Debut author Miranda Shulman joins literary agent CeCe Lyra to talk about turning a childhood dream into her literary suspense novel ‘Harmless’—and why the stories we tell ourselves about adulthood don’t always hold up. From writing her first draft at Planned Parenthood to landing an agent through a fellowship (no traditional querying required), Miranda shares her unconventional path to publication. They dive into obsession, messy female friendships, and the existential spiral of your late 20s—plus what it really takes to shape a compelling, complex protagonist.Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Debut author &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Miranda Shulman &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;joins literary agent &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CeCe Lyra &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;to talk about turning a childhood dream into her literary suspense novel ‘&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;Harmless’&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt;—and why the stories we tell ourselves about adulthood don’t always hold up. From writing her first draft at Planned Parenthood to landing an agent through a fellowship (no traditional querying required), &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Miranda &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;shares her unconventional path to publication. They dive into obsession, messy female friendships, and the existential spiral of your late 20s—plus what it really takes to shape a compelling, complex protagonist.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Find us on our socials:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Advertising Inquiries: &lt;a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'&gt;https://redcircle.com/brands&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Author Interview with Miranda Shulman

How to Build a Protagonist Who Actually Makes Sense

This week, Carly and CeCe dive into major shifts in publishing—from quiet updates to the ‘New York Times’ bestseller list to growing concerns about editors using AI behind the scenes. Carly and CeCe unpack what these changes signal about industry trends, including the rise of audiobooks and the decline of mass market paperbacks. They also tackle the controversy around manuscripts being fed into AI tools—and what that means for author trust and confidentiality. Plus, a fascinating breakdown of debut author advances reveals what writers are really getting paid today.Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to <a href="https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com" rel="nofollow">https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com</a>AS SHARED ON THE PODCAST:<a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyzipps/p/2025-debuts-data-part-two?r=h5j0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyzipps/p/2025-debuts-data-part-two?r=h5j0&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web</a><a href="https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/?mc_cid=edfbfdb621&mc_eid=c3c057229b" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/?mc_cid=edfbfdb621&amp;mc_eid=c3c057229b</a><a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/news/some-editors-uploading-confidential-manuscripts-to-chatgpt-to-read-quickly-agent-claims" rel="nofollow">https://www.thebookseller.com/news/some-editors-uploading-confidential-manuscripts-to-chatgpt-to-read-quickly-agent-claims</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;This week, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Carly &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CeCe &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;dive into major shifts in publishing—from quiet updates to the ‘&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;New York Times’&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt; bestseller list to growing concerns about editors using AI behind the scenes. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Carly&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt; and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt; CeCe&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt; unpack what these changes signal about industry trends, including the rise of audiobooks and the decline of mass market paperbacks. They also tackle the controversy around manuscripts being fed into AI tools—and what that means for author trust and confidentiality. Plus, a fascinating breakdown of debut author advances reveals what writers are really getting paid today.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Find us on our socials:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;AS SHARED ON THE PODCAST:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyzipps/p/2025-debuts-data-part-two?r=h5j0&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyzipps/p/2025-debuts-data-part-two?r=h5j0&amp;amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;amp;utm_medium=web&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/?mc_cid=edfbfdb621&amp;mc_eid=c3c057229b" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/?mc_cid=edfbfdb621&amp;amp;mc_eid=c3c057229b&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/news/some-editors-uploading-confidential-manuscripts-to-chatgpt-to-read-quickly-agent-claims" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://www.thebookseller.com/news/some-editors-uploading-confidential-manuscripts-to-chatgpt-to-read-quickly-agent-claims&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Advertising Inquiries: &lt;a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'&gt;https://redcircle.com/brands&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Shooting The Shit

Shooting The Shit About Changes to the NYT Bestseller List and Editors Allegedly Using AI

This week on Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe and Carly break down two query letters—and pull no punches. From missing plot lines to overstuffed author bios, they highlight the biggest mistakes writers make when pitching their work. They dig into why subplots don’t belong in queries, how vague “vibes” kill momentum, and why your protagonist must think on the page—not just act. Plus: the danger of performing for the reader, the myth of show don’t tell, and what agents actually need to say yes. Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;This week on Books with Hooks, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bianca&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CeCe&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Carly &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;break down two query letters—and pull no punches. From missing plot lines to overstuffed author bios, they highlight the biggest mistakes writers make when pitching their work. They dig into why subplots don’t belong in queries, how vague “vibes” kill momentum, and why your protagonist must think on the page—not just act. Plus: the danger of performing for the reader, the myth of show don’t tell, and what agents actually need to say yes. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Find us on our socials:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Advertising Inquiries: &lt;a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'&gt;https://redcircle.com/brands&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and Cece

Plugging in Mental Modules

It’s chaos in publishing—and Carly and CeCe are breaking it all down. From the AI controversy behind Shy Girl to growing fears around trust, authorship, and what readers actually want. They get real and talk about layoffs, imprint closures, and what it means for writers navigating an already tough landscape. Plus: the reality of editor turnover, the flood of self-published books, and why literary fiction might be poised for a comeback.Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to <a href="https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com" rel="nofollow">https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com</a>AS SHARED ON THE PODCAST:<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/207659/non-fiction-publishing-threat-important-ever" rel="nofollow">https://newrepublic.com/article/207659/non-fiction-publishing-threat-important-ever</a>\<a href="https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mBXnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q" rel="nofollow">https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mB</a><a href="https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mBXnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q" rel="nofollow">XnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q</a><a href="https://substack.com/@janefriedman/note/c-230548625?r=h5j0&utm_medium=web&utm_source=notes-share-action" rel="nofollow">https://substack.com/@janefriedman/note/c-230548625?r=h5j0&amp;utm_source=notes-share-action&amp;utm_medium=web</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html?smid=nytcore-android-share&unlocked_article_code=1.UlA.R8RW.PFdWmcI_UreZ" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UlA.R8RW.PFdWmcI_UreZ&amp;smid=nytcore-android-share</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;It’s chaos in publishing—and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Carly&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CeCe&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt; are breaking it all down. From the AI controversy behind &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;Shy Girl&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt; to growing fears around trust, authorship, and what readers actually want. They get real and talk about layoffs, imprint closures, and what it means for writers navigating an already tough landscape. Plus: the reality of editor turnover, the flood of self-published books, and why literary fiction might be poised for a comeback.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Find us on our socials:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AS SHARED ON THE PODCAST:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/207659/non-fiction-publishing-threat-important-ever" rel="nofollow"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;https://newrepublic.com/article/207659/non-fiction-publishing-threat-important-ever&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;\&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mBXnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mB&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.threads.com/@deeshaphilyaw/post/DWITRYgDD7W?xmt=AQF0Fl2ZZ9Yzr6vOCqP5Rn06mBXnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q" rel="nofollow"&gt;XnH6Wo48wf0CG3MrKm6Q&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://substack.com/@janefriedman/note/c-230548625?r=h5j0&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_source=notes-share-action" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://substack.com/@janefriedman/note/c-230548625?r=h5j0&amp;amp;utm_source=notes-share-action&amp;amp;utm_medium=web&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html?smid=nytcore-android-share&amp;unlocked_article_code=1.UlA.R8RW.PFdWmcI_UreZ" rel="nofollow"&gt;https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UlA.R8RW.PFdWmcI_UreZ&amp;amp;smid=nytcore-android-share&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Advertising Inquiries: &lt;a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'&gt;https://redcircle.com/brands&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Shooting the Shit About Cancelled Books and the Shy Girl AI Discourse

A double author interview you don’t want to miss! Bestselling author Beth O’Leary breaks down her signature approach to writing high-concept, emotionally grounded romance—starting with a compelling “what if” hook and building outward into layered characters, structure, and setting. She shares how ‘The Name Game’ evolved from a simple premise into a complex, multi-POV narrative with intentional use of diaries, emails, and dual timelines to deepen tension and deliver surprising twists. Beth also dives into craft essentials like differentiating character voice, managing pacing across timelines, and why first drafts are meant to be messy. From false starts and massive rewrites to the power of immersive world-building (even in contemporary fiction), this interview is a masterclass in trusting the process, refining your craft, and turning raw ideas into deeply satisfying stories.Author Kate Hilton shares how ‘City of the Muse’ grew from a collision of real-world academic scandals and archival discoveries into a richly layered dual-timeline mystery spanning Egypt and modern-day Toronto. Drawing on her lifelong fascination with archaeology—and years of research into papyrology, forgotten histories, and women in early excavation work—she unpacks the craft behind balancing past and present narratives, sustaining momentum across timelines, and creating distinct, psychologically grounded characters. Kate also offers candid insight into the realities of long-haul writing (including six years of drafting between other projects), the push-pull between research and procrastination, and how intuition ultimately guides decisions around voice, POV, and structure—reminding writers that every story is, at its core, a mystery waiting to be uncovered.Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;A double author interview you don’t want to miss! Bestselling author &lt;strong&gt;Beth O’Leary&lt;/strong&gt; breaks down her signature approach to writing high-concept, emotionally grounded romance—starting with a compelling “what if” hook and building outward into layered characters, structure, and setting. She shares how ‘&lt;em&gt;The Name Game’&lt;/em&gt; evolved from a simple premise into a complex, multi-POV narrative with intentional use of diaries, emails, and dual timelines to deepen tension and deliver surprising twists. &lt;strong&gt;Beth&lt;/strong&gt; also dives into craft essentials like differentiating character voice, managing pacing across timelines, and why first drafts are meant to be messy. From false starts and massive rewrites to the power of immersive world-building (even in contemporary fiction), this interview is a masterclass in trusting the process, refining your craft, and turning raw ideas into deeply satisfying stories.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Author &lt;strong&gt;Kate Hilton&lt;/strong&gt; shares how ‘&lt;em&gt;City of the Muse’&lt;/em&gt; grew from a collision of real-world academic scandals and archival discoveries into a richly layered dual-timeline mystery spanning Egypt and modern-day Toronto. Drawing on her lifelong fascination with archaeology—and years of research into papyrology, forgotten histories, and women in early excavation work—she unpacks the craft behind balancing past and present narratives, sustaining momentum across timelines, and creating distinct, psychologically grounded characters. &lt;strong&gt;Kate &lt;/strong&gt;also offers candid insight into the realities of long-haul writing (including six years of drafting between other projects), the push-pull between research and procrastination, and how intuition ultimately guides decisions around voice, POV, and structure—reminding writers that every story is, at its core, a mystery waiting to be uncovered.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Find us on our socials:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Advertising Inquiries: &lt;a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'&gt;https://redcircle.com/brands&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Author Interviews

Insights from Beth O'Leary and Kate Hilton

This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of &#39;The Witches of Moonshyne Manor&#39;) interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who&#39;s involved in bringing a book to market. She&#39;s joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as opening pages in their Books with Hooks segment.  Expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

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