Read And Write With Natasha

Natasha Tynes

This podcast discusses writing life, reviews books, and interviews authors and industry professionals.  It's run by author, journalist, and ghostwriter Natasha Tynes, a Jordanian-American.

  1. −4 d

    Self Publishing Without The Middleman

    “Bestseller” has become one of the easiest words to fake in publishing, and it’s costing authors money and readers' trust.  I sit down with publishing expert Michele DeFilippo, who brings decades of real-world experience helping authors produce high-quality books without giving away control, rights, or royalties. We talk about why self-publishing no longer carries the old vanity-press stigma, and why the power has shifted now that Amazon and print-on-demand make global book distribution accessible.  Michelle breaks down the difference between needing a publisher and needing professional publishing services, plus the red flags of hybrid publishing companies that charge authors upfront and still take a cut of sales. We also get practical about what “professional” actually looks like: editing, cover design, book typesetting, ebook formatting, and the kind of investment it can take to make your book compete with traditional releases. We also dug into author scams, including how “bestseller” schemes game Amazon’s algorithm, what a real bestseller metric looks like, and why distribution tools like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark still don’t do your marketing for you. If you’re planning to self-publish, want to avoid costly traps, or simply want your book to look unmistakably legit, hit play, subscribe, share with a writer friend, and leave a review so more authors can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 🥒 NEW! The Lonely Cucumber — Natasha's latest children's book A multicultural illustrated story that teaches kids about healthy eating in a fun, heartwarming way. Perfect for elementary school children, gift-giving, and classroom read-alouds. 👉 Get your copy on Amazon ⭐ Loved it? Leave a review — it helps more kids discover the book. Connect:  Read & Write with Natasha (Substack) LinkedInInstagramBook coaching

    Self Publishing Without The Middleman
  2. 6 juli

    The 30-Second Writer: On Reclaiming Time and Publishing on Your Terms

    Thirty seconds sounds too small to matter until you notice how many you throw away each day. I sit down with Dr. Gerald Robison, a pastor and longtime Bible teacher turned prolific author, to talk about the mindset behind his book 30 Seconds That Can Change Your Life—and the moment that made him take time seriously.  Facing tongue cancer and the possibility that his time was short, he stopped chasing only big goals and began reclaiming the small gaps most writers waste. We dig into the "unused moments"—waiting in the car, standing in line, the transitions where you'd normally reach for your phone—and how those windows can become real writing time.  Gerald shares micro-habits that make a page-a-day feel doable, and we wrestle with the burnout question every author faces: when does productivity serve the work, and when do you need rest, quiet, and reflection to actually write well? Then we turn to the writing life and the business behind it. Gerald walks me through traditional, independent, and hybrid publishing—the marketing realities and the book-rights pitfalls authors often miss until it's too late. If you care about protecting your writing time, building sustainable creative habits, and understanding how books really get made, you'll leave with ideas you can use today. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 🥒 NEW! The Lonely Cucumber — Natasha's latest children's book A multicultural illustrated story that teaches kids about healthy eating in a fun, heartwarming way. Perfect for elementary school children, gift-giving, and classroom read-alouds. 👉 Get your copy on Amazon ⭐ Loved it? Leave a review — it helps more kids discover the book. Connect:  Read & Write with Natasha (Substack) LinkedInInstagramBook coaching

    The 30-Second Writer: On Reclaiming Time and Publishing on Your Terms
  3. 29 juni

    Writing About Marijuana: Research, Evidence, and Storytelling

    Marijuana is getting easier to buy, easier to brand, and easier to shrug off. That's exactly why I wanted a grounded conversation with Dr. Raymond Wiggins, a licensed physician with decades on the front lines and author of Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana. For him, cannabis isn't abstract.  He shares personal family losses and a disturbing case of sudden psychosis after early use that changed a young life overnight. We also dig into the clinical side: what he's observed around anesthesia and recovery, from harder-to-sedate patients to higher medication needs, and the uncomfortable question of what regular THC exposure might be doing beneath the surface. From there, we take on legalization, the profit motive he believes is driving it, and why he argues "medical marijuana" still carries real mental health and addiction risks. We get into today's ultra-high THC products—concentrates, edibles, and why delayed dosing can spiral into an ER visit. We close on psychedelics and microdosing, where Wiggins urges caution and points to how early-stage science gets oversold in the wellness world. If you care about public health, parenting, or making informed choices in a fast-changing cannabis landscape, you'll leave with specific claims to research, questions to ask, and resources to explore. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 🥒 NEW! The Lonely Cucumber — Natasha's latest children's book A multicultural illustrated story that teaches kids about healthy eating in a fun, heartwarming way. Perfect for elementary school children, gift-giving, and classroom read-alouds. 👉 Get your copy on Amazon ⭐ Loved it? Leave a review — it helps more kids discover the book. Connect:  Read & Write with Natasha (Substack) LinkedInInstagramBook coaching

    Writing About Marijuana: Research, Evidence, and Storytelling
  4. 8 juni

    Writing About a Sexless Marriage Without Blame

    In this episode, I'm joined by Alisa Kriegel, a Manhattan psychologist with a thriving private practice and the author of From Sexless Marriage to Sex Goddess.  Together, we unpack what researchers actually mean by “sexless marriage," why shame and lack of communication keep couples stuck, and how complicated the real causes can be.  Alisa shares personal, unfiltered insights on sexual pain, birth control effects, learning your own body later in life, and the difference between friendship chemistry and sexual chemistry. We also shift into the writing and publishing side: how Alisa drafted early pages in her iPhone Notes app on subway rides, why content editing mattered, and how she made careful choices around privacy, names, and not turning her ex into a villain.  If you care about relationships, women’s pleasure, sex education for adults, couples therapy, or the craft of writing a memoir that tells the truth without causing unnecessary harm, there’s a lot here to sit with. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 🥒 NEW! The Lonely Cucumber — Natasha's latest children's book A multicultural illustrated story that teaches kids about healthy eating in a fun, heartwarming way. Perfect for elementary school children, gift-giving, and classroom read-alouds. 👉 Get your copy on Amazon ⭐ Loved it? Leave a review — it helps more kids discover the book. Connect:  Read & Write with Natasha (Substack) LinkedInInstagramBook coaching

    Writing About a Sexless Marriage Without Blame

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This podcast discusses writing life, reviews books, and interviews authors and industry professionals.  It's run by author, journalist, and ghostwriter Natasha Tynes, a Jordanian-American.