Libsyn Directory

Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen - Writing through Family

Release Date: 09/22/2023

Episode 165 - Brenda Meller - Capturing a Piece of the Publishing Pie

The Make Meaning Podcast

is an entrepreneur, author and social media coach who helps people maximize their presence on . She is the author of Media Pie: How to enjoy a bigger slice of the LinkedIn Pie and host of the podcast. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Brenda about her book and the evolution of her career. She talks about her writing process, including how she wrote the book in just 30 days, and why she opted to self-publish. They talk about the ever-evolving nature of social media, which demands periodic updates to the book along with plans for future books. In this episode, and...

Episode 164 - Patrick Hicks - Writing Hard Stories Beautifully

The Make Meaning Podcast

is an Irish Catholic writer from Minnesota who has a deep fascination with the Holocaust. He has written three Holocaust novels and has conducted extensive research on the subject, visiting twelve different concentration camps and speaking with survivors. Patrick is also a professor at in South Dakota, where he teaches writing and literature. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Patrick about his newest book, . In his second time on the Make Meaning Podcast, Patrick explains what inspired this novel, driven by research on gender and violence. He reflects on the impact of...

Episode 163 - Qin Sun Stubis - Writing Inspired by Long-Held Family Lore

The Make Meaning Podcast

is a Chinese-American author of the book , which tells the story of four generations of Chinese women in Shanghai, China during the Great Famine, navigating war and revolution. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Qin about her early life, China’s Cultural Revolution and her love of words and storytelling. Qin explains how the loss of her parents inspired her to write a memoir that brings to life her family’s stories and a fascinating part of China’s history. She also discusses her writing process and the challenges she faced as a first-time author. Qin has received...

Episode 162 - Elizabeth Conte - Doing Well as an Indie Author

The Make Meaning Podcast

is an author with a passion for bringing 19th-century literature to the 21st-century reader. She is the author of , a time travel historical novel, and , a scintillating story set in Victorian England. Elizabeth is the founder of , a hybrid publishing house for writers who don't fit into traditional publishing boxes. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Elizabeth about her debut novel, , her inspiration for the book and the challenges she faced while writing and editing it. Elizabeth also talks about her marketing strategies and the success she has achieved as an indie...

Episode 161 - Ana Veciana-Suarez - Historical Literary Fiction

The Make Meaning Podcast

is a journalist and author. She has written for various publications and has published several books, including her latest novel, , which was inspired by her reading of in high school. Known for her meticulous research and attention to detail, Anna spent many years digging up the information she needed to focus on the Spanish Inquisition. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Ana about her writing process, the challenges of researching historical fiction, her experiences with marketing her book, and her insights into the changing landscape of the writing community....

Episode 160 - Jonathan Whitelaw - Cozy Crime & Escaping into Writing

The Make Meaning Podcast

is a Scottish author and journalist now living in Canada who wrote his first novel at the age of 17. He’s since published several books in the cozy crime genre, including and the popular series. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Jonathan about the cozy crime genre, why he’s drawn to it and the genre’s emphasis on humor, character, and setting. Plus, they discuss his publishing journey, from his first horrible book to being published by a small independent publisher to getting an agent and taking the plunge to become a full-time author. They also explore the...

Episode 159 – April Davila - Meditation & Writing

The Make Meaning Podcast

Finding an agent and publisher was easy for , an award-winning author who quit her job in 2016 to write full-time. Her debut novel, won the . In this episode of the host chats with April, a fourth-generation Californian who studied marine biology before being called to the written word. She honed her skills in marketing and technical writing jobs, dedicating early mornings to crafting fiction until she could finally make the transition to writing full-time. In this episode, Lynne and April discuss the lessons she learned along the way and why she pairs meditation with writing....

Episode 158 - Suzanne Nugent - On Character Development

The Make Meaning Podcast

, author of and host of the podcast, uses humor to confront life’s darkest moments. She navigates between various storytelling mediums, from novels to screenplays, finding the right narrative platform for each project. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Suzanne about her creative career and how writing has shaped her as a person. She shares her inspiration for her novel and her journey to publishing. Suzanne also talks about her love for storytelling across platforms, including screenwriting and podcasting. In this episode, and Suzanne discuss: How writing...

Episode 157 - Blake Kimzey - Creating a Writing Community

The Make Meaning Podcast

is the founder of , a global community offering writing classes taught by experienced instructors, like Make Meaning Podcast host . Blake is also an author, screenwriter and hands-on dad of three. In this episode, Blake recalls a pivotal moment in sixth grade when he wrote a King Arthur rip-off. He and host also talk about his journey as an author, the inspiration behind WritingWorkshops.com and the surprising and very winding journey of becoming an author. In this episode, and discuss: Going from short stories to writing a novel Submitting novels and receiving...

Episode 156 - Blair Fell - Original Storylines & Unique Characters

The Make Meaning Podcast

While fiction is born from imagination and creativity, many authors explain how they came to the stories they create through lived experiences. This is definitely true for , author of , whose work in the deafblind community taught him about nuances, details and issues facing that community. This debut novel takes readers on a journey through a fascinating community and the lives of compelling characters. In the latest episode of the , host interviews Blair about his writing process, the importance of research and the value of participating in a writing group. He discusses his background...

More Episodes

Lynne Golodner first met Anne-Marie Oomen at Goddard College, where Lynne was beginning her MFA in Writing and Anne-Marie was graduating. A fellow Michigan resident who calls the forests and hills of the Lake Michigan shores her home, Anne-Marie serves on the board of Michigan Writers where Lynne is now in charge of Marketing.

In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Anne-Marie about teaching in the Solstice MFA program at LaSalle University and at Interlochen Center for the Arts, the backstory for As Long as I Know You: the Mom Book - which won the Sue William Silverman Prize for Creative Nonfiction - and honing your own voice.

In this episode, Lynne and Anne-Marie discuss: