Margs & Manuscripts

Cait & Jenna
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

The book world is bigger than any one corner of it. Margs & Manuscripts brings it all together — writers, authors, agents, editors, bookstore owners, and readers — for real, unfiltered conversation about writing, publishing, and the reading life. Hosted by Cait and Jenna, two writer friends who pour a drink and let the conversation flow.

  1. 10h ago

    The Heroine Who Chose Herself with Author Orin Steele

    Orin Steele joins us to talk about By Blood, Shadow, and Fire, the first book in her dark romantasy trilogy, and the choices that got it (and her) here. We’re fresh off the book and we cannot stop thinking about that ending. Orin spent nearly a decade running her own branding agency, and it shows. We dig into how she brought a fully formed cover vision to Emrae Publishing, how a Friday night spot at her local Portland brewery led her to illustrator Santiago, and why she wanted a cover that looked like art instead of a book cover. We also get real about the other side of building an author platform: posting about bad days instead of curated wins, 80+ agent rejections, and why she queried an indie publisher directly. Orin opens up about scrapping 75,000 words of book two, stepping back from social media, and protecting the two things she won’t put down: the quality of her books and time with her daughter. Then we get into the book itself. Orin shares how a D&D character sparked the series, how her own personal journey shaped Islyn’s story of becoming what she was taught to fear, and what’s coming in book two (spoiler: it picks up minutes after book one ends). In this episode: Designing a cover that looks like art, from the illustration to the foil and overlaysWhy the most relatable content is the honest kindQuerying an indie publisher directly and becoming their first “non-friend” signingWhy traditional publishing keeps waiting for indie authors to prove themselves firstR.F. Kuang’s advice: spend less time convincing people to read your book and more time making it betterUnderworld meets Shadow and Bone, morally gray characters, and inconvenient love storiesThe Lee Pace and Heath Ledger inspiration behind her charactersWhat to expect in book twoOrin’s favorite reminder: “You can fix bad writing. You can’t fix a blank page.” Connect with Orin: Website: orinsteele.comInstagram: @actuallyorinTikTok: @actuallyorinOrder By Blood, Shadow, and Fire: Emrae PublishingConnect with Margs & Manuscripts: Instagram: @margsandmanuscriptsWebsite: margsandmanuscripts.comBooks featured on this podcast are sometimes provided free by publishers or authors. Support the show

    The Heroine Who Chose Herself with Author Orin Steele

  2. Oct 15 ·  Bonus

    In the Lime Light with Beth Carlberg

    When something hungry wakes in the pines, Aunna must protect the woman she loves before it devours them both. Beth Carlberg joins us to talk Firewatcher, her dark fantasy folk horror where magic doesn’t sparkle. It costs you. Aunna is the first woman Firewatcher in generations. She can hear the dead speak through flame, and every bit of that power leaves a mark. When the Temnylf crawl out of the woods hungry for the magic buried in human bones, she has to decide how much she’s willing to burn. We get into why fairy tales were always folk horror, how a short story grew into a full novel (with about 50,000 words left on the cutting room floor), and why Beth never tells herself no in a first draft. Then it gets delightfully woo: tarot, writing as a vessel, and the real toll of spending your workday in dark places. Fair warning, she rated Firewatcher an eleven on our dark and twisty scale. In this episode: The Dolly Parton school of author branding: you are the brandBuilding a magic system where every spell has a priceGrowing up on Robin McKinley and Tolkien, and why the original fairy tales are horrifyingWhy Beth stays out of reader review spacesOne hand, two color schemes: the story behind the hardcover and paperback coversFrom short story to novella to novel, with help from a developmental editor and The Heroine’s JourneyThe difference between what you write and what you sellTarot as the thing you already know but don’t want to hearWriting dark without becoming dark, and the Snow White retelling she shelved for goodHow a second pen name and a lovers-to-enemies romantasy let her write outside horror authenticallyLeaving readers with complex feelings in a hot-take worldClimbing out of the bog: noise-cancelling headphones, lo-fi jazz, and touching grassWhat’s next: Chokecherry, an 80s lesbian horror coming September 2027Connect with Beth: Website: https://www.bethcarlberg.netBuy Firewatcher direct: https://www.bethcarlberg.net/firewatcherFirewatcher at all retailers: https://books2read.com/links/ubl/3JaxGgNewsletter: https://www.bethcarlberg.net/newsletterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth.carlbergTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethcarlbergConnect with M&M: Website: https://margsandmanuscripts.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/margsandmanuscriptsLime Light is our author spotlight series, created to give indie authors an affordable way to get their books in front of new readers. Beth is a featured Lime Light author, and this episode is a paid feature. Want your book in the Lime Light? Reach out at https://margsandmanuscripts.com. Support the show

    In the Lime Light with Beth Carlberg

  3. Oct 13

    Halloweentown, Bravo Edition: Sapphic Witches, Prank Wars, and Spice with Audrey Goldberg

    What if Death Becomes Her ditched the man and let the two women kiss? That’s the pitch for Vengefully Matched, Audrey Goldberg’s sapphic, witchy rom-com about a runaway bride, a prim council president, a prank war gone too far, and a fake relationship that gets very real. Audrey, a high school English teacher by day, joins Jenna and Cait to talk about the cover inspo board (Taste, Wicked, Agatha All Along, and more), why she writes with a soundtrack in her head, and why Vermont is the perfect place for secret witches. She also shares honest, encouraging advice on writing intimacy, why messy drafts beat writer’s block, and the story behind a very spicy water bottle scene that didn’t make the final cut. Plus: a pitch for a Hanukkah-Christmas-Halloween holiday novella, a glitter bomb, and the greatest mayonnaise prank of all time. Vengefully Matched is the second interconnected standalone in the Hallowcross series, following Hopelessly Teavoted. Audrey’s YA debut, Personal Space Issues, arrives March 23, 2027. In this episode Sapphic, witchy rom-coms and late-in-life bisexual representationFake dating, prank wars, and age-gap dynamicsCover design and pulling inspiration from pop cultureWriting visually with soundtracks and internal narrationBuilding an interconnected standalone seriesVermont lore and spooky small-town settingsWriting intimacy, confronting shame, and practicing on the pageCut scenes and trusting your editorFinding the right amount of spice for the storyUsing tropes to play with reader expectationsHoliday romance ideas beyond ChristmasPranks as character growthBalancing teaching and writingGet the book Vengefully MatchedOrder from Park BooksFind Audrey Website: audreygoldbergauthor.comInstagram: @audreygoldbergruoffTikTok: @audreygoldbergruoffNewsletter: Just Your Cup of TeaWriting playlist: SpotifyBooks featured on this podcast are sometimes provided free by publishers or authors. Support the show

    Halloweentown, Bravo Edition: Sapphic Witches, Prank Wars, and Spice with Audrey Goldberg

  4. Oct 8 ·  Bonus

    In the Lime Light with Lizzete S. Tupas

    This week on the Lime Light, debut author Lizzete S. Tupas joins Jenna and Cait to talk about her novel, Always on a Tuesday. Loren Thomas has built a life on competence. At work she is the one everyone trusts, and at home she is the one everyone depends on. Then Tuesdays start cracking it all open. First comes an unexplained mistake, then a phone call she can't forget, then quiet fractures that refuse to stay hidden. It is a psychologically rich literary novel about identity, resilience, and the hidden cost of competence. We get into: the therapy homework assignment that started it allwhy Lizzete turned her story into fiction instead of a memoirfounding her own imprint to publish voices that deserve to be heardthe beta reader intervention that changed her titlethe post-it cover she designed herselfIn This Episode (00:19) The homework assignment from her therapist, and why she chose fiction over memoir(03:25) Jenna on becoming a new mom and not having it all together for the first time(04:24) Going from writing the story to publishing it, and founding Studio LT Press to publish stories that deserve to be heard(07:30) How learning every step of publishing made her a stronger writer (except marketing)(08:39) The ultimate homework assignment, and what her therapist will say when Lizzete hands her the book(09:38) The beta reader intervention, and finding a new title over sushi with her nephew(11:42) Rewriting the first three chapters, and the DIY cover made from a post-it and a Notes app scribble(14:31) Stumbling into your best ideas and trusting your instincts as an indie author(16:26) Why she is celebrating with a private dinner instead of a big launch party(18:25) Wrapping upGet the book Always on a Tuesday is out now from Studio LT Press in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and a special Lotus Edition. Book clubs, Lizzete has a free discussion guide ready for you. Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Always-Tuesday-Lizzete-S-Tupas-ebook/dp/B0HC53SD9PGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256109987-always-on-a-tuesdayBook Club Guide: https://www.lizzetetupas.com/_files/ugd/5b61a0_700531798ed948a18d3b9c4b271b58a4.pdfConnect with Lizzete Website: https://www.lizzetetupas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzetetupasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizzetetupasStudio LT Press: https://www.studioltpress.comSupport the show

    In the Lime Light with Lizzete S. Tupas

  5. Oct 6

    Your Shelved Book Isn't Dead, It's in a Coma with Once, Again, Always Author Amanda Gayle

    Ten finished manuscripts. One titanium ankle. One perfectly timed book deal. This week, Amanda Gayle joins us to talk about her debut romance, Once, Again, Always (Avon/HarperCollins), and the long, honest road that got her there. She shares what it was like to quit her job to write, query, land an agent, and go on submission twice. She also explains why a shelved manuscript isn't dead, just waiting for the market to catch up. Plus, we hear about the backyard fire pit conversation that sparked the story, the ending she never outlined, and her trip to Germany for her international launch. In this episode, we talk about: Why getting published comes down to timing as much as talentBuilding a back catalog so you're ready when your moment comesWhat submission looks like when it works, and when it doesn'tPromoting one book while editing the nextChoosing traditional publishing and knowing your strengthsKeeping the faith when it feels like your turn will never comeAbout Once, Again, Always Molly Graham wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the last six years. Then she finds out she's married to Aster Bishop, her infuriating boarding school rival. Amanda calls it a heartbreaking but hopeful second-chance romance about who we are when we're missing our own context. It's out October 6 from Avon. Join the Margs & Manuscripts Book Drop Want more indie books in your life? For $10 a month, Book Drop members get at least three indie ebooks every month, plus discount codes for physical copies. Every time an indie author's Limelight episode comes out, we pay that author $2 for every active member. The podcast and the Substack stay free. Book Drop is how we put real money behind indie authors. Join here: https://margsandmanuscritspod.substack.com/p/its-here-the-margs-and-manuscripts Links Margs & Manuscripts on Substack: https://margsandmanuscritspod.substack.com/Amanda Gayle on instagramPick up Once, Again, Always Books featured on this podcast are sometimes provided free by publishers or authors. Support the show

    Your Shelved Book Isn't Dead, It's in a Coma with Once, Again, Always Author Amanda Gayle

  6. Oct 1 ·  Bonus

    In the Lime Light with Allison Bettes

    Spicy romance meets CSI. Allison Bettes joins Jenna and Cait to celebrate the release of Rogue Wave, book three in her Cupid Meets Crime Scene series. A sunshiny marine biologist, a grumpy sheriff next door who writes her tickets for everything, and a beach that washes up a lot more than sand dollars. We talk about writing women in STEM whose expertise actually cracks the case, the very random research behind axolotls and escape-artist octopuses, and why Allison's animals are never just pets (one is basically a matchmaker). Plus her first special editions, a bedazzling habit measured in thousands of beads, the shift from shirtless-guy covers to bright symbolic ones, and how a side character named after a street team member ended up launching a whole new series. In this episode: Rogue Wave and the Cupid Meets Crime Scene series (and why you can start with any book)Women in STEM solving the crime, inspired by Allison's day job as a scientistResearch rabbit holes: axolotls, octopuses, and a probable FBI watch listSpecial editions with sprayed edges, a town map, and science jokes at the top of every chapterThe 27-hour bedazzled event copy that is not for salePartnering with indie bookstore Shelf Love for pre-orders and book boxesThe cover glow-up with designer Kay JaspersonWhat's next: Gail's book in January and a Vivi and Dougie spin-off seriesGet Rogue Wave (out October 1) Special editions: Allison's Website (free shipping) Special editions and book boxes: Shelf Love Pre-orders placed by Saturday, October 3 get personalized. Connect with Allison: @authorallisonbettes Connect with M&M: @margsandmanuscripts Support the show

    In the Lime Light with Allison Bettes

  7. Sep 29

    Found Family and Found Readers with Dakoda Mazzii

    We hit almost 500 downloads in a single week, and we're marking the milestone with an episode that turned into a full-circle moment for our own indie publishing journeys. Dakoda Mazzii, author of the dark fantasy trilogy The Fate of Astoran, joins us to talk about querying, signing with a literary agent, and ultimately walking away to self-publish on her own terms. Since then she's released Chasm of Dreams and Summoner of Chaos seven months apart, sold thousands of copies, and built a devoted readership from scratch. We get into how she grew her fanbase as an indie author (hint: human-made artwork, newsletters, and a lot of giving books away), why she refuses to write to market, and why she's giving herself zero deadline for book three. Plus some honest talk about day jobs, health insurance, and the reality of chasing a creative dream without betting your whole life on it. In this episode: Why Dakoda left the trad pipeline after a year of waiting and uncertaintyReleasing two epic fantasy books in seven months (and why book three gets all the time it needs)Investing in human artists over AI art to draw readers inNewsletters, giveaways, and the self-sacrificial side of indie marketingWhy "writing to market" isn't the answerEvery author has their own journey, and your craft grows with every bookA reminder for the online author community: we're all on the same teamAbout Chasm of Dreams: A character-driven, fast-paced, Lord of the Rings-coded fantasy about a dream walker and her found family taking on the fallen angel who has conquered their world. Expect prophecy, revolution, a medium-burn romance with zero brooding animosity, and a story about honor, compassion, and humanity reclaiming its footing. Chapters: 00:00 Almost 500 downloads in one week 02:14 Meet Dakoda and Chasm of Dreams 05:16 The Fate of Astoran series 07:49 Querying, landing an agent, and walking away 13:28 Choosing indie and letting book three breathe 17:11 How she built her readership 23:07 Every author has their own journey 28:13 Leaving the query trenches and ignoring the market 31:44 Day jobs, health insurance, and real talk about risk 33:18 Be nice, we're on the same team Find Dakoda: Instagram: @dakodamazziiauthor Find us: Instagram: @margsandmanuscripts Support the show

    Found Family and Found Readers with Dakoda Mazzii

  8. Sep 24 ·  Bonus

    In the Lime Light with Elizabeth Gillman

    This week on the Limelight, debut author Elizabeth Gillman joins Jenna and Cait to talk about her novel, Maybe, Maybe Not. Annie has learned to live well with her OCD, but travel has always been off the table, and she has never left her little Gulf Coast community. When her boss offers to sell her the boutique she has worked in since she was a teenager, Annie finally decides to face travel with her fearless best friend Kat by her side. Then Kat dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a list of offbeat places to scatter her ashes and a surly little brother to help get it done. It is funny, it is tender, and it is full of road trip energy. We get into why OCD is not the antagonist of this story, the deeply personal reason Elizabeth wrote it, the octopus hiding on her gorgeous cover, and her ten-year road to publication. Her OCD is an octopus. Her best friend's last wishes are a road trip. If you love Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Road to Tender Hearts, this one is for you. In this episode: (00:00) How long Elizabeth has been working on this book, and meeting Cait at the Alexandria retreat(00:48) ARC reader reception and trying (and failing) not to read reviews(02:09) The pitch, the premise, and the comp titles(04:41) Why OCD is not the antagonist(05:59) The heart of the story: writing hope for her daughter and for the parents who love kids with OCD(10:19) The cover journey, letting the designer take the wheel, and the octopus you can't unsee(14:37) Elizabeth's ten-year publishing journey, from a 134,000-word first draft to finding her first critique partner(21:25) Writing this one for her daughter, setting a querying deadline, and choosing to go indie(23:40) Building a publishing team, from dev editor to audiobook narrator(25:05) Wrapping upIf you liked these, you'll like Maybe, Maybe Not: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie HartnettJane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen OakleyEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanTurtles All the Way Down by John GreenAfter Annie by Anna QuindlenGet the book:  Maybe, Maybe Not comes out September 26 from 20 Knots Press and is available for preorder now. Keep an eye out for two more books from Elizabeth coming soon. Preorder: https://books2read.com/u/bPqqlRWebsite: https://elizabethgillman.squarespace.com/Find Elizabeth: Website: https://elizabethgillman.squarespace.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethgillmanwritesSupport the show

    In the Lime Light with Elizabeth Gillman
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The book world is bigger than any one corner of it. Margs & Manuscripts brings it all together — writers, authors, agents, editors, bookstore owners, and readers — for real, unfiltered conversation about writing, publishing, and the reading life. Hosted by Cait and Jenna, two writer friends who pour a drink and let the conversation flow.

Information

  • Creator
    Cait & Jenna
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Margs & Manuscripts
  • Show Website
    Margs & Manuscripts

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