The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston

Eva Langston
  • 5.0 (37)
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Eva Langston interviews successful authors about their long and bumpy paths to publishing and asks for their "tips for the road." Whether you’re just starting out on your own writing and publishing journey, or if you’re all-too-aware of the possible detours along the way, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. X-treme Research & Writing YA Thrillers

    3d ago

    X-treme Research & Writing YA Thrillers

    April Henry goes to extreme lengths to research her mystery/thriller novels, like allowing herself to get kidnapped!  She has published 31 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with more to come. Her latest YA novel is called IN THE BLOOD. In this episode we talk about where she finds inspiration, her adventures in co-writing, and, of course, the ups and downs on her long road to publishing. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston APRIL HENRY:Website: aprilhenry.comInstagram and Threads: @aprilhenrybooksFacebook: @aprilhenry BlueSky: @aprilhenryTikTok: @aprilhenrywritingadvice and @aprilhenrybooks IN THE BLOOD: https://annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books Show Notes:Rules for Liars by April Patten and Debra Garfinkle Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  2. Scoring a Three-Book Deal

    May 15

    Scoring a Three-Book Deal

    Tara Sexton landed a 3-book deal with her sports romance series... but it didn’t come easy! She had a 10-year marathon of close calls, TONS of unpublished manuscripts, and a crazy submission process before scoring this big win! The first book in the End Game series, THE GREATEST GAME, was just released in the UK and will be published in the US on May 19. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston TARA SEXTON:Website: www.tarasexton.comPreorder The Greatest Game: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/833386/the-greatest-game-by-tara-sexton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerta13/Find her on other socials at @writerta13 Show Notes:Tara's unboxing video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXiDzG8jfNK/ Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  3. How an Architect Designs a Novel

    May 6

    How an Architect Designs a Novel

    After Amin Ahmad lost his agent and his editor, his crime novel series was cut short. But now he’s back in the game with a brand-new thriller called A KILLER IN THE FAMILY. In this episode Amin talks about teaching creative writing, and how he writes his novels the same way he used to design buildings. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston AMIN AHMAD:Website: https://www.aminahmadbooks.com/IG: @aminahmadbooksA KILLER IN THE FAMILY: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781250394897 Show Notes:Writer's Center in DC: https://writer.org/New School in NYCStoryStudio ChicagoGrub Street in Boston Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  4. Following the Magic in Novels & Screenplays

    Apr 24

    Following the Magic in Novels & Screenplays

    Ruth Knafo Setton was told there was “no chance” her book would get published, but after parting ways with her agent, she sold the book on her own and won some awards for it along the way! Ruth writes her novels the way a magician creates an illusion, and she combines creative intuition with a regular writing practice, lots of revision, and a healthy dose of tenacity. Her novel Zig Zag Girl, about a sisterhood of female magicians, was released in the UK in the fall of 2025 and in the U.S. in March 2026. It won Grand Prize for ScreenCraft's Most Cinematic Book, and the screenplay for a pilot episode of Zig Zag Girl won 1st prize in the LA Crime & Horror Film Festival.  In this episode, we talk about Ruth’s long road to publishing her two novels, her fascinating creative process, and how she fell in love with screenwriting. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston Ruth Knafo Setton:Website: www.ruthsetton.com/  Substack: www.ruthsetton.substack.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/rksetton/ Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/list/122004.Ruth_Knafo_SettonZigZag Girl: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/ZigZag-Girl/Ruth-Knafo-Setton/9781917788038Show Notes:Substack article by Vicky Weber: https://vickyweberbooks.substack.com/p/what-nobodys-telling-querying-writersVCCA: https://www.vcca.com/Andrea Bartz's article about Ruth: https://andibartz.substack.com/p/guest-post-being-sawed-in-half-taughtBlack Spring Press's Crime Series: https://blackspringpressgroup.com/collections/black-spring-crime-seriesManuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com/ Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  5. How to "Bee" A Professional Author

    Apr 17

    How to "Bee" A Professional Author

    Beekeeper and kidlit author Shanna Upchurch got orphaned by her editor and dumped by her agent within a 48-hour period. But she kept things professional and a few weeks later landed a 6-figure deal at auction!  Shanna has always taken her writing and publishing career seriously, even during her many (many!) years of rejection. Her debut picture book, The Honeybee Highway, was just released in April 2026, and she has two middle grade novels coming out in 2027 and 2028. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston Shanna Upchurch:Website: https://www.shannaupchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdupchurch4/The Honeybee Highway: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-honeybee-highway-shanna-upchurch/7526ed79e126c673?ean=9781368116022&next=t Show Notes:Highlights Foundation (now called Boyds Mills): https://boydsmills.org/SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/The Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com/ Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  6. Long Story Short

    Apr 8

    Long Story Short

    Darien Gee experienced many years of ups and downs with writing and publishing novels before getting her MFA (at the age of 50) and discovering a love for micro-prose, poetry, and narrative nonfiction.  In this episode we talk about Darien’s journey through the publishing world with sales numbers “trending down” and selling a book at auction. We also talk about the magic of micro-prose, how she used micro-prose to transform a novel into an award-winning chapbook, and her two Substack newsletters for writers.  The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston Darien Gee:Website: https://www.dariengee.comSubstack: https://writerish.substack.com Substack: https://draftsdealsdetours.substack.com Show Notes:Object Lessons: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/discover/bloomsbury-academic/object-lessons/Rainier Writing Workshop: https://www.plu.edu/academic-programs/program/mfa-rainier-writing/Shout-outs to Patricia Smith, Rigoberto Gonzales, Lauren Groff, and others! Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  7. Agent Siblings & Creative INN-spiration

    Mar 27

    Agent Siblings & Creative INN-spiration

    Casey Sciezka runs the Spruceton Inn, a Catskills Bed & Bar, as well as its annual Artist Residency that hosts world-renowned painters and bestselling and award-winning authors. Now on her third agent (who happens to be my agent as well!), she has finally published her debut novel, The Fountain, which is pitched as Tuck Everlasting for adults. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston Casey Scieszka:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sprucetoninn/Substack: https://sprucetoninn.substack.comWebsite: https://www.caseyscieszka.comThe Fountain: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-fountain-casey-scieszka Show Notes:Spruceton Inn & Artist Residency Website: https://www.sprucetoninn.comJami Attenberg and #1000WordsofSummer: https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/about Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  8. Writing & Publishing Later in Life

    Mar 18

    Writing & Publishing Later in Life

    Wendy Tokunaga has weathered bad book sales and agent break-ups. She’s published with a Big 5 publisher and self-published, and in this episode she makes a strong case for why most writers should at least TRY for the traditional book deal. She was the oldest person in her MFA program, and her latest novel, Brenda Barker’s Next Chapter, features a 64-year-old aspiring author as the protagonist. The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston:Follow me on Substack or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers.Find me on Instagram and Blue Sky.Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.comTo pitch to the podcast, go hereFind books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston Wendy Tokunaga:Website: https://www.wendytokunaga.com/Bluesky: @wendytokunaga.bsky.socialTwitter: @Wendy_Tokunaga Buy Brenda Barker’s Next Chapter: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9798218774769 Show Notes:Eva's article on Jane Friedman's Blog: https://janefriedman.com/after-my-second-book-died-on-submission-i-took-these-4-crucial-steps/Stanford's Novel Writing Certificate Program: https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/writing-certificate/overviewMaiden, Mother, Crone Substack Article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-185776582 Credits:The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
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5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Eva Langston interviews successful authors about their long and bumpy paths to publishing and asks for their "tips for the road." Whether you’re just starting out on your own writing and publishing journey, or if you’re all-too-aware of the possible detours along the way, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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