The Prose Pros

Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Prose Pros is a podcast where publishing insiders get real. We confess creative missteps, celebrate our triumphs, and spill trade secrets. Whether you’re a writer, editor, or book lover, join us as we explore the art, the craft, and the chaos of storytelling. talishammas.substack.com

  1. 3D AGO

    The Agent-Client Relationship with Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong and Kelly Beck

    Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong is a life-long lover of books. Cathie’s journey in the publishing industry was born in 2014 after her oldest child left for college. With newfound time on her hands, she set about writing The Edge of Nowhere, a work of adult historical fiction inspired by her grandmother’s life as a widow raising fourteen children during the one-two punch of the 1930s Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Three years later, she followed up with her sophomore novel, Roam, a young adult title inspired by the homeless community that resides in the town where she currently lives. The release of this second book coincided with Cathie’s first job as a literary agent where she spent eight years learning the industry before joining the team at Marsal Lyon. Kelly Beck is a former TV news producer turned romance and women’s fiction author specializing in writing “unhinged shenanigans” and funny escapades sprinkled with real-life grit. Her former career experience includes writing the number-one ranked CBS morning show, and many TN Associated Press awards. Since “retiring” to become a stay-at-home mom, she’s written three books and signed with her literary agent, Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong at Marsal Lyon Literary agency. When not writing or reading, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children in Memphis, Tennessee, and rotting her brain with silly TV shows like Ancient Aliens and Expedition Unknown.

    1h 24m

  2. MAR 3

    Agent Intern to Author: Navigating Publishing with Alli Hoff Kosik

    In this episode of The Prose Pros, Alli Hoff Kosik discusses her upcoming book, TOO BLESSED TO STRESS. She shares her non-linear path to publishing, the impact of her sales experience, and how podcasting shaped her marketing approach. Alli describes her writing process and querying journey while reflecting on the evolution of her manuscript. Alli Hoff Kosik is a writer based in Philadelphia. The former host of The SSR Podcast, her work has been published in Marie Claire, Real Simple, Business Insider, and Cosmopolitan. TOO BLESSED TO STRESS is her first book. Follow Alli @allihoffkosik on Instagram.

    45 min

  3. FEB 24

    From Big 5 Editor to Published Author: Insider Secrets with Emily Ohanjanians

    In this episode, Emily Ohanjanians discusses her debut novel, THE BOOK TOUR, and shares insight on her transition from editor to author. She describes her the querying process, the importance of voice in writing, and what editing taught her about writing. Emily Ohanjanians is a book editor who after many years on the other side of the desk, decided to parlay a lifelong love of joyous, escapist, romantic stories into her own writing. THE BOOK TOUR is her debut novel on sale March 3.

    54 min

  4. FEB 17

    How to Land a Literary Agent with Tommy Dean

    In this episode, Tommy Dean shares his journey through the publishing landscape, including his experiences as a writer, editor, and now a literary agent. We discuss the importance of strong openings, character development, and how to craft an effective query letter. We also touches on the resurgence of short fiction in the market and the dynamics between writers and agents. Tommy Dean is an associate literary agent with Rosecliff Literary, the author of two flash fiction chapbooks, Special Like the People on TV (Redbird Chapbooks, 2014) and Covenants (ELJ Editions, 2021), and a full flash collection, Hollows (Alternating Current Press, 2022). He lives in Indiana, where he is currently the editor of Fractured Lit and Uncharted Magazine. A recipient of the 2019 Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction, his writing can be found in Best Microfiction 2019, 2020, 2023, and Best Small Fiction 2019 and 2022. His work has been published in Monkeybicycle, Laurel Review, Moon City Review, Pithead Chapel, Harpur Palate, and many other litmags. He has taught writing workshops for the Gotham Writers Workshop, The Writers Center, and The Writers Workshop. Find him at tommydeanwriter.com and on Twitter @TommyDeanWriter. Query Tommy at: https://QueryTracker.net/query/TDRL Tommy's Substack: https://tommydean.substack.com/

    1h 4m
  5. Stop Posting Randomly: Building an Author Brand That Sells with Jessica Sorentino

    FEB 10

    Stop Posting Randomly: Building an Author Brand That Sells with Jessica Sorentino

    In this episode, Jessica Sorentino discusses the importance of author branding, marketing, and networking. She advises authors on how to build their personal brand and engage with their audience on social media. Jessica also explains how to maintain a consistent brand identity. She provides practical tips to help authors navigate the evolving landscape of publishing and social media, and highlights common pitfalls. The Prose Pros is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Jessica Sorentino is an author brand advisor and book marketing strategist with over a decade of experience working with leading publishing houses including Simon & Schuster and Macmillan Publishers. She writes the Open Book: Where Storytelling Meets Strategy newsletter on Substack and co-hosts the Reading Between the Wines podcast. Based in Connecticut, Jessica is passionate about helping writers build meaningful connections with the readers who need their stories most. Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    50 min

  6. FEB 3

    Navigating rejection in publishing with Ashley Winstead

    Summary In this episode, Ashley Winstead shares her journey as a multi-genre author. From her querying and Pitch Wars to landing her literary agent, Ashley emphasizes the importance of persistence in the face of rejection. She also explores what it means to write across different genres in terms of her readership, as well as the varying experiences she has had with multiple publishers. Ashley also comments on the importance of investing in self-promotion and the impact of social media on book marketing. She shares what she’s learned about building a community with readers while also setting boundaries. Thanks for reading The Prose Pros! This post is public so feel free to share it. Ashley Winstead is the national bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me, Midnight is the Darkest Hour, The Last Housewife, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, The Boyfriend Candidate, Fool Me Once, and The Future Saints. Her books have been Library Read picks, Loan Star picks, Best of Amazon picks, Best of Apple Books picks, and have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, and Library Journal. Her work has been covered by New York Times, Washington Post, CrimeReads, Parade, Cosmopolitan, Good Morning America, Good Housekeeping, Seattle Times, and Southern Review of Fiction, among others. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide and optioned for television. Ashley holds a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature and lives in Houston. She is represented by Melissa Edwards of Stonesong Press LLC. Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 26m
  7. Weird Girl Fiction with Callie Kazumi

    JAN 27

    Weird Girl Fiction with Callie Kazumi

    In this episode of The Prose Pros, Callie Kazumi sits down with us to chat weird girl fiction, from inspiration to publication. She describes how the pandemic sparked the idea for her novel, CLAIRE, DARLING (but not in the way you’d think!) We discuss her writing process, her experience in the publishing industry (and how a viral video impacted her querying journey), and the unique themes her upcoming book, GREEDY, explores. GREEDY comes out February 3rd, 2026. The Prose Pros is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Callie Kazumi is a British-Japanese author of psychological thrillers. Callie is a graduate of Stirling University, where she studied Journalism and Politics and realised that she enjoyed shocking headlines and making up twisted plots in her head far more than reporting reality. She wrote her first book after her father gifted her Stephen King’s On Writing, which inspired her into action. She works in publishing as a marketer, and spends her days selling incredible stories before returning home and trying to write her own. She currently lives in London with her husband and Bichon Frise, Betsy. Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
  8. Writing a Bestselling Novel with Stacy Willingham

    JAN 20

    Writing a Bestselling Novel with Stacy Willingham

    In this engaging conversation, we sit down with bestselling author Stacy Willingham to discuss her writing journey, the significance of setting in her novels, and how she put “southern suspense” on the map. She shares her creative process, how she goes about character development, and crafting twists in her stories. Stacy offers valuable advice on how aspiring writers can develop their own voice and reflects on her own experience in the literary world. The Prose Pros is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Stacy Willingham is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological suspense. Her books include A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things, Only If You’re Lucky and Forget Me Not. Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, has sold over one million copies in North America alone. It was the winner of Strand Magazine’s Best Debut Award and a finalist for the Book of the Month’s Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW’s Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages. Before turning to fiction, Stacy was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, daughter, and dog. Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 6m
See All (33)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Prose Pros is a podcast where publishing insiders get real. We confess creative missteps, celebrate our triumphs, and spill trade secrets. Whether you’re a writer, editor, or book lover, join us as we explore the art, the craft, and the chaos of storytelling. talishammas.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan
  • Show Website
    The Prose Pros

You Might Also Like