Read And Write With Natasha

Natasha Tynes
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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.

  1. Self-Publishing With Real Control

    1D AGO

    Self-Publishing With Real Control

    He started writing at 16 during lockdown, finishing a massive first draft he’ll never publish, but instead of stopping there, he kept going. That persistence turned into real momentum for Harrison Stockland, a rising crime-thriller author known for his “twisted originality” and willingness to embrace the gritty choices that traditional gatekeepers often want softened.  His debut novel, Watch It Burn, sets the tone for the kind of dark, character-driven stories he’s building his career on. In this episode, we talk candidly about protecting your voice as you grow as a writer—and why “the deal has to be right” if you ever sign with a publishing house.  We also get practical about self-publishing and Amazon KDP: querying agents, turning down an offer, hiring an editor and cover designer, and even learning to format a book in Microsoft Word. Harrison shares how he approaches Amazon ads, explaining why his goal is often reach and breaking even rather than immediate profit, and how a short course plus consistent experimentation can outperform expensive monthly retainers with ad agencies. Marketing isn’t just a buzzword here. We dig into what actually moved the needle: building genuine relationships, hosting local bookstore events and signings, growing an email list, and using an author website with email automations to nudge readers toward preorders and reviews. We also talk craft and research, how nonfiction like Mindhunter and conversations with detectives and legal professionals can elevate crime fiction, making it feel authentic without copying real cases. If you care about writing discipline, creative control, and modern publishing strategy, this episode is packed with insights. Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha, share this with a writer friend, and don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more book lovers discover the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    43 min
  2. The Story You Keep Repeating, and How to Replace It with Dr. Angela Longo

    APR 3

    The Story You Keep Repeating, and How to Replace It with Dr. Angela Longo

    You've probably been told to "just let it go." Dr. Angela Longo says that's the wrong instruction and offers an alternative: replace it. I'm joined by Dr. Longo, a UC Berkeley–trained biochemist with decades of experience spanning stress biochemistry, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and holistic healing — and the author of Relationshifting: Tools for Living Quantum Resplendence.  We dig into what she means by quantum waves and why she treats them as information you can update through what you believe, feel, say, and do. She shares the personal moment that changed her path, then explains how her tools aim to shift patterns behind stress, worry, pain, and the stories we repeat about ourselves. We also get practical. Dr. Longo walks us through how she helps someone uncover their life purpose using their own proud moments and language, then shows how "Bath Wave" works as an embodied practice that uses the five senses to face a pattern and install a replacement in the present tense. Along the way, we explore relationships as mirrors — a concept at the heart of Relationshifting — along with "entinglement" as her plain-language spin on entanglement, and why connection can matter more than chasing happiness. We even talk about manifestation and the law of attraction, and why she believes you manifest what you live, not what you want. If you're curious about quantum healing, mind-body wellness, purpose-driven living, and simple tools you can actually try, listen through to the guided exercise near the end.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    57 min
  3. A Working Poet Explains How He Writes, Performs, And Pays The Bills

    MAR 26

    A Working Poet Explains How He Writes, Performs, And Pays The Bills

    He calls himself Virus the Poet, and the name is the point: take something with a negative meaning and flip it into art that spreads in a better way.  I sat down with Viral Gore to talk about what it looks like to build a modern poetry career that lives both online and on real stages, with real people, and real stakes. We got into why poetry became his most natural channel for expression, how spoken word connects to music and rap lyrics, and why he keeps most poems short to match today’s attention span.  We also talked about the platforms shaping discovery right now, including TikTok poetry, Instagram poets, and BookTok, plus the quiet trend I keep hearing about: Gen Z feeling phone fatigue and drifting back to physical books and bookstores. Then we went behind the scenes on the business of being a working poet: pitching venues, booking speaking engagements, teaching workshops, applying for grants, negotiating performance fees, and expanding beyond book sales with merchandise.  Virus also shared his creative workflow for catching ideas fast using iPhone voice notes, the Notes app, and drafts on his computer, along with his belief that relatability is the thread that helps readers feel less alone.  We wrapped with what’s next for him, including Volume Two, more poetic visuals, and continued experimenting across audio platforms. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    34 min
  4. How Crankiness Can Make You a Better Writer

    MAR 16

    How Crankiness Can Make You a Better Writer

    Crankiness might be the most honest creative fuel we all share, and Stephen Joseph has built an entire writing life around it. I sat down with Stephen, a first-generation American, practicing attorney, seasoned negotiator, and 53-time marathon finisher, to talk about how irritation can become humor, clarity, and surprisingly practical life lessons for writers and readers. We trace his “cranky” origin story from a travel mishap in Rome to a children’s book idea that snowballs into blogs and multiple titles, including his Cranky Superpowers approach to embracing life's cranky corners.  Then we zoomed out to the writing process itself: how he thinks about building “normals” that hold, why running helps him hear his characters, and what it looks like to keep creating even when time is tight. If you’re curious about self-publishing and the business side of children’s books, Stephen gets specific. We talked about hybrid publishing, distribution, ISBNs, warehousing, and why print-on-demand can make illustrated books nearly impossible to price.  He also shared how he found high-quality offset printing in China, what it changed financially, and how better unit economics can open real marketing options. You’ll leave with concrete book marketing ideas, a clearer view of author branding, and a reminder that writing is a long game you get better at by doing.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    30 min
  5. How A Ghostwriter Turns Lived Experience Into A Book People Want To Read

    MAR 9

    How A Ghostwriter Turns Lived Experience Into A Book People Want To Read

    What does it take to turn real life into a book readers can’t put down? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Amanda Edgar, award-winning author, ghostwriter, and founder of Page and Podium Press, about the craft and business of memoir and prescriptive nonfiction.  Amanda shares how she helped document firsthand stories from the summer of 2020 for a follow-up to her 2018 Black Lives Matter book, and why she measures success not just in sales, but in impact and ongoing conversations. We also get practical. Amanda explains what ghostwriting really involves—from interviews and research to collaborative outlining and preserving a client’s voice. She discusses timelines, her 3,000-words-per-week writing cadence, tools like Scrivener, and why her press avoids AI-generated prose to protect authenticity and trust. For aspiring ghostwriters, Amanda shares business advice: start with a few projects, set up your contracts and LLC, and choose a marketing channel you actually enjoy—her YouTube strategy brings in steady organic leads. Finally, we talk about the emotional side of memoir writing: interviewing people about painful experiences, honoring their stories, and knowing which projects align with your values. Amanda also previews two upcoming books, including a guide to her Memoir Method and her own deeply personal memoir about surviving a hidden abusive relationship. If you’re interested in memoir, ghostwriting, or writing books that make an impact, this episode is for you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    37 min
  6. Guest Podcasting For Authors

    FEB 25

    Guest Podcasting For Authors

    Want your book and brand to break past your own audience?  I sat down with SEO strategist and author Brandon Leibowitz to map the fastest path: guest podcasting. Brandon lays out how stepping onto trusted shows earns the backlinks and third‑party mentions that search engines crave, while also unlocking new readers who arrive pre‑warmed by the host's credibility. We dig into why backlinks still power rankings, how to turn each interview into an evergreen content engine, and where AI changes the game. Brandon explains the growing split between what Google values and what LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini surface, and why consistent third‑party coverage now influences both. You'll hear practical tactics for authors: creating audience‑specific pages on your site, avoiding duplicate content traps, using Google Keyword Planner to validate titles, and funneling readers with smart bonuses and QR codes to build your email list. Brandon also shares the scrappy methods he used to land 300 shows: simple Google operators to find podcasts with real SEO value, plus directories like Podmatch and Listen Notes. We get candid about self‑publishing his new book, The Power of Guest Podcasting, from editing and formatting hurdles to a last‑minute KDP launch that still hit #1 in Amazon's podcasting category. If you've wondered whether to start your own show or double down on guesting, this conversation makes the case for building trust first and growing your ecosystem on its back. Subscribe for more conversations that help writers and creators grow with clear, modern marketing.  If you found value, leave a quick review and share this episode with an author who needs fresh eyes on their SEO. Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    47 min
  7. Building Books In Colombia; Selling Stories To The World

    FEB 22

    Building Books In Colombia; Selling Stories To The World

    Richard McColl is a British writer, publisher, and podcaster who built something entirely his own in Colombia, and the lessons he's learned apply wherever you're trying to get your work into the world. In this conversation, we dig into Fuller Vigil, his boutique indie press publishing English-language books about Colombia with tight prose, lived experience, and beautiful design.  You can watch the Video Interview here.  Richard breaks down the actual business of independent publishing, printing locally, stocking the shops where readers actually buy, using KDP strategically for reach, and measuring success by community and events rather than vanity metrics. Distribution is expanding to the UK, with the US next. It's a masterclass in building small and building smart. Colombia Calling, his weekly podcast, is part of the same ecosystem — pairing a rigorous ten-minute news brief with in-depth interviews, sustained by a Patreon community that gets early access, explainers, and book discounts. Richard talks about what it really takes to build an audience that trusts you, and why that trust is the foundation on which everything else runs. We also get into the writing itself,  how place shapes story, how to go beyond the obvious narrative everyone expects, and what it means to publish books that represent a country on its own terms rather than through someone else's lens. He closes with advice every writer needs to hear: don't quit the day job too soon, collect contacts like currency, evolve your plan, grow thick skin, and make peace with the fact that you won't switch off.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    41 min
  8. How This Author Turned a Subway Moment Into a Book That Redesigns Your Day

    JAN 28

    How This Author Turned a Subway Moment Into a Book That Redesigns Your Day

    A single moment on a New York subway platform can flip a life.  That’s where author and coach Deborah Mallow decided to stop living by default and design days that actually felt good. We invited her to share how that choice turned into a practical, design-forward guide: Six Steps to Fewer Days That Suck. We walk through each step with real-world examples. Start with the decision to change, then strip away the habits that feed worry and fear.  Feed your mindset with bravery, not doubt. Take action with balance so your progress is sustainable, and choose an attitude that reflects the self you want to project. Finally, make the commitment to stay the course when results wobble.  Deborah grounds every step in accessible brain science, how cortisol shapes mornings, why negativity bias traps our focus, and how small rituals like a self-hug, a smile, and a one-line affirmation can trigger endorphins and set a positive pattern for the day. As a designer, Deborah built her book for how we actually consume content: fast, visual, and memorable.  Double-page spreads deliver quotes, questions, mantras, and start-now activities you can use in minutes. She also pulls back the curtain on her self-publishing strategy, from combining Amazon with IngramSpark to sourcing a cover from Big Five talent and planning bulk sales that bring positivity into workplaces. It’s a masterclass in aligning creative vision with smart distribution, all while protecting your voice. If you’re ready to enjoy more and worry less, you’ll leave with a morning micro-ritual, a clearer sense of purpose, and a repeatable way to reduce the days that drain you.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show 📚 Writing a book and feeling stuck?  Subscribe to Read and Write with Natasha on Substack for practical guidance, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes insights on finishing your book—from idea to final draft.

    35 min
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Natasha Tynes
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Read And Write With Natasha
  • Show Website
    Read And Write With Natasha