The Secret Library Podcast

Welcome back to the Secret Library podcast! In season 10, we are switching up the show in more ways than one, the first of which is starting with a solo episode.This time around, we are looking at money. The world has been shaky for the past several years and economic shifts really hurt those on the fringes first while the upturns benefit us last. Let’s get ahead of this conversation, moving toward prevention and flexibility. I have found that making a plan and engaging with it on my terms as much as possible feels better, even if there is so much that's outside of my control. You’ll hear my history with money as a writer and how I’ve built my business around writing so that I’m not constantly pushing my own goals to the end of my to-do list as well as the stories of other writers in coming episodes. Let’s dive in!Topics:* The importance of taking the time to think about what you want from writing* Why writing and money is a symbiotic relationship and why it’s okay to want to earn money or not yet earn money and still call yourself a writer* Caroline’s past relationship with money and how it’s shifted, especially since moving abroad and realizing she could build a business around writing* Making sure you’re not pushing your own writing goals to the end of your to-do list* Transparency of the money it takes to run Caroline’s business and how it’s constantly evolved and will continue to* How surrender and flexibility are the most useful things you can bring to writing (rather than discipline)Episode Resources:* Learn more about how you can work with Caroline* V.E. Schwab This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

This is the final episode of season ninth season of the Secret Library. In this episode, there's no guest, it's just you and me to take a final look at this very important topic, which is publishing now, which is constantly changing. Over the past eight years of hosting the show, it's always been my goal to address each topic in such a way that it will be valid for a long time, I wanted to create a library of interviews and conversations that would be supportive to a writer discovering the show at any point. But given how much publishing has changed recently, I decided it was necessary to mark the time and to look at publishing in 2023. Not publishing, anytime, because publishing any time isn't really a thing that we can hold on to anymore, there are too many things that are changing — and let's face it, publishing has always been evolving, every creative field is always evolving. So join me in this wrap up and to hear about the future of the podcast!Visit this episode's show notes page here.Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

We’ve got a repeat guest this week on the podcast to give us such a fun update! AL Berggren was on the show in season six to share about her self-publishing journey, and this week she’s back to let us know where her book, Secret Crying Minds, stands! She’s been working with BooksOffice to get her novel adapted to film, one of her lifelong dreams and the motivation behind all of her writing. Along with that, we also talk about getting focused to endure day-long writing sessions to prioritize the work that needs to get done. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! I’ll be back next week with a solo episode and exciting news regarding the future of the show. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

We’ve had a lot of amazing authors on the show to date, but something we haven’t highlighted as much are the authors of children’s books. So with that, I’m so excited to have Jo Loring-Fisher on the show today to give us a bit of insight on the publishing process of a children’s book and how it differs from other genres. Jo has so much to share about her journey a writer, what she wishes she would have known, and the state of creative arts today. I learned a bit and I think you will, too!Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

It’s always such a treat to read a novel that has a main character who is a writer, but writing a main character who is a writer is a whole different thing. Huma Qureshi, author of Playing Games, is on the Secret Library today and she’s sharing her journey of finally writing the book that she knew she was always meant to write — even in her 40s. Huma talks through the magic of flow, humanizing your characters, and working through every motion of the writing process. This episode is such a delight. Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

I’m delighted to have Craig Mod, book producer and author, on the show today. In our conversation, he shares how he created his own press after receiving rejection after rejection. We also get to hear about his creative process which is a real treat because Craig’s books are really like no other, they are a work of art alongside amazing writing. Craig shows us how you can do publishing your own way, there’s so much to takeaway from this episode. It’s my hope you’ll leave feeling a little bit more confident about whichever publishing avenue you decide to take your own book in.Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

What a rare moment to have the perspective of literary agent and author on the podcast. Jennifer Herrera is on the Secret Library today and she’s sharing the current state of the publishing industry — most notably, how you can write to make sure you’re a sure thing in this risk-adverse environment. So much to learn from this episode! Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

This might be one of the most vulnerable episodes of the Secret Library I’ve shared so far. Joanna Penn joins and shares why she’s chosen to publish on Kickstarter rather than going the traditional route. We also do a bit of a live coaching session as we talk through the shadow over all, but also my shadow about publishing. Learn how to embrace it, and get the courage to put your work out there (all of it!). This episode is full of gems, enjoy!Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Sometimes it feels like authors are psychic, right? The books they write are published in the exactly right historical moment which makes their work immediately timeless. This is certainly the case for Kerri Maher and her most recent book, All You Have to Do Is Call, which focuses on the true story of Chicago’s Jane Collective and the brave women who fought for reproductive rights. In our conversation today Kerri and I unpack the timing phenomenon, how she balances the POV and arcs of all of her characters, and the hopes she has for the book. Enjoy!Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Halloween will be here before we know it, and to get into the spirit I’m excited to share this episode with Laura Sims, author of Looker and her newest book, How Can I Help You, which explores the darker side of humanity — all happening within a library which is a delight. Laura masters the art of rotating POV and dialogue in her newest work, so we dive into that and much more throughout this ep. Enjoy!Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe