The Prose Pros

Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan

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. 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
  2. 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
  3. The Prose Pros Podcast Trailer

    TRAILER

    The Prose Pros Podcast Trailer

    Welcome to the Prose Pros podcast, your go-to source for the art, the craft, and the business of publishing. The Prose Pros is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Lauren Khan joined FinePrint Literary in 2025 as an Associate Agent following an internship at Triada US Literary Agency. She first entered the publishing world as an author. Prior to transitioning to agenting, she worked for over seven years as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Lauren brings both editorial and transactional expertise to her clients.Lauren lives with her family in her small beach hometown in Florida. She wrote her first novel while pregnant with her son and began agenting while pregnant with her daughter. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham University School of Law, she loves podcasts, long walks with her dog, and all things Nora Ephron. As a former theatre kid, Lauren is a lifelong champion of storytelling, subjecting her loved ones to her songs, stories, and plays from the moment she could talk.​An avid reader across genres, Lauren is particularly interested in adult and YA commercial fiction, especially women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles. She is an editorial agent with a strong interest in developing fulfilling and long-lasting careers for her authors.I​nstagram: @laurenjpkhanX: @laurenjpkhan Tali Shammas is a literary intern at CMA Literary. Her work is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Literary Agency. Prior to writing, Tali practiced corporate law at a large multinational firm for a number of years, then shifted to academia with an eye to completing her PhD. While on maternity leave, she dabbled in fiction writing, and was immediately hooked. Tali gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. Tali is the chair of a large writer’s organization and her award-winning short fiction has been published in an anthology. She currently lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.I​nstagram: @talishammasX: @talishammas Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    1 min
  4. The State of Publishing: Lessons from 2025, Predictions for 2026

    JAN 6

    The State of Publishing: Lessons from 2025, Predictions for 2026

    Exciting news for The Prose Pros: literary agent Lauren Khan joins the show as a co-host! In this episode, hosts Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan reflect on some key headlines that made publishing news in 2025. They discuss their accomplishments for the year and their goals for 2026. They also touch on the evolving role of authors and the trends shaping the industry as we move into 2026, sharing their predictions for the future of publishing. My Writerly Musings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Lauren Khan joined FinePrint Literary in 2025 as an Associate Agent following an internship at Triada US Literary Agency. She first entered the publishing world as an author. Prior to transitioning to agenting, she worked for over seven years as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Lauren brings both editorial and transactional expertise to her clients. Lauren lives with her family in her small beach hometown in Florida. She wrote her first novel while pregnant with her son and began agenting while pregnant with her daughter. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham University School of Law, she loves podcasts, long walks with her dog, and all things Nora Ephron. As a former theatre kid, Lauren is a lifelong champion of storytelling, subjecting her loved ones to her songs, stories, and plays from the moment she could talk. ​An avid reader across genres, Lauren is particularly interested in adult and YA commercial fiction, especially women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles. She is an editorial agent with a strong interest in developing fulfilling and long-lasting careers for her authors. I​nstagram: @laurenjpkhan X: @laurenjpkhan Tali Shammas is a literary intern at CMA Literary. Her work is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Literary Agency. Prior to writing, Tali practiced corporate law at a large multinational firm for a number of years, then shifted to academia with an eye to completing her PhD. While on maternity leave, she dabbled in fiction writing, and was immediately hooked. Tali gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. Tali is the chair of a large writer's organization and her award-winning short fiction has been published in an anthology. She currently lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.I​nstagram: @talishammasX: @talishammas Get full access to The Prose Pros at talishammas.substack.com/subscribe

    57 min

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

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