The WritersWeekly Podcast

Brian Whiddon
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From the creators of WritersWeekly.com, the WritersWeekly Podcast delves into everything involving professional writing. WritersWeekly.com has been helping and informing writers and authors for over 25 years. We cover book publishing, article writing, getting writing gigs, paying markets, writing technology, etc. 

  1. 20h ago

    Episode 60 – Did You Know BookLocker is Haunted? This is NOT a joke! Our SUPER SCARY 2026 Halloween Episode with Horror Expert Rickey Pittman!

    ·       Did you know that BookLocker and Angela and Brian’s house is HAUNTED? It’s absolutely true!  ·       What has Brian REPEATEDLY seen in the house?  ·       What’s the name of the young child ghost that lived in Angela’s house in Maine? ·       What happened to Angela in BookLocker’s office in Maine several years ago, causing her to scream, run away, no longer work in that office EVER AGAIN?  ·       What did the unseen spirit say in Episode 2 of the WritersWeekly Podcast? (We feature the audio again in this episode!) ·       Did you know Rickey Pittman is also a ghosthunter? Which haunted hotel (just 30 minutes from Angela and Brian!) will Rickey be visiting soon? Angela was there with the boys just last weekend!  ·       What happened to Rickey Pittman when he was a young boy that spurred his love of horror? ·       Which horror novel is Rickey’s favorite of all time? ·       Do you know the REAL history of Halloween? ·       What’s the difference between American hot chocolate and Mexican hot chocolate? ·       And, what in the world is a SUGAR SKULL???  In this episode, Angela and Brian are joined once again by Rickey Pittman, known as the Bard of the South.   Rickey is a lover of horror, and a historian, story-teller, and musician. Much of his work focuses on the history of the South, as well as Irish and Celtic influences on America's Southern history.  In this episode, Rickey shares his interest and inspiration for horror and scary stories, including what he discovered as a young boy, leading to a lifelong love of horror! Additionally, he shares his knowledge of the history of Halloween with us.  Also, don't miss Angela and Brian's reminiscing over several of their spooky and unexplained experiences over the years. In case you've missed it before, in this episode, we've also re-broadcast the SPIRIT VOICE that appeared in the middle of Episode 2. What do YOU think the voice said?? Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  2. Oct 15

    Episode 59: Authors Who Wrote Bestselling Books WHILE IN PRISON!

    ·       Who is the best-known author of all time who wrote his “books” in prison?  ·       Which author landed a traditional publishing contract for her prison memoir, and ended up selling more than 1 million copies? Hint: Her book was turned into a very popular and Emmy award winning TV series.   ·       Which prison-penning author got out early because a famous author, Norman Mailer, thought he had talent? And, why did that author end up back in prison later?  ·       Which famous author was previously, at age 17, the youngest inmate ever at San Quentin?  ·       Which preacher wrote a bestselling book, and many others, while he spent 12 years in prison…for preaching?  ·       Which two authors started their own separate multi-million-dollar publishing empires after getting out of prison?  ·       What did Nelson Mandela write while in prison?  ·       What did Oscar Wilde write while he was imprisoned for "gross indecency?"  ·       Which bestselling author got his nickname at age 13 after beating and stomping a robbery victim, leaving the victim disfigured?   ·       Why was one well-known politician and author scandalously imprisoned for perjury?   ·       Which bestselling author wrote books very fast, one a month, to support his drug habit?    You’ll be shocked to discover how many bestselling books were written IN PRISON! Many of those authors used notepads or prison typewriters!  Some of these were written by hardcore killers and truly bad people. Others were written by folks who were imprisoned for their religious convictions, or other beliefs that made them unpopular with the powers-that-be.  We did a deep dive to find fascinating examples of people who have written bestselling books and memoirs from behind bars. Our search took us from Biblical times all the way to modern day!   One of the authors died just nine days before this episode was recorded!  You'll be amazed at how some people can be cruel, vicious criminals in society, and yet flourish as writers once they are parked in a prison cell. We were also amazed at how some in society are willing to entirely overlook some of these criminals' mean streaks, and embrace them as heroes once they write a successful piece.    BONUS: Learn which ones ended up BACK in prison AFTER their books reached bestseller status! Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  3. Oct 1

    Episode 58: Publishers Who Have Been Sued, and Some of the Lawsuits Were INSANE!

    ·       Which publisher sued Amazon, leading to a $300K settlement?  ·       A scammer sued WritersWeekly after getting exposed. Guess who won that lawsuit?  ·       Which Holocaust denier sued Penguin Books, and what stupid thing did he do that resulted in him losing in court?  ·       Which psychologist sued Doubleday and an author after information about his nude therapy appeared in a novel?  ·       Which libel lawsuit led to the demise of the Saturday Evening Post?  ·       Why did AuthorHouse have to pay a plaintiff $230K? And, what happened to the two class-action lawsuits filed against AuthorHouse and its parent company, Author Solutions?   ·       Why can't authors sue Amazon KDP?   ·       Why is Ingram Spark currently facing investigations for a potential class-action lawsuit?  ·       Which two owners of a so-called Christian publishing company were arrested, and later sued by their printer for $2M?  It's true what they say: Anyone can sue anyone for anything. And in the publishing world, lawsuits are almost a way of life. If you aren't involved in one, you are always looking for ways to avoid one!  Today, we offer a vast collection of different civil actions brought against publishers throughout the years.   Some of these will really make you think, while others will make your eyes roll back in your head.   Sit back and enjoy this informative and entertaining episode as Angela, Brian, and Clayton Jones explore lawsuits involving book publishers! Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  4. Sep 24

    EPISODE 57: Deadly Pens: Authors Who Committed MURDER!!!

    Despite the topic, Brian and Angela ended up in stitches while recording this episode!   Is the pen truly deadlier than the sword?  Well, these authors didn't use pens or swords to commit their crimes - but they certainly proved deadly!  Which best-selling author committed murder at age 15??  Which recently deceased author is now suspected of being a serial killer? And, you won’t believe the title of his book that Amazon KDP actually published! WOW!!  Which author wrote about putting his wife through a mincer seven years after he killed her? (He called is “fiction.”)  Which author’s victim’s bones were found under his garden shed after he sold his house?   Which novelist wrote and published an essay called “How to Kill Your Husband” BEFORE she killed her husband?!?!  A successful writer murdered four people in a ROBBERY SPREE!  BONUS! >>> find out which well-known murderer Angela knew in school!  And… Why is Brian now afraid of Angela??? Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  5. Sep 17

    Episode 56 - We Asked AI How It Was Going to Wipe Out Mankind…and It TOLD US!!

    ·       How has AI directly contributed to suicides (by children and adults)? We share specific and extremely disturbing true stories about these victims in this episode. ·       How has AI also contributed to murders, false arrests (we share true stories about innocent people who spent MONTHS in jail!), the development of missiles by terrorists, and the attempted creation of bioweapons?  ·       Why do AI companies call incorrect “facts” given out by their systems “hallucinations?” ·       How AI appeases the “customer,” even if it means lying to that customer. ·       Did you know that Zillow’s own AI system cost them $500M before they shut it down?  ·       Which AI system in New York City told business owners to break the law? ·       Which company had to pay $365K after an EEOC lawsuit accused their AI hiring system of age discrimination?   Okay, so this episode is about far more than just the AI Apocalypse ... but we DID ask it!  Last week, Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned from the company and warned that, "The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade."  Well, that's not a pleasant thought.  So, in this episode, Brian, Angela, and Professor Clayton Jones have a sort of "round table discussion," with each sharing their thoughts and knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and its capabilities.   We also share several examples of people being hurt by AI's mistakes ... or, more accurately, people being hurt by people who relied entirely on AI to make decisions for them, rather than doing their own research.  AI is here, and is very real in our everyday lives. However, it's future - indeed humanity's future with AI - is a great unknown. Join us as we go down the rabbit hole and explore AI from all angles. Is AI dangerous, or will it help humanity?  Is AI just another technological tool, or is it a sentient being?  Should the race toward "Super AI" be slowed down in America until we can better understand what we've created?  What if China arrives at "Super AI" status first?  Are the big three AI companies' recent pleas for government regulation genuine, or is this some kind of trick we don't yet understand?  How has AI negatively affected people's lives thus far with incorrect facial recognition (we share real examples of people who spent months in jail!), license plate readers, incorrect business advice (leading to lawsuits), discrimination, biases inserted by human coders, which influence election results, and so much more?  And, what can YOU do to protect yourself, your book, your business, and your family from getting into legal or criminal trouble using AI?  Dive into all of these topics and more with the team on Episode 56 of the WritersWeekly Podcast. Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  6. Sep 10

    Episode 55 - BESTSELLERS That were Self Published (That YOU will Recognize)

    Which famous author sold 32 million copies, but is now $1.2B in debt?  Which self-published author sold more than 100,000 copies in six months?  Which author self-published a short story and ended up landing a TV series deal?  Which cookbook was originally self-published, and later became one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time?  Which BookLocker.com author has earned hundreds of thousands in royalties?  How much does BookLocker.com’s current bestselling author earn in royalties each month?  Why did Angela Hoy DEEPLY regret signing a traditional publishing contract? (It ended up costing her thousands because of traditional publishing’s low royalties!)  How many copies do you need to sell to get on the New York Times Bestseller List?  Why is the traditional publishing industry dying?  We hear it all the time. Authors get concerned that their book can't "make it to the top" as a self-published book. Some authors are convinced that, to be a bestseller, their book has to be represented by a big-name traditional publisher.  The truth is that lots of books with titles you recognize were self-published and sold thousands of copies (and more!) before any traditional publisher got their hands on the rights!  What you never hear is that, most likely, once those authors sold off their rights, their royalty percentages instantly plummeted. But that's not today's subject.  Some of America's bestselling titles were originally self-published by authors who earned far higher royalty percentages than traditional authors do. For example, when a BookLocker.com author’s print book sells through that website, the author earns 35% of the list price of that book. Compare that to around 5% to 8% for traditionally published books.   Listen to this episode to hear which self-published financial advice book sold 32 million copies. A racy, erotic bestseller started off as an online fan-fiction story, and later sold over 150 million copies. And, a self-published spirituality book became the #1 international bestseller for one year, and spent three years as the #1 bestselling hardcover book on the New York Times Bestseller List!  We also discuss some age-old classics that were - you guessed it – self-published.  Bestseller status is really about the book, not the publisher. Could YOUR self-published book be the next #1 bestseller? It's totally possible!  DON’T FORGET! WritersWeekly Podcast listeners get $200 off of BookLocker’s three book publishing packages! Go here: https://Publishing.BookLocker.com  AND, USE THIS DISCOUNT CODE WHEN SIGNING UP: Podcast200  Contact Angela Hoy with any questions you have: https://publishing.booklocker.com/ask  Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  7. Sep 2

    Episode 54 - Do YOU Think These Controversial Books Should Have Been Published?

    Which major publisher recently offered a contract to a hateful outspoken anti-Semite? Why did a specific author and friend of ours refuse to be interviewed for this episode? Which book - written by a 19-year-old activist - is blamed for actions taken by domestic terrorists, which led to many deaths?  Which book appeared to be written by a man, but was not? And, how did it lead to the deaths of three people?  OJ Simpson wrote a book about the murders he "allegedly" committed, but who ended up owning the rights? In America, we have the 1st Amendment. This allows people to speak and write about anything they want, with very few restrictions. But just because as publishers, we can put almost anything out there in print, does that mean we should? And where should the limits be? Who gets to draw those lines? Who should publishers listen to when it comes to what they publish? The loudest and most obnoxious voices? The latest "victim" classes? Those who purchase the books? Their own consciences? How much should common decency and potential consequences play a role in the decision to publish a book? Again, who gets to draw those lines? In this episode we discuss published books that have become "controversial." We explore the fuzzy line between what is "edgy" and what crosses into the no-man's land of books that perhaps never should have seen the light of day. Different people have different opinions. For some it's the subject matter itself. Or it's the motive behind the writing. Occasionally it becomes WHO wrote the book that causes issues with certain groups.  Can you be honest with yourself when it comes to differentiating between what can be published and what should  be published? Where exactly does that line exist in your mind?  Find out for yourself in this episode.   Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

  8. Aug 26

    Episode 53 - The Psychology of Scam Victims with Psychotherapist Marsh Rose - DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!!

    Here's the episode that a LOT of you have been asking for! Angela and Brian welcome Marsh Rose to the WritersWeekly Podcast. Marsh is a professional psychotherapist based in California.  In this episode, we wade deep into what makes some scam victims tick! Are some personality types more susceptible to being scammed than others? What causes some people to move forward with a business deal when something clearly seems "off?" Why do some people flat out refuse to believe they are being scammed even when all the signs and evidence are there? Is this type of behavior related to Stockholm Syndrome? Are scammers actually SOCIOPATHS?? How do publishing scams compare to romance scams? We cover all these questions and more on this episode. So stretch out on your couch and take some deep breaths as you learn about The Psychology of Scam Victims on The Writers Weekly Podcast!   Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode! Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

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About

From the creators of WritersWeekly.com, the WritersWeekly Podcast delves into everything involving professional writing. WritersWeekly.com has been helping and informing writers and authors for over 25 years. We cover book publishing, article writing, getting writing gigs, paying markets, writing technology, etc. 

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Whiddon
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The WritersWeekly Podcast
  • Show Website
    The WritersWeekly Podcast