The Written Scene

Writers, creators, and anyone involved in the literary scene discuss path, process, and craft.

Episode 93: Jill G. Hall 09/16/2025

Episode 93: Jill G. Hall Author knew early on she wanted to be a teacher. Little did she know how big a role being an author would come into play in her lifetime. In this episode of , Jill talks about the research process of her new book "," getting out of research rabbit holes, what the process of an intuitive writer is like, the obligations of a historical fiction author, being a mere vessel for the words, using prompts to get the writing day started, how poetry helped her write prose, finding your corner in a writing community, why having a professional running a critique group matters, when to know edits are needed through reader comments and critiques, reasons why your mom as a feedback reader is a bad thing, the joy of writing a villain or a character you're not used to writing, and so much more. While the release date of the book is after this episode, be sure to pre-order Jill's newest novel, "On a Sundown Sea." There are many independent bookstores to choose from. My personal favorite? in South Park. Or you can choose Jill's favorites, in La Jolla or in Point Loma. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/38144245

Episode 93 Teaser: Jill G. Hall 09/09/2025

Episode 93 Teaser: Jill G. Hall For author , the nudge to write a new novel—even after vowing to never write a second one—came from a question that surfaced the memory of a strange story she heard as a child. Enjoy this teaser with Jill ahead of next week's full episode of . Subscribe and listen everywhere. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/38089365

Episode 92: Kristen Arnett 09/02/2025

Episode 92: Kristen Arnett Author and librarian knows what it's like to do research for a book, including the pitfalls and results of doing too much research. Fortunately, she also knows how to correct course. In this episode of , Kristen discusses how being a child of the '80s helped with her novel about clowns, not having the time to write all the story ideas we come up with, deleting work without being too precious about it, how working in libraries has benefitted her story writing process and finding good characters, secretly reading books her parents disapproved of when she was a kid, why less is more can be important to writing, the excitement of tonal shift when writing, how writers can use social media, how she knows when the writing of a book or story is done, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click or tap to sign up to our once-a-month newsletter of upcoming guests, events, and more. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/38047360

Episode 92 Teaser: Kristen Arnett 08/26/2025

Episode 92 Teaser: Kristen Arnett For author and librarian , sometimes the story is more what you don't know but are willing to learn. Please enjoy this teaser with Kristen ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37926120

Episode 91: JD Clapp 08/19/2025

Episode 91: JD Clapp Author, professor, and social scientist has written and published many scientific articles. None of them, however, have provided the creative outlet needed that his poetry and fiction has. In this episode of , JD talks about the flexibility of indie presses, having familiarity with a publisher before submitting, how the writing is different between a 25 year old and a 45 year old, separating fact from fiction in writing, what he means by academics shephard's pie and economy of expression, writing at least five days a week, being authentic to the voice of the character, reading stories outside of the genre you write in, why it's important to understand for publishers it's still a business, how it's easier to publish something but it's harder now to sell it, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter, which you can subscribe to by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37817215

Episode 91 Teaser: JD Clapp 08/12/2025

Episode 91 Teaser: JD Clapp For author, researcher, and professor , having both an analytical and creative mind has its advantages. Please enjoy this brief teaser with JD ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37762880

Episode 90: Dean Nelson 08/05/2025

Episode 90: Dean Nelson , an author, professor at , and host of the , always had a gift for writing. Still, that didn't stop him from a short-lived stint in medical school before settling in as a journalist. In this episode of , Dean discusses the main focus of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, why not all writers are good speakers, getting his joy of writing early on with an underground newspaper in high school, receiving very useful career direction in the form of a question: "What are you good at?", still finding joy and validation in a good writing day, reading for enjoyment and also for craft study, how and why we're never not writers, making a concerted effort to get high school students to attend the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, what playing sports can do for writers, the health and creative benefits of interacting with nature and other creativity, his optimism for the future of journalism and storytelling, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter, which you can subscribe to . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37641435

Episode 90 Teaser: Dean Nelson 07/29/2025

Episode 90 Teaser: Dean Nelson If there's anyone who knows how difficult it can be sometimes to interview authors, it's , creator and host of the , now in its 30th year. Please enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Dean. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37585500

Episode 89: Anthony Green Jr. 07/22/2025

Episode 89: Anthony Green Jr. Poet and musician grew up around music and books, thanks to his parents. These days he tries to honor them and his own family with being the best version of an artist he can be. In this episode of , Anthony discusses starting out with music and how poetry was a natural progression, having parents who find importance in reading and artistic endeavors, why digital books was the right choice over print, how his son is his biggest writing motivator, creating books as time capsules, viewing himself as a writer first and above all else, starting with the book title first and writing to support that, learning when in the day you write best, writing about grief and how poetry helps process feelings better than other genres, how a good relationship makes life feel a little easier, using music with poetry to help perform the poetry, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this an all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter, which you can subscribe to by tapping or clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37361885

Episode 89 Teaser: Anthony Green Jr. 07/15/2025

Episode 89 Teaser: Anthony Green Jr. For poet and musician , watching his son just be a kid and use his imagination was a reminder and motivator to do the same for himself. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Anthony. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37361750

Episode 88: Thomas Wing 07/08/2025

Episode 88: Thomas Wing Author 's path to writing was often hidden from others, and by choice. But after decades in the Navy and filling his brain with naval boats and warfare, his confidence and desire to write about it became too much to ignore. In this episode of , Thomas discusses using real historical events to explore humanity through fictional characters, going down research rabbit holes, the difficulty of writing about a period the author didn't live in, how eavesdropping helped him learn to write dialogue, getting better at writing by sticking with it, staying creative mentally while on duty, finding balance in life post-retirement as a writer, using naval and boating jargon wisely, when finding time to write is the hard part of writing, what deeply flawed characters do for a story, the importance of family to not just his characters but to him personally, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. To subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter, click or tap . Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37042945

Episode 88 Teaser: Thomas Wing 07/01/2025

Episode 88 Teaser: Thomas Wing For author , access to his parents' library consisting of over 5000 books on every topic imaginable was a boon to not just his reading interests but also his writing path. Please enjoy this teaser with Thomas ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37041345

Episode 87: Anthony Adams 06/24/2025

Episode 87: Anthony Adams For much of his life, author and musician knew the creative world was where he always wanted to be. After decades in music, he has co-authored his debut novel, , and has plans for many more books and other creative endeavors. In this episode of , Anthony discusses traveling the world to research their novel, following every bread crumb when writing a story, how their past in writing screenplays helped them write a novel, the fourth act of a novel and where it is or can be, what the right partner in collaboration does for the artistic process, learning what paths to take and what paths not to take, finding the perfect publisher to partner with, the joy of creating a visual book trailer for the novel, why we're in the golden age for novelists, the role of luck in a successful creative career, how ever character we create is a little bit of people we know, why characters in musicals break out into song, and a whole lot more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. To subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter, click or tap . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/37002905

Episode 87 Teaser: Anthony Adams 06/17/2025

Episode 87 Teaser: Anthony Adams For author, musician, and playwright , the liberation of writing a novel made writing even more enjoyable. Please enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of with Anthony. If you're reading this before June 19th, don't miss Anthony and co-author and wife Christina Adams under the nom de plume A.C. Adams discussing their debut novel Chasing Shadows at the Coronado Library. More details . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36973775

Episode 86: Christina Adams 06/10/2025

Episode 86: Christina Adams It doesn't take a harrowing life to be able to tell a story. But for author, musician, and creative mind , it was a story she couldn't pass up writing. In this episode of , Christina talks about the writing process with her husband and other co-writer Anthony Adams, why they chose to write a true story in the fiction genre, using music and books to escape life as a kid, how writing music helps her storytelling, the importance of working creative jobs that aren't writing when writing isn't paying yet, understanding the creative side of us can't be kept down, struggling to find or make time to also do nothing, how the skill of being highly organized carries over into writing, making sure a story is relatable and the reader feels something, the difficulty of telling a good story, and much more. Side note: I don't know why but I called her Christine up front when her name is Christina. Apologies to Christina for the mistake. Don't miss Christina and Anthony appearing as their nom de plume A.C. Adams at the to discuss their debut book, Chasing Shadows. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter which you can subscribe to by tapping or clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36907350

Episode 86 Teaser: Christina Adams 06/03/2025

Episode 86 Teaser: Christina Adams Proof that two brains working together can sometimes write better than one working on its own. Enjoy this brief teaser with Christina Adams, one-half of the power couple , ahead of next week's full episode of . And don't miss your chance to meet Christina and Anthony (whom you'll hear from soon) at the Coronado Library on June 19th for . /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36827425

Episode 85: Puja Shah 05/27/2025

Episode 85: Puja Shah For author and philanthropist , writing has a way of teaching her things about herself she didn't know before. Listen in as Puja discusses how she found story and inspiration in Uganda, the ways motivated Puja to work within social justice and writing, what witnessing an educator challenging the system did for her, why the scariest part about writing is also the most exciting part about writing, surpise: the arts aren't safe, what carving out time to write means for her, cutting characters from one story but using them in other stories, the ability to write from anywhere when in the writing zone, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of . You can also sign up for the once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36716675

Episode 85 Teaser: Puja Shah 05/20/2025

Episode 85 Teaser: Puja Shah Just more proof that if you put your writing out there, your audience will find you, even if it's not the audience you expected. Please enjoy this teaser with author ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36634065

Episode 84: Alisha Richard 05/13/2025

Episode 84: Alisha Richard When it comes to writing, author and poet Alisha Richard has definitely found her groove in performance. In this episode of , Alisha discusses why it's easy to promote yourself when you love what you do, discovering her talents as a storyteller, how fear prevented her from believing writing could be a career, the impact a powerfully performed poem can have on both a crowd and an author, using an analytical brain in a creative space, surprising co-workers with her creative side, practicing poetry while walking her dog, how memorizing some poems became therapy for her, being a rule follower while sometimes not using the rules of poetry and writing, making literary events and knowledge more accessible both in and outside of schools, and much more. Please also listen to the end to find out about Alisha's performance at this year's International Fringe Festival. Click to get tickets. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click or tap to subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36525370

Episode 84 Teaser: Alisha Richard 05/06/2025

Episode 84 Teaser: Alisha Richard For author and performer Alisha Richard, saying yes more often than not can be a big factor in learning new things about yourself. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Alisha. And don't miss her show at the International Fringe Festival. Click for tickets. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36446445

Episode 83: Margaret Dilloway 04/29/2025

Episode 83: Margaret Dilloway For author and editor , some of the best stories involve healing and finding place in this big ol' universe. Hard to disagree with that. In this episode of , Margaret talks about being an , what being alone in nature can do for a writer, why she prefers to write YA, being selectively mute as a kid but finding a voice in storytelling, having adults in childhood that support and foster a writing talent, how stubbornness can be both a benefit and a pitfall to artists, taking a risk and seeing if a story idea is good enough to be remembered later without writing it down, eavesdropping for story ideas and character study, why kid lit is the most difficult genre to write, having a job not related to writing, what the CROW method is and how to use it in writing, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter, which you can subscribe to by clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36295035

Episode 83 Teaser: Margaret Dilloway 04/22/2025

Episode 83 Teaser: Margaret Dilloway YA author also has work as an editor but sometimes she can't, and probably shouldn't, take public credit for the work she did. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Margaret. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36237790

Episode 82: Tricia Hedman 04/15/2025

Episode 82: Tricia Hedman Tricia Hedman, , has no plans to write her own novel. But with decades of industry experience behind her, she's pretty adept at helping get the word out about yours. In this episode of , Tricia discusses a typical day for her as a publicist, turning a love of reading into a publicity career, getting quicker responses from podcasters and radio than print, the increase in the amount of memoirs being written, clarifying expectations with clients from the get-go, what first time authors don't know about marketing their book, finding community in a Slack group with other publicists, once working a job similar to Julie on The Love Boat, finding breaks in the chaos for things we enjoy in order to decompress, some of the various people and situations while working in crisis management, knowing there are two sides when doing PR work, why she prefers working with authors over other professions, the impatience of new authors, and perhaps the best five minutes of advice you can receive from a publicist if you have a book to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter, which you can subscribe to by clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36111105

Episode 82 Teaser: Tricia Hedman 04/08/2025

Episode 82 Teaser: Tricia Hedman The origin story of a villain? Dark. The origin story of a publicist? Kinda sweet and inspiring. Please enjoy this teaser with , publicist and owner of Ollie Media, ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/36036260

Episode 81: Deborah Rudell 04/01/2025

Episode 81: Deborah Rudell For author , nature and its impact on her as a person and writer is immense, whether it was living off-grid or riding out gales on a boat getting battered by 60 foot waves. In this episode of , Deborah talks about how a neighbor gave her the nudge to write her book, realizing when there's a story within an idea, being exposed to holistic ideas as a child, how writing the book was an opportunity to process thoughts and emotions, playing music growing up and always having a creative streak, having a wide range of experiences in life and how it affects her writing, mapping vs. listing when preparing a story, preferring typing over writing by hand, finding the collaboration process more enjoyable than having the tangible result, what nature does for her as a writer and what it's done for her book, and surprisingly much more. Get Deborah's book, Grit & Grace: The Transformation of a Ship & Soul, . Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click or tap to subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter. Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35919795

Episode 81 Teaser: Deborah Rudell 03/25/2025

Episode 81 Teaser: Deborah Rudell For author and sailor , much of her life has mirrored lessons learned early on as a child. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Deborah. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35781535

Episode 80: Grant Oliphant 03/18/2025

Episode 80: Grant Oliphant , author and CEO of the Conrad Prebys Foundation, has both proof and hands-on experience with how the arts and literature can positively transform a city. It all starts with storytelling. In this episode of , Grant discusses reintegrating writing back into a life without taking his current work for granted, making more time for writing and being kind with yourself about it, the lonely journey of being a writer, telling stories within jobs you don't like or aren't aligned with, why nuance and subtlety are important in storytelling, the evolution of poetry and language as a whole, rethinking how the artist life could be without the starving part, defining our own level of success while never really knowing the value of our work, what the arts and nature does for self-agency and mental health, the impact of community-wide storytelling, why artists and authors are the catalyst for positive change for any city or town, and surprisingly a lot more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene wherever you listen to podcasts. We also have a once-a-month newsletter. Click to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35733130

Episode 80 Teaser: Grant Oliphant 03/11/2025

Episode 80 Teaser: Grant Oliphant We all have advice we'd give our younger selves if we could. For , author and CEO of the Conrad Prebys Foundation, it might be the wisest two pieces of advice to give. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Grant. Be sure to subscribe ahead of time so you don't miss it. Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35620250

Episode 79: Tammy Greenwood 03/04/2025

Episode 79: Tammy Greenwood Growing up, author and teacher was not only around a lot of books, she had a great school librarian and a teacher who believed in her writing skills. It's no wonder she's written over 15 books and no plans to stop. In this episode of , Tammy talks about the importance of well written prose no matter the genre, discovering the usefulness of writing during family tragedy, why using both sides of the brain can be a valuable skill for a writer, having many half-written or full novels that will never see the light of day, starting with a paper notebook before switching to electronics, where she wants her novels to be 50 pages in, the difference between the novel in your brain and what happens on the page, having specific intentions for a character that remains static throughout a story, what head-hopping is in storytelling and why it's a no-no, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and best of all, share the joy with others. Subscribe to the once-a-month Written Scene newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35521110

Episode 79 Teaser: Tammy Greenwood 02/25/2025

Episode 79 Teaser: Tammy Greenwood With over two decades of experience in the publishing industry, author and editor knows how important a book pitch can be. But she'll never forget the first time she had to describe her first book. If you enjoyed this teaser of next week's full episode of with Tammy, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of the podcast. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/35396195

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