The Write Spxt Landline ☎️

Bianca Ducasse

An audio series where authors, publishing insiders, and everyday creatives share the serendipity moments that have shaped their journey. thewritespxt.substack.com

  1. 1 FEB

    Maya Ono on Authentic Marketing Beyond the Algorithm

    A weekly newsletter by a publishing professional with a decade of experience. This is for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. There are many things about PRH that I love, but one of my favorites is a program called CoffeeChats. It’s an automated system that pairs employees across the company for 30-minute introductory calls. Before the bot sets you up with someone, you fill out a short bio with your interests, just enough information for it to match you with someone who might have similar interests. Once a pair is made, you are able to view the other person’s bio as well. CoffeeChats is especially valuable for anyone who’s remote or outside New York, people who don’t have the luxury of roaming the halls and poking their head into random offices the way I used to. (Truly, I was a friendly menace.) A couple of months ago, the bot matched me with Maya Ono. I quickly knew I wanted to feature her in The Write Spxt. Talking with her confirmed something I’ve sensed for years in this industry: the people who do the most impactful work are the ones who resist the noise. The ones who remember that marketing is not trickery or trend-chasing, it’s storytelling, human behavior and sincerity. Our world is obsessed with algorithms at the moment and Maya’s approach feels like ten toes down. She believes curiosity still matters. Community still matters. Showing up with honesty still matters. And she has the career receipts to back it up. When you are done listening, head over to her Substack, The Spiegel Files. In this chat, we dive into… * why authentic marketing still outperforms algorithm-chasing * how to cultivate curiosity as a creative and professional advantage * the power of community-driven campaigns and what most get wrong Media mentioned while chatting with Maya * Audition by Katie Kitamura READ If you enjoyed this, listen to these Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter and upgrade to paid. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. * If you can’t afford to become a paid monthly/yearly subscriber, but would like to leave a one-time tip, please click the below button! You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House. Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min
  2. 4 ENE

    A Chat with Jem Erith, Executive Producer of The Diary of a CEO

    A weekly newsletter by a publishing professional with a decade of experience. This is for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. I discovered Jem Erith by accident. I was fed a collaborative post she published that included the doctors featured in this women’s health round table by The Diary of a CEO. I follow Dr. Stacy Sims because I am a fan of the work she is doing to help women like me maximize our workouts while understanding our hormonal fluctuations. I want to age with intention and learning how to work alongside my menstrual cycle has truly been life changing. Jem is the Executive Producer of The Diary of a CEO where she shapes the rhythm, emotional architecture and intentionality behind the world’s most influential podcast. Her touch is subtle but unmistakable: if you’ve ever felt moved, softened or unexpectedly seen by an episode, Jem was part of the reason why. As someone who spent 2025 devouring DOAC episodes (my YouTube Recap even crowned it my top channel), speaking with Jem felt surreal. It’s not every day I sit with the producer of a show that complements the independent study I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. When you are done listening, head over to Jem’s Substack, Studio Thoughts, because she is more than just an executive producer of the largest podcast on the planet right now. She’s a human searching for meaning and balance in her own life and that is something every one of us can relate to. In this chat, we dive into… * her philosophy of producing * the unseen labor of making conversations feel alive * why discipline and balance matter DOAC episodes mentioned while chatting with Jem * Wim Hof WATCH * Women’s health round table Part 1 WATCH * Women’s health round table Part 2 WATCH * Neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor WATCH * Brené Brown WATCH * The Glucose Goddess WATCH * Jocko Willink, retired U.S. Navy SEAL WATCH Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! This post is public so feel free to share it. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter and upgrade to paid. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. * If you can’t afford to become a paid monthly/yearly subscriber, but would like to leave a one-time tip, please click the below button! You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook The Write Spxt is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Current associate director of marketing at Pantheon and Doubleday Books, imprints at Penguin Random House. Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    51 min
  3. 26/10/2025

    Reflecting on My First Conversation About Representation in Books

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. Originally published March 2018 via Minorities in Publishing | Original transcript In 2018, I was working at Atria Books, an imprint at Simon & Schuster. That year, I joined Jennifer Baker, host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, for what became my very first public conversation about representation, marketing and the realities of navigating publishing. Alongside me was Jalissa Corrie, who at the time was working in marketing and publicity at Lee & Low Books. Listening back now, I can hear so many things I didn’t yet have the words for: the excitement, the uncertainty and the deep desire to make a difference. Today, Jennifer Baker is the Editorial Director of Storehouse Voices at Penguin Random House, where she leads an imprint focused on commercial fiction and nonfiction for adult readers. She’s also the author of Forgive Me Not and continues to champion marginalized voices through her editorial work, teaching and public speaking. Jalissa Corrie is now the Senior Growth Marketing Manager at the Institute of Culinary Education and and a contributing writer to A Phoenix First Must Burn. Revisiting this moment reminds me how every step, even the uncertain ones, prepares you for where you’re going. I was 29 when this episode aired. Today, at (almost) 37, I can see how that conversation planted the seeds for The Write Spxt, a space built to keep these kinds of dialogues alive. Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    1 h y 8 min
  4. 19/10/2025

    Ameer Collier: A Literary Manager on Building a Career that Lasts

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. Ameer Collier is a literary manager and the founder of Dirt Road Productions. But before that title, before the credits and the client roster, he was just a kid from Maryland who loved stories and wanted to help the people around him shine. In this conversation, we talk about what it really means to build a creative career that lasts. He shares his journey from radio to production sets, from working at FX and Epic Records to finding his calling in management helping writers and directors develop work with endurance and patience. He breaks down the realities of representation, the balance between art and commerce, and why some of the most meaningful work happens far away from the spotlight. In this chat, we dive into… * what it means to network across instead of networking up * how to build momentum when the system isn’t built for you * the difference between agents and managers (and why you might need both) * why the real work of success starts long before anyone’s watching It’s one of those conversations that reminds you there’s no straight line to creative success. There’s just the dirt road: uneven, unpredictable and deeply personal. Media mentioned while chatting with Ameer: * Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency by James Andrew Miller READ * Really Love feature film WATCH * The Honorable Shyne documentary WATCH * Nina Lee Films WATCH * Atlanta tv series WATCH * Insecure tv series WATCH * Gabby’s Dollhouse universe EXPLORE * Bradford Young, first Black cinematographer to have Oscar nomination for Arrival * They Cloned Tyrone WATCH * Neima Patterson and The Black Creatives Revision Workshop EXPLORE * Queen Mother by Dr. Ashley D. Farmer READ * The Chit Show WATCH Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    1 h y 3 min
  5. 12/10/2025

    Linda Korn: 38 Years Shaping the Sound of Stories in Audiobooks

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. Linda Korn is a Senior Executive Producer at Penguin Random House Audio. Her work has won Grammys and Audie Awards, shaping the sound of the modern audiobook. But over her 38-year career, she has been more than a producer. She has been a collaborator, a coach, a creative partner, a musician. . . someone who sees the voice not just as a tool, but as an instrument of healing and connection. In our conversation, Linda takes us from reel-to-reel tapes stacked in hallways to today’s booming audiobook industry, reminding us that behind every story is not just a narrator, but a team committed to honoring the author’s voice. She speaks about the healing frequencies of sound, the delicate act of coaching authors through difficult material, and why learning to fall in love with your own voice might be one of the most powerful creative tools we have. In this chat, we dive into… * the early days of audiobooks and how the industry grew into what it is today * the healing power of the human voice and how sound affects our bodies * what it means to collaborate with authors, narrators, and stories in the studio * how to listen to yourself, love your voice, and discover its superpowers Media mentioned while chatting with Linda: * Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones EXPLORE * America (The Book) by Jon Stewart and The Daily Show EXPLORE * Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens EXPLORE * Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds EXPLORE Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    1 h y 7 min
  6. 14/09/2025

    The DEI Work You Won’t Find on Social Media

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. Today, Amanda Armstrong-Frank serves as the Senior Director of Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives at Simon & Schuster. But over the course of her 30-year career in book publishing, she has filled many roles, transforming many lives. More than ten years ago, I found Amanda on LinkedIn. I was living in South Florida, trying to figure out how to work with books. My approach back then was simple: find familiar faces in publishing and ask if they’d be open to me asking them a few questions. It didn’t work. No one knew who I was and time is precious. So, I packed my bags and moved to the publishing capital of the world: New York. I told my husband, “I need to put a face to my name!” A year of hustling later, when I finally walked through the doors of a Big Five publisher, it was Amanda’s office I went looking for. In this conversation, Amanda speaks the kind of truth that changes lives, including my own. It’s the work done behind the scenes: patiently and intentionally. In this chat, we dive into… * what real DEI work looks like behind the scenes * how to build a purpose-driven career that lasts * why staying can be as powerful as speaking up Media mentioned while chatting with Amanda * “Worse than Slavery” by David M. Oshinsky READ * The Coldest Winter by Sister Souljah READ * 50 Cent Publisher Page BROWSE * Spike Lee Publisher Page BROWSE Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    1 h y 45 min
  7. 07/09/2025

    Author Libby Tanner: Taking Yourself Seriously Invites Others To Do the Same

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. I met Libby Tanner while managing my booth at the Summer 2025 Oxford Exchange Book Fair in Tampa. She approached with a bright smile, curious about why I was giving books away for free (I wanted to spark conversations about The Write Spxt). When she learned that I worked in book publishing and was passionate about creating resources and learning opportunities for other creatives, she immediately said she’d love to be involved—especially as she was preparing to release her debut novel, Better than Gelato. In this chat, we dive into… * what it’s like to pursue a creative dream while raising four kids * how taking yourself seriously invites others to do the same * ways to fuel your creative spirit—no matter the season you’re in Media mentioned while chatting with Libby * Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Phd READ * Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert READ * Save the Cat! Write the Novel by Jessica Brody READ * On Writing by Stephen King READ * Libby Tanner’s Newsletter SUBSCRIBE Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    44 min
  8. 24/08/2025

    Author Ebony LaDelle on Stories That Keep Us Alive

    The Write Spxt is a weekly newsletter from a book marketer with a decade of experience at two Big Five publishers. It’s for writers seeking publishing tools, readers looking for great recs, and humans who love to journal, observe, and reflect. What a joy it was to sit down with Ebony LaDelle on The Write Spxt to talk about book marketing, transitioning into an author and finding moments of pause through it all. Ebony and I met 10 years ago, when I was a wide-eyed assistant at Simon & Schuster. Since then, we’ve never lost touch nor have we stopped rooting for each other. Today, she is the author of 3 books, linked below, and has no intention of slowing down any time soon. In this episode, you’ll learn… * why word of mouth is the best thing for your book * how to feel the fear and do it anyway * trusting your intuition is your greatest ally Books by Ebony * Love Radio READ * This Could Be Forever READ * You’ve Got a Place Here, Too READ Thanks for reading The Write Spxt! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Ways You Can Support My Work * Visit my Stan Store and buy one of the workbooks or other resources I have available. * Subscribe to my newsletter. * Share this newsletter with someone you think would enjoy reading it. * Send an email to youarrived@thewritespxt.com if you believe your work is aligned with The Write Spxt for a feature. You can find me here, too: Instagram | Facebook Get full access to The Write Spxt at thewritespxt.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min

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An audio series where authors, publishing insiders, and everyday creatives share the serendipity moments that have shaped their journey. thewritespxt.substack.com