Using Story Intelligence to Stay Authentic in the Age of AI with Gabrielle Dolan – The Writing Coach Ep. 224
The Writing Coach
In this episode of The Writing Coach podcast, I’m joined by Gabrielle Dolan, a leadership communication expert, keynote speaker, and the author of eight books on storytelling, including her latest, . Gabrielle shares how nearly two decades in senior leadership and change management at one of Australia’s largest banks led her to a powerful realization: stories communicate strategy, change, and ideas far better than data and slide decks alone. That insight inspired her to leave corporate life and teach storytelling as a core leadership and communication skill. Together,...
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Patty McGee on How to Teach Writing Without Crushing Confidence – The Writing Coach Ep. 223
The Writing Coach
In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Patty McGee, a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator who is passionate about transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for joyful, practical literacy instruction, Patty has worked alongside educators across the country to help unlock the potential of their students. She is also the author of three books, including her newest release, Not Your Granny’s Grammar. In our conversation, Patty and I explore what it...
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From Journals to Memoir: How Margot Stornelli Wrote The Big Red Suitcase — The Writing Coach Ep. 222
The Writing Coach
Every writer has a moment when a story that was meant to stay private begins to ask for a wider audience. Sometimes it starts with a notebook. Sometimes it starts with a question from your children. And sometimes it begins with a simple realization: If I don’t write this down, these stories might disappear. In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I sit down with my client Margot Stornelli, a retired librarian who turned a personal journaling project into a full memoir. What began as a way to record her life for her children eventually grew into The Big Red Suitcase,...
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Writing, Burnout, and the Long Game: Kevin Tumlinson on Building a Sustainable Author Life with VAs — The Writing Coach Ep. 221
The Writing Coach
Most writers don’t burn out because they hate writing. They burn out because writing quietly becomes everything else. Marketing. Tech. Algorithms. Platforms. Tools that promise leverage but demand constant attention. Somewhere along the way, the actual work—the slow, human, soul-driven act of storytelling—gets crowded out. In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I’m joined by author and industry veteran Kevin Tumlinson for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it really means to build a sustainable writing life in 2026 and beyond. We talk about...
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Book Brush for Authors with Kathleen Sweeney
The Writing Coach
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the visual side of book marketing—cover mockups, social media graphics, reels, and everything in between—this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. In this conversation, I’m joined by Kathleen Sweeney, co-founder of Book Brush, a visual marketing platform built specifically for authors. We talk about how Book Brush evolved by listening to writers, why so many authors struggle with consistency and branding, and how to think about marketing before your book launches—not after. We also dig into the difference between DIY...
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Amy Suto on Writing for Money, Power, and Creative Freedom — The Writing Coach Ep. 219
The Writing Coach
What if writing didn’t have to mean struggling, waiting for permission, or giving away your best work to gatekeepers? In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I sit down with writer, freelancer, novelist, and creator of multiple six-figure writing businesses, Amy Suto, to talk honestly about what it means to write for money and power in today’s creator economy. Amy’s career started in Hollywood, where she followed the traditional path many writers are told is the dream… and then walked away from it. What she built instead is a writing career rooted in autonomy,...
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6 Books in 2 Years: Anne Kane on Plotting, Productivity, and Motorcycle Romance — The Writing Coach Ep. 218
The Writing Coach
In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I’m joined by author Anne Kane, who published six books in two years—including her hit motorcycle romance series ACE: Riptide MC—and is releasing Spirit Bear Conspiracy. We talk about what changed in Anne’s writing life over the last two years: how plotting sped up her drafting, why a genre shift helped her rediscover her love of writing, and what it’s like working with a small publisher that offers real support (covers, editing, marketing, and community). If you’re trying to finish...
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Gala Russ on How to Stop Doing Things the Hard Way — The Writing Coach Ep. 217
The Writing Coach
There’s a persistent myth in the writing world: that great books are created by lone geniuses, toiling away in isolation, waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s a compelling image. It’s also wildly unhelpful and mostly untrue. In this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I sat down with Gala Russ (author, editor, and writing coach) to talk about what actually helps writers grow: community, feedback, structure, emotional intelligence, and learning when to stop doing everything the hard way. Gala’s journey into writing didn’t follow a neat, linear path. She...
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Writing, Resistance, and Neurodiversity with Monica Hay - The Writing Coach Ep. 216
The Writing Coach
In this week’s episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I sit down with writing coach Monica Hay for a conversation that goes deep into the psychology of writing. We talk ADHD, resistance, perfectionism, brain science, messy first drafts, why story structure works for some writers and absolutely sinks others, and the surprising power of taking up writing later in life. Monica also shares the behind-the-scenes process of building her innovative writing-buddy and critique-partner matching program If you’ve ever wrestled with procrastination, compared yourself to your...
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From Zen Kid to Wiccan Priest: Ivan Richmond on Ritual, Ethics, and the Spiritual Practice of Oneness — The Writing Coach 215
The Writing Coach
On this episode of The Writing Coach Podcast, I sit down with my client, Ivan Richmond—a Wiccan priest, spiritual leader, and author of The Religion of Good. Ivan’s journey is a fascinating one: raised in a Zen Buddhist monastery community, he eventually found his way to Wicca, blending ancient philosophy with modern spiritual practice. In our conversation, we explore how ritual shapes meaning, why writing itself can be a kind of ecstatic practice, and how spirituality offers a path forward in what Ivan calls today’s “ethics crisis.” Whether you come from a faith background...
info_outlineIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the visual side of book marketing—cover mockups, social media graphics, reels, and everything in between—this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.
In this conversation, I’m joined by Kathleen Sweeney, co-founder of Book Brush, a visual marketing platform built specifically for authors. We talk about how Book Brush evolved by listening to writers, why so many authors struggle with consistency and branding, and how to think about marketing before your book launches—not after.
We also dig into the difference between DIY marketing and done-for-you support, when it makes sense to outsource, and how authors can stop trying to be “everything” and focus on what actually matters: writing great books.
If you want book marketing to feel clearer, lighter, and more manageable, this episode is for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How authors can stop trying to do everything and focus on writing, without their marketing falling apart
- How Book Brush accidentally became one of the most author-focused marketing tools by listening to what writers actually wanted
- Why visual marketing feels so overwhelming for authors—and how to simplify it without losing quality
- The biggest social media mistakes authors make (including the infamous random cactus post)
- Why consistency and brand clarity matter more than posting every day
- When authors should start thinking about marketing (hint: way earlier than launch day)
- The difference between DIY marketing, à la carte help, and full-service support—and how to know which one is right for you
Check out the episode now!