The HYBRID Author

Joanne
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

What is a HYBRID Author you ask. It's not conforming to uniform in your writing and publishing endeavours. It's writing across genres, mixing writing styles, publishing all ways and getting comfortable pushing boundaries promoting you and your books. Join host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors for weekly episodes campaigning to encourage authors to have a hybrid author career — because life truly is too short to wait.

  1. AUG 24

    'Finding Lady Baltimore’ Family, Resilience and Weaving Narratives with Mila Maxwell

    Mila Maxwell is an author from Clare, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling and a love of the outdoors. A proud French Acadian, Mila draws inspiration from both her cultural heritage and her adventurous lifestyle, which includes being a volunteer firefighter. She lives in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada with her husband Jeremy, son Bennett, and two French Bulldogs. When not writing, you can find Mila out in nature, at the gym, or helping others through her work in the community. In episode 193 of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Canadian author Mila on: how her love of the outdoors and French Acadian heritage shaped both the setting and the emotional tone of 'Finding Lady Baltimore' the inspiration and conversations hoped to spark from her novel exploring the complexities of growing up alongside a sibling with disabilities how Mila's background as a volunteer firefighter and active community member real-life experiences found their way into her characters and storytelling what Mila's publishing adventure looks like so far, and her advice to writers balancing deeply personal themes with universal resonance and miuch more.

    30 min

  2. AUG 24

    Awards, Substack, Storytelling and a Hybrid Career With Julia Lawrinson

    Julia Lawrinson has published more than fifteen books for children and young people, from a picture book to books for older teenagers, and in 2024 published a memoir called How to Avoid a Happy Life. Her books have been recognised in the Children’s Book Council Awards, the WA Premier’s Book Awards and the Queensland Literary Awards, and she has presented to schools across Australia, in Singapore and in Bali. She is an enthusiastic adult learner of Indonesian, yoga and the cello. Her favourite place on earth is the dog park. In episode 192 of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats to Julia about: shortlisting for the 2025 WA Premier's Literary Awards blogging on Substack and how this process differs from more traditional publishing or social media how Julia's lengthy hybrid career writing for different audiences and in different forms have challenged and inspired her as a storyteller Julia's sought after advice for writers navigating their own hybrid careers, balancing traditional recognition, digital platforms, personal creative goals and much more. https://www.writersdigest.com/my-first-ideas-arent-my-best-and-ai-only-makes-them-worse?utm_medium=email&utm_source=WDG+-+NL+-+Newsletter&oly_enc_id=0273D2156645J6O

    29 min

  3. AUG 20

    Self-Publishing Burnout, How to Stay in the Game Without Losing Your Spark With Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell

    Burnout. It’s the word no self-published author wants to say out loud, but almost every one of us has felt it. Maybe you’ve been there: staring at your manuscript, feeling resentful instead of inspired. Or pushing out content on social media, but dreading every post. Or just wondering if this author dream is worth the grind.  In episode 191 of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats honestly about: what burnout is why it’s so common in self-publishing mindset shifts that might change the game practical, energy-saving strategies creative recovery practices and  reframing the writing life.

    17 min

  4. JUL 27

    'There Is Always Love' Writing Through Adversity and Building Purpose-Driven Work with Vanessa Maiorano

    Vanessa Maiorano is a passionate children’s author, a mum of two, and a fierce advocate for families navigating hard times. After her own experience facing cancer as a young mother, she was inspired to create gentle, supportive books that help children understand the big feelings that come with life’s challenges. Her mission is simple: to remind children that no matter what happens, there is always love. After years of working in office management, Vanessa started her own Virtual Assistant company. This business began while she was going through cancer. Vanessa needed to keep working to manage medical bills and everyday expenses, so started offering administration and business consulting services remotely. As it grew, she was supporting businesses with revenue growth and operational systems while undergoing treatment, healing from surgery, and raising two small children. Vanessa now consults for a number of companies and helps stay-at-home mums, some who are going through illness and others who are raising children, find flexible virtual work they can do from home. She says, “It’s something that came from a really difficult season but has turned into a purpose-driven part of my life that I’m proud of.” In the 190th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats to Vanessa on: her powerful message 'There is Always Love' and the turning pointe to share her story her publishing and marketing author adventure of 16+ books from office management to running her own virtual assistant business while undergoing treatment and raising children, how this journey shaped Vanessa's identity, not just as an author, but as a businesswoman and advocate Vanessa's advice to those trying to create or grow purpose-driven work while navigating tough periods in life and much more.  https://www.writersdigest.com/mindfulness-and-meditation-for-writers-7-easy-ways-to-stay-present-and-boost-creativity?utm_medium=email&utm_source=WDG+-+NL+-+Newsletter&oly_enc_id=3246I9700301H2H

    31 min

  5. JUL 27

    Writing Kids Books Inspired by The Natural World With Kasey Whitelaw

    Kasey is a marine biologist, educator and children’s author with a passion for connecting children to science and nature through storytelling and education. Growing up on the coast of Victoria, Kasey spent her days beachcombing, surfing and exploring the rocky shores. As a child (and still as an adult), she was fascinated by the rock pools teeming with life, eagerly learning the names of the all the creatures she discovered. Her passion for the ocean led her to the World Heritage listed Shark Bay Marine Park in Western Australia, where she had the incredible opportunity to work with the famous Monkey Mia dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles. Inspired by her work and dedicated to nurturing the next generation of ocean warriors, she’s turned her enthusiasm into pages by diving into the colourful world of picture books. In the 189th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Kasey on: 'A Dolphin’s Wild Journey Home' what sparked the idea for Flute’s story and why it was so important to tell it through the eyes of a dolphin how Kasey goes about translating the wonder of the natural world into storytelling that resonates with young readers balancing educating and entertaining when writing children’s books Kasey's advice on weaving real-world inspiration into meaningful, age-appropriate narratives and much more.

    31 min

  6. JUL 27

    'When Only Today Matters' Writing Truth, Emotion and Short Fiction with Johan du Toit

    Johan du Toit grew up in a remote community eight hours drive from Cape Town in South Africa. He immigrated to Australia with his family in 1994. Through membership of a writers’ group Johan found an opportunity to write short fiction. His two collections, ‘Meandering Road’ and ‘When Only Today Matters’ have been published in collaboration with Broadcast Books. The eight stories chosen for ‘When Only Today Matters’ were shaped by Johan’s personal journey. The human truth element came from a place of gratitude or a sense that tomorrow may be a better day. There are stories fuelled by injustice and frustration, others with a whisper of hope. In the 188th episode of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Johan on: personal experience in his short story collection 'When Only Today Matters' What inspired the title, and how the theme of “living in the moment” resonates across the eight stories balancing emotional tone across short fiction, writing stories fuelled by injustice and frustration, while others carry a whisper of hope identity and displacement, shaping the way Johan tells stories or the kinds of stories he feels called to tell finding your writing voice through a writers’ group collaborative publishing with Broadcast Books Johan's advice for emerging authors interested in hybrid or community-based publishing paths and much more.

    42 min

  7. JUL 27

    Young Adult Contemporary Fiction: ‘The Lies We Tell Ourselves’ With Maura Pierlot

    Maura Pierlot is the author of seven titles for children and young adults and the creator of the award-winning web series on youth mental health, Fragments. Maura holds a PhD in philosophy, specialising in ethics, and is a qualified art therapist and founder of The Book Bench Project. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Maura divides her time between Canberra and Jamberoo on the NSW south coast, where her family grows walnuts, macadamias and avocados. In episode 187 of The HYBRID Author Podcast host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors chats to Maura on: the inspiration behind her latest YA novel 'The Lies We Tell Ourselves' tackling some deep and personal themes  balancing writing authentically around tough topics while keeping hope and resilience at the heart of the story challenges and rewards in crafting stories that resonate with both teens and adults Maura's advice to other writers navigating the contemporary YA space, particularly those wanting to tackle difficult emotional or social topics in their work and much more.

    43 min

  8. JUL 21

    How to Get Your Indie or Hybrid Book into Bookstores With Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell

    Episode 186, a lonersode with your host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats on: understanding bookstore priorities consignment vs wholesale creating a bookstore-ready sell sheet follow-up etiquette and building relationships why local connection matters and much more

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

What is a HYBRID Author you ask. It's not conforming to uniform in your writing and publishing endeavours. It's writing across genres, mixing writing styles, publishing all ways and getting comfortable pushing boundaries promoting you and your books. Join host Joanne Zara Ellen Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors for weekly episodes campaigning to encourage authors to have a hybrid author career — because life truly is too short to wait.

Information

  • Creator
    Joanne
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021
  • Show Website
    The HYBRID Author

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