I've Always got Time to Talk

With Maya Gouliard
  • 5.0 (4)
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Indie author and ADHD crafty artist, Maya Gouliard talks about her stories, the indie author journey, her life and whatever passion she is chasing in the moment. mayagouliard.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    H.H. Rune | The Makings of an Artist

    H.H. Rune started writing the Find Me series in 1999. She didn't publish until she was 50. It took as long as it took (and she wouldn't change a thing). We talk about her rule-breaking series (part memoir, part fiction, told in first, second, and third person), the traveling books she hands to strangers, and finding out she has ADHD at 52. We also swap stories about bookmarks, ferries, doing the whole indie business ourselves, and the moment each of us finally got to say "I'm an author." Chapters: 0:00 Welcome, H.H. Rune 1:48 Why we need messy stories 3:35 The Find Me series 5:34 Bios, algorithms, and Swiss Army knives 8:47 The paintings on her wall 10:58 Art camp, ADHD, and early stories 12:42 Why it took 25 years 14:27 From one book to five 18:30 Real life and the business side 21:18 Bookmarks, a ferry, and taking chances 25:12 A rule-breaking series 29:46 Color realms and a mother's skills 32:48 A real writing day (and ADHD) 39:48 Doing it all yourself 43:36 Publishing Waterweaver 46:03 When did you call yourself an author? 48:51 Living book five 53:17 The big dream 55:59 Where to find her books "It took as long as it took to be able to say, I'm the artist, I'm the writer, my stories deserve to be told and heard." (H.H. Rune) Mentioned in this episode: Find Me: Extraordinary Life Seeker series, Books 1 to 3 (Book 4 coming soon) Ellie Alexander (cozy mystery author and book coach) Reedsy (free book formatting) Atticus (formatting software) Vellum (formatting software) IngramSpark Draft2Digital Find H.H.: Website: https://hhrune.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.h.rune/ Substack: https://hhruneauthor.substack.com Find Me, Book One: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3GD4P59 Want a signed nameplate? Send H.H. a postcard from your town. About Maya: Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayagouliard Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Want to be a guest? Tell me about your creative life here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: AUWLFSYKP5XQLQBI

  2. Oct 12

    Becky Wanzek | The Makings of an Artist

    Becky Wanzek | The Makings of an Artist Becky Wanzek has always been an artist. (She took every art class her high school offered.) Today she runs Becky's Enchanted Emporium, a side hustle full of beaded earrings, mini ornament trees, diamond paintings, and upcycled treasures. We met as booth neighbors at local markets, and this conversation is just as fun as hanging out behind the tables. We talk about Pinterest rabbit holes, a paint-splattered remote, the "fine art vs. crafty art" question, and why her storage unit is organized by season. Plus her big news: an Etsy shop launching January 2027. In this episode: - Turning a love of making into a market business - Why jewelry is her best seller (and easiest to ship) - Art school, college detours, and the art teacher path not taken - Making art as her after-work unwinding - Using pop culture to find your audience Chapters: 00:00 Becky's Enchanted Emporium 00:20 Meet Becky 02:08 An Etsy shop launching in 2027 02:45 Mini trees, jewelry, and diamond paintings 06:03 Pinterest rabbit holes (and a paint-splattered remote) 08:25 Storage units, seasonal totes, and market prep 13:58 Art was always the plan 18:41 Fine art vs. crafty art 22:50 Audiobooks, D&D, and her art mentors 28:11 College credits and the art teacher detour 34:52 The side hustle dream (and her unwinding) 39:09 The big dream 41:00 Social media and picking one platform 44:52 Permission, pop culture, and target audiences 47:14 Etsy plans: cowgirl hats and polka dots "Don't put a plant in a vase in front of me and ask me to draw it." "Most, if not all, artists love talking about their work." Mentioned in this episode: - The Idea Store (creative reuse shop, Lincoln Square, Urbana) - Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman - Johanna Basford's coloring books and calendars Find Becky: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069950053255 Instagram: @beckyenchantedemporium Etsy shop launching January 2027 About Maya: I'm Maya Gouliard. Fantasy author, artist, and host of The Makings of an Artist. I love talking with creatives about where they started, what their days look like now, and the dreams they're still chasing. YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club (Discord): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Want to be a guest? https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: ZZBYHAYGMAXKJTGD

  3. Oct 8

    Spark to Story | Author Vlog

    Pull Up a Chair Pull up a chair. Let's talk about Spark to Story, my free writing workshop at Rantoul Public Library. It's the first stop in my Spark to Published framework (from your very first idea all the way to selling your book). I share how the workshop works, what happened at the last one, and where I hope this goes next. Join me Saturday, October 17 at 10am at Rantoul Public Library. Free, casual, and no writing experience needed. In this episode: - How I went from not writing at 48 to three and a half books published - Planner, pantser, or somewhere in between - Why you should find your story's destination first - The two writers at my first workshop (and why everyone left better off) - My resource shelf - The big dream: a workshop for every step, idea to sold Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 00:13 Pull Up a Chair: Spark to Story 01:39 How the Workshop Works 05:05 Story Pieces and Your Plan 06:10 The Last Workshop 07:13 My Resource Shelf 08:00 The Big Dream 09:10 Why I Do This (Join Me Oct 17) "The plan should fit how you work and how your brain works." "Support and friendship and community is how we improve and we grow." Mentioned in this episode: - Spark to Story, Sat Oct 17, 10am, Rantoul Public Library: [Facebook event link] - On Writing by Stephen King - Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg - Brandon Sanderson's Creative Writing Lectures: youtu.be/RPyj376qJiw - Scribes Guild (on my Discord): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC About Maya: Maya Gouliard is a fantasy author, artist, and community organizer in Rantoul, Illinois. She writes the Chroma series and runs the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club. Her whole message is simple. It's not too late to create, to grow, or to find who you are. Find Maya: YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard Website: mayagouliard.com Substack: substack.com/@mayagouliard TikTok: @mayagouliard Discord (Scribes Guild + WWFBC): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Waterweaver on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz Want to be a guest on The Makings of an Artist? Apply here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: AVE65FH8IS9PEXHU

  4. Oct 5

    Nikki McCormack | The Makings of an Artist

    Nikki told her sixth grade teacher she was going to be an author. She was eleven. She was writing about talking unicorns in space. Twenty books later (plus six short stories), she's still at it. We talk about the traditional deal that turned her book into a romance it was never meant to be, why she went indie, and how she writes an entire series before editing book one. We also talk about her love of jumping spiders, her 18-year-old cat, and the joy that keeps her writing even when it doesn't pay the bills yet. Chapters: 0:00 Writing Advice for Authors: It's a Journey 0:36 Introduction and guest bio 4:05 Nikki McCormack's Epic Fantasy Books 5:44 Becoming a Fantasy Writer 8:41 Writing Career and First Publishing Deal 12:25 Writing Routine and Author Business 15:04 Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing 21:18 Steampunk, Epic Fantasy, and the Vanris Series 23:58 Epic Fantasy Worldbuilding 25:41 Writing Process, Editing, and Beta Readers 31:21 Video Game Writing and Series Releases 34:13 Writing Tools: Papyrus, Word, and ProWritingAid 36:26 Kindle Unlimited, Wide Publishing, and Direct Sales 38:21 Upcoming Fantasy Book Projects 42:02 Making a Living as an Author 45:54 Best Craft Books and Writing Advice 49:56 Writing Advice: Don't Rush Publishing 51:01 Authentic Author Marketing and Social Media 54:11 Vanris Epic Fantasy Series and Found Family "If I could digest the joy I get from it, I would be fat and happy." (Nikki McCormack) Mentioned in this episode: - Child of Vanris (The Warden's Son, Book 1; placed 4th in the 2025 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards) - The Warden's Son series: Child of Vanris, Blood of Vanris, Heart of Vanris, Throne of Vanris - Daughter of Vanris trilogy: Wave Dancer, Wave-Touched, Wavelord - Warden's Rise (short story) - Clockwork Enterprises: The Girl and the Clockwork Cat, The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy, The Girl and the Clockwork Crossfire - Birth of the Firebringer by Meredith Ann Pierce - On Writing by Stephen King - Save the Cat by Blake Snyder - Papyrus Author (writing software) - ProWriting Aid - Alyssa Matesic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjakQDcauhEDx_ovnK36kMQ - Abbie Emmons: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieEmmons Find Nikki: Website: https://www.elysiumpalace.com/ Shop direct: https://shop.elysiumpalace.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/nikkimccormackwriter Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/authornikki.bsky.social About Maya: Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Want to be a guest? Tell me about your creative life here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: FWWGN6MM3L3DNSKY Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: FWWGN6MM3L3DNSKY

  5. Sep 30

    Showing Up Messy in the Age of AI | Behind the Chaos

    I showed up. Hoodie, ponytail, no makeup (and a very tired brain). In a world where an app can fake your eye contact, I'd rather just be real. So here's my creative week, messy parts included. This week: - Podcast update (interviews booked through November!) - Organizing the bar inventory at Papa Del's (so satisfying to finish something) - Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst - Writing, and learning to "just do it" instead of "do it well" - A tour of my craft room (and the unfinished projects in it) - A little journaling haul (Pochacco!) Next Monday on I've Always Got Time to Talk: fantasy author Nikki McCormack on going from traditional to indie publishing. Chapters: 00:00 I showed up (even when it's hard) 00:33 The creepy AI eye-contact button 00:58 Showing up real and messy 01:48 Podcast update 04:04 Launching the interview series 05:58 Organizing at Papa Del's 06:52 Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: The Bone Maker 08:06 Writing, and just doing it instead of doing it well 09:38 Craft room tour and unfinished projects 11:08 Journaling finds and stickers 11:24 Next week: Nikki McCormack Links: Join the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Waterweaver (Chroma, book one): https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz Book sleeves and handmade goods: [WEBSITE LINK] Subscribe: youtube.com/@mayagouliard Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: DME93ICNDHZMIZRM

  6. Sep 28

    Shoshie Bauer | The Makings of an Artist

    Shoshie Bauer | The Makings of an Artist Shoshie Bauer spent twenty years as a working artist (whimsical watercolors, then award-winning miniatures). Now she's stepping away from art as a job and heading to grad school for conservation. We talk about knowing your worth, branding yourself, surviving the internet, and why you have to call yourself an artist first. Plus a real, messy talk about AI. "You have to identify as an artist for other people to accept you as one." (Shoshie) IN THIS EPISODE - Once you've been paid, you're a professional. Period. - Brand yourself, not your art - The pottery class story - An honest talk about AI and small businesses - Handling haters with "thank you for your comment" CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and meet Shoshie 01:06 Always an artist (ADHD, notebooks, writer parents) 02:39 Art school and the 90s gatekeepers 04:24 Indie or traditional? You can do both 06:17 Know your value (never discount) 08:33 Once you're paid, you're a professional 09:25 Brand yourself, not your art 12:55 Burnout and the big pivot 14:39 From mini painting to conservation 18:43 Showing up as your real self 20:31 Fail in public (the pottery class story) 23:01 Let's talk about AI 28:30 A photo of a bird vs. an AI prompt 31:30 Shoshie's art journey, take two 37:03 Community building and super fans 38:43 Creating the Shoshie persona 41:11 Handling haters 44:05 Who Moved My Cheese? 45:05 How real is too real online? 46:59 Never apologize for taking a break 49:17 Nuggets of wisdom (15 minutes a day) 53:43 Plant something native 55:29 Where to find Shoshie MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE - The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson - I'd Rather Be in the Studio! by Alyson B. Stanfield: https://artbizsuccess.com - Geoffrey Hinton on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart - Last episode, Jennifer Rabbitt: https://youtu.be/G97f8ETMkT4 FIND SHOSHIE https://www.shoshiesminis.com https://bio.site/ShoshiesMinis ABOUT MAYA I'm Maya Gouliard, a fantasy author and artist in central Illinois. I believe it's never too late to create, to grow, or to find who you are. FIND ME YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard Website: mayagouliard.com Substack: mayagouliard.substack.com Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Pinterest: @mayagouliard Facebook: facebook.com/mayagouliard.fantasyauthor Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club on Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Be a guest: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 3RYABTBO9OQTVFNM

  7. Sep 24

    Behind the Chaos | Book 3 & The Bone Maker

    Ironing fabric for zipper pouches while I catch you up on my creative week. My podcast has had a lot of lives. First it was Maya Tried It, then Ladies at the Round Table, then just me talking about myself (which never quite felt right). Now it finally has a through line: conversations with creatives about when they gave themselves permission to show up and call themselves an artist. Three interviews in, I'm learning as much about myself as about my guests. In this episode: Why this podcast finally has a directionBuilding the interview pipeline, from application to recordingBeing stuck in the middle of Echo Weaver (book three) and starting a new craft book to come at it freshJon's reminder to pace myself (he's not wrong)Canceling live TV, Ted Lasso reviews, and why women-led shows keep getting cutSurvivor check-ins with my sonThe Bone Maker, our new book club read, and why it might be the older-heroine fantasy I've been looking forWhy the car is my quiet placeMentioned: Make Your Story Matter by Abbie EmmonsThe Bone Maker by Sarah Beth DurstTed Lasso, The Residence, SurvivorCome hang out: Be a guest on The Makings of an Artist: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artistJoin the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club on Discord: https://discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWCStart the Chroma series with Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8UnzWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mayagouliardWebsite: https://mayagouliard.comNew interviews every Monday. Solo check-ins every Thursday. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: GTMONRQODAVCGBYM

  8. Sep 21

    The Makings of an Artist | Jennifer Rabbitt

    The Makings of an Artist: Jennifer Rabbitt on Encaustic Art, Self-Doubt, and Finding Your Creative Identity Maya Gouliard launches The Makings of an Artist with her longtime friend Jennifer Rabbitt, an encaustic artist. Jennifer shares how she came to call herself an artist, why she stepped away from painting, the challenge of selling fine art, and what it takes to keep creating despite doubt and disappointment. In this episode: Jennifer's artistic family, her degrees in textiles and fine art, and switching her college focus to photographyHow encaustic art uses beeswax, damar resin, pigments, heat, and sometimes a torch to create layered workRejecting the dark, depressing art style of the early 1990s for bright, colorful work insteadThe long process of claiming the identity of "artist," even after years of formal trainingHer first gallery show, a Valentine-themed exhibition, and the artist friendship it led to even without a saleThe blurry line between fine art and craftPricing artwork by materials, size, time, and experience, including a $5,000 large pieceWhy family and emotional value can matter more than priceSelf-doubt, minimalism, and "a lot of paintings fail, let them"Her goal of finishing one studio piece by year's end and reaching $50,000 in annual salesChapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Makings of an Artist 01:31 Jenn's artistic family and creative education 05:40 Learning to call yourself an artist 08:37 What is encaustic art? 10:59 Jenn's first gallery show, and why it still counted 13:20 The real struggle: selling and marketing your art 19:57 Fine art vs. craft, pricing, and legacy pieces 26:51 Minimalism, self-doubt, and letting art fail 37:12 Imagining a full-time art life, and creative overwhelm 42:27 Selling, color, and Jenn's $50K goal 49:42 How do you know you're an artist? 52:17 Where to find Jenn's work, and what's next Notable Quotes: "If you're doing work some creative way and you like what you're making, I think you're an artist." "A lot of paintings fail. Let them." Mentioned in this episode: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood "Wax on Wednesdays" encaustic fusing demos, Shari Replogle (YouTube) "Encaustic Painting Tips: Fusing for a Smooth Surface," R&F Paints (YouTube) Art Pricing Calculators: https://www.artspainter.com/art-pricing-calculator/ https://everycalculators.com/art-price-calculator.html Find Jennifer: Instagram @jennifer_rabbitt_art About Maya: Maya Gouliard is a fantasy author, artist, and community organizer based in Rantoul, Illinois. Writing under Calmillusion Press, she grew into art and writing later in life, asking herself the same question this show explores: am I really an artist, and who gets to decide that? Find Maya: Website: mayagouliard.com Instagram: @mayagouliard TikTok: @mayagouliard Substack: mayagouliard.substack.com Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC Want to be a guest? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtAAhviHsDI6Zlk-Y4R5OxgEdOwE5R_dBN-YYJAt79bH_GyA/viewform

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Indie author and ADHD crafty artist, Maya Gouliard talks about her stories, the indie author journey, her life and whatever passion she is chasing in the moment. mayagouliard.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    With Maya Gouliard
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 With Maya Gouliard
  • Show Website
    I've Always got Time to Talk