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. 6D AGO

    Writing a Killer Retelling with Katie Bernet

    In this episode, we sit down with New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of BETH IS DEAD, Katie Bernet. We break down what it takes to write a killer retelling and come up with a high-concept hook, plus we get real about the long and (sometimes) uncertain path to getting published.

    50 min

  2. MAR 24

    How to Succeed in Publishing with Jenna Satterthwaite

    In this episode, literary agent Jenna Satterthwaite joins us to discuss her journey from grief to becoming a successful author and literary agent. She discusses the challenges she faced, including numerous rejections, and how her experience shaped her approach to agenting. We cover the importance of internships, mentorship, and balancing multiple roles in the publishing industry. Jenna shares her process for selecting manuscripts and her strategies for ensuring her clients' success. Jenna reached agenting sideways, as many do. She didn’t know agenting existed until she wrote her first novel back in 2014 and learned she had to do this thing called “querying.” Fast forward many years during which she wrote many novels and became agented herself, and she had an aha moment. Agenting was the nexus where her two decades of business experience in sales, pitching, project management and contract negotiation met her decade of bookish experience. After completing internships with Liza Dawson Associates and Rees Literary, Jenna joined Storm as an agent in 2024. She’s looking to represent authors over the course of their careers who are passionate about their work and willing to arm themselves with the tenacity that it takes to succeed in the world of publishing. She is an editorial agent who wants to help make your manuscript the best and most sellable version of itself, and then pitch the heck out of it to the right editors. Jenna is here to help you navigate this career that can unfold in so many different ways, advocate for you, and seek your best interests. She’s not afraid of multi-genre writers, (she’s one herself!) and she is ready to try and break your name into as many genres and age groups as you want to write. YOU are your brand! Omnivorous in her taste, Jenna is seeking to represent adult, Young Adult and Middle Grade commercial fiction in most genres, graphic novels from middle grade to young adult, adult non-fiction, and very select picture books. (See submission guidelines for more details.) Jenna is also fully bilingual English/Spanish, so dual language projects are most welcome! Jenna lives in Chicago with her family, and when she's not agenting, reading or writing, you can find her trying a Milk Street recipe, making music in living rooms with friends, or plotting when she can get sushi next.

    1h 22m

  3. MAR 18

    Writing a Marketable Premise with Layne Fargo

    Layne Fargo has a background in theater, women’s studies, and library science, so it’s only fitting that she now writes deliciously dramatic, unapologetically feminist stories for a living. She’s the bestselling author of the novels The Favorites, They Never Learn, and Temper, as well as co-author on the Widows Series, and her work has been translated into more than twenty languages. Layne lives in Chicago with her partner, their pets, and an ever-expanding collection of books she’s definitely going to read before she dies.

    48 min

  4. MAR 10

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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
  8. 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
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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
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tali Shammas and Lauren Khan
  • Show Website
    The Prose Pros

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