-fluencers, Motherhood & Midwest Family Chaos | Claire Swinarski

    May 12

    Mom-fluencers, Motherhood & Midwest Family Chaos | Claire Swinarski

    Mom influencers. Midwest family dynamics. Wisconsin supper clubs. Postpartum anxiety. Parenting pressure. Somehow, Claire Swinarski wrapped all of it into one of the most emotionally honest books we’ve read this year. In this episode, we sit down with bestselling author Claire Swinarski to talk about her newest novel, The Supper Club Saints — a story about a young mother returning home to Wisconsin after fleeing a mom-influencer “mom-mune,” only to find her complicated family, their beloved supper club, and her own identity waiting for her. We talk about:  the real-life inspiration behind the book  why mom influencer culture fascinates people  writing complicated but deeply loving families  motherhood, anxiety, and impossible expectations  Wisconsin culture and the magic of supper clubs  publishing pressure, launch anxiety, and finding readers organically  why authors need to stop declaring their books “dead” before launch week is over Claire also shares how Ruby Franke, Paris Hilton’s advocacy work, and her own large Catholic family helped shape the story behind The Supper Club Saints. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough, parenting “right,” or comparing yourself to everyone online… this conversation is going to hit. In This Episode  Claire explains what a Wisconsin supper club actually is  The inspiration behind the “mom-mune” storyline  Why every reader seems to connect with a different sister  The pressure of modern motherhood and online perfection  How childhood shapes parenting choices  Claire’s refreshingly healthy take on book launches and publishing  The reality of writing books rooted in the Midwest  Why readers are craving stories about family right now About Claire Swinarski Claire Swinarski is the author of multiple novels for both adults and younger readers, including The Funeral Ladies of Ellery County and The Supper Club Saints. Known for writing deeply human, Midwest-rooted stories filled with complicated families, humor, and emotional honesty, Claire currently lives in Wisconsin with her family. Books & Authors Mentioned The Supper Club Saints — Claire Swinarski The Funeral Ladies of Ellery County — Claire Swinarski Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club — Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper ClubLlama Llama Red Pajama — Llama Llama Red PajamaFollow Margs & Manuscripts 🎙 Podcast: Margs & Manuscripts 📚 Bookshop: Margs & Manuscripts Bookshop 🛍 Merch: Margs & Manuscripts Shop

    36 min
  8. We Need to Talk About Abigail Adams with Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray

    May 5

    We Need to Talk About Abigail Adams with Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray

    What if the story we’ve been told about the American Revolution is only half the picture? In this episode, we sit down with bestselling authors Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray—the powerhouse duo behind America’s First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton, and their newest release, A Founding Mother. Known for bringing history’s most overlooked women to life, they’ve built a career on telling the stories behind the story—the ones that didn’t make it into the textbooks. We talk about their collaborative writing process (and how they make it work without killing each other), the research behind their novels, and why the women of the Revolution—especially Abigail Adams—still feel strikingly relevant today. This conversation is part craft, part history, and part reminder that the people holding everything together were often never the ones in the spotlight. In this episode: How Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray built a collaborative writing process that actually works Why historical fiction is uniquely positioned to “read between the lines” of history The real lives of women during the American Revolution—and what’s been left out How Abigail Adams’ voice stands out among the founding generation The role of research, letters, and archives in shaping authentic storytelling Why every generation thinks it’s living through the “end”—and what history tells us instead The unexpected, chaotic reality of researching historical sites (yes, including almost getting in trouble)About our guests: Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray are bestselling authors of historical fiction known for their deeply researched, emotionally rich novels centered on women’s lives during pivotal moments in history. Together, they’ve written America’s First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton, and A Founding Mother, bringing new perspective to the American Revolution through the voices of the women who lived it. Books mentioned: A Founding Mother by Laura Kamoie & Stephanie Dray America’s First DaughterMy Dear HamiltonAnnouncements: Laura and Stephanie are currently on tour for A Founding Mother. For upcoming events and appearances, visit: 👉 https://draykamoie.com/events

    38 min
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About

The book world is bigger than any one corner of it. Margs & Manuscripts brings it all together — writers, authors, agents, editors, bookstore owners, and readers — for real, unfiltered conversation about writing, publishing, and the reading life. Hosted by Cait and Jenna, two writer friends who pour a drink and let the conversation flow.

Information

  • Creator
    Cait & Jenna
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Margs & Manuscripts
  • Show Website
    Margs & Manuscripts

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