Historical Heroines: Behind the Scenes of Feisty Deeds Anthologies

Historical Heroines: Behind the Scenes of Feisty Deeds Anthologies

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Kimberly Sullivan and fellow editors/writers Elaine, Carolyn, Christy, Kay to discuss the anthology Feisty Deeds 2: Historical Tales of Badges and Bruises. They explain eligibility and guidelines within the Women’s Fiction Writers Association historical fiction affinity group, including a 3,000-word limit, historical settings (50+ years past), fictional female protagonists, and a “Batches and Brews” theme tied to food, drink, and related dangers. The group describes selection criteria balancing story quality, variety, global and temporal range, and how they organized stories by geography. They outline a multi-round editing workflow (developmental, line, final pass, plus external proofreading), formatting challenges, research and historical authenticity debates, and the timeline from theme to publication. They note proceeds support the WFWA Scholarship Fund and the books are available in print and on major ebook platforms. Find out more about my guests here: https://kimberlysullivanauthor.com [https://kimberlysullivanauthor.com] https://carolynkorsmeyer.com [https://carolynkorsmeyer.com] https://www.kaysmith-blum.com [https://www.kaysmith-blum.com] https://christymatheson.com [https://christymatheson.com] https://elaineschroller.com [https://elaineschroller.com] Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and No Football 00:38 What Is Feisty Deeds 2 01:57 Submission Rules and Theme 03:39 Global Settings and Story Selection 08:16 Editing Assignments and Author Feedback 10:55 Three Round Editing Workflow 17:25 Timeline From Theme to Publication 24:00 How the Anthology Began 27:15 Formatting and Production Challenges 29:46 Historical Language and Research Checks 36:07 Scholarship Fund and Budgeting 37:44 Authenticity and Modern Sensibilities 40:57 Modern Values vs Past 42:08 Diversity in Historical Stories 45:09 Writing Heavy History Well 47:47 Why Short Stories Work 49:19 Women Writers and Initials 53:10 Historical Fiction Boom 56:35 Getting People to Read 59:53 Novels vs Short Stories 01:03:26 Indie Anthology Challenges 01:05:26 Collaboration and Rejections 01:11:49 Kimberly Returns and Process 01:14:07 Where to Buy and Goodbye If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com [bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com] Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Inside the Editor's Mind: Literary Thrills with Jennica Dotson

Host Edith welcomes editor Jennica Dotson to discuss how she became an editor through internships and on-the-job learning, and to explain the differences between developmental editing (big-picture plot, structure, character, and worldbuilding), line editing (stylistic, line-by-line refinement, often including some copy work), and copy editing (grammar, punctuation, and typos). Jennica recommends discovery calls, approaching editors with a completed draft, letting manuscripts rest, revising before line edits, and staying open to edits while keeping authorial voice. They discuss time pressures in traditional publishing, expectations for more polished submissions, and the importance of language consistency (American vs British English). Jennica shares why she specializes in fantasy, notes trends like romantasy and misclassification issues, highlights indie publishing’s willingness to take risks, and describes how freelancers find clients through organizations and networking. She recommends “The Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:41 Becoming an Editor 02:57 Editing Types Explained 05:13 Offering Multiple Services 06:57 Preparing for an Edit 10:51 Handling Feedback and Revisions 13:24 Why Editing Takes Time 14:47 Traditional Publishing Pressures 17:12 American vs British English 21:59 Fantasy Niche and Specialization 26:01 Editor Challenges and Switching Off 29:47 Strange Manuscripts and Genre Talk 31:56 Holmes From Hudson 34:07 Retellings New Perspectives 34:55 Fantasy Trends Romantasy 38:02 Gender Marketing Bias 40:22 YA Themes And Limits 42:43 Indie Publishing Daring 46:17 Getting Seen Marketing 50:08 Recent Read Recommendation 53:31 Community And Editors 56:49 Wrap Up And Farewell If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com [bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com] Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Crafting Happiness: The Joyful Mission of Kate Hull's Books

Host Edith welcomes children’s book author Kate Hull (joining from Florida) to discuss her Share Joy brand and her self-published Amazon children’s books: Where Does Joy Live?, Where Does Peace Live, and Where Does Love Live. Hull explains how Share Joy began with fresh flower bars at corporate and charity events and grew into a mission focused on helping people find joy, peace, and love. She describes the whimsical main characters—a young version of herself and her Yorkie, Kobe—and the books’ colorful, quick, poetic format, plus a related coloring book and her website (sharemorejoy.com). Hull shares her literacy advocacy, including her own childhood reading struggles and belief that children learn differently, and discusses how the books can support busy parents and even help adults rediscover joy. They also touch on Gen X childhood nostalgia, book-to-screen adaptations, libraries, writing communities, future projects (including a space-themed book and journals), and Hull’s preference for authentic creativity over AI. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:53 Tech Connects Readers 02:50 From Politics to Books 03:17 Share Joy Origins 06:00 Where Does Joy Live 08:14 Meet Kate and Kobe 09:58 Publishing Timeline and Series 12:21 Joy Peace Love Mindset 14:30 Literacy Advocacy Story 17:56 Quick Reads and Coloring 19:41 Gen X Childhood Nostalgia 24:52 Books and Literacy Heroes 25:46 Books vs Screen Time 26:31 When Adaptations Work 28:30 Libraries and Bookmobiles 31:32 Writing Community Connections 32:26 Next Books and New Ideas 37:15 Authenticity Over AI 43:28 Creative Flow and Inspiration 46:22 Will Characters Grow Up 48:07 Find Your Joy Farewell If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom [https://buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion [https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com [https://book-lovers-companion.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion [https://x.com/book_companion]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Editing, Craft, Book Reviewing & AI: Ekta Garg on Writing and Publishing

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Ekta Garg—author, editor, and book reviewer—to discuss the writing and publishing journey. Ekta explains editing stages (developmental editing, line/copy editing, proofreading) and shares that she now offers manuscript assessments focused on character, dialogue, plot, tension, and conflict. She advises writers to finish a draft, step away for at least a month, revise multiple times, and clarify themes and a short pitch before paying for professional editing. Ekta recommends reading widely, informally reviewing books to train craft awareness, and writing consistently while letting author voice develop over time; she also encourages experimenting with flash fiction, short forms, and poetry to build precision. The conversation addresses concerns about AI in creative work, its environmental impact, and the value of human community. Ekta also describes how she selects and schedules reviews using NetGalley ARCs and emphasizes persistence and community as keys to publishing. 00:00 Welcome Back Ekta 01:15 Editing Services Overview 03:57 Types of Editors Explained 05:09 When to Hire an Editor 09:43 Tools and Organization Tips 10:46 Toughest Editing Challenges 13:26 How to Build Writing Craft 17:31 Finding Your Author Voice 20:38 Short Forms to Improve 24:24 AI and Creative Integrity 29:25 AI in Schools and Society 32:27 Staying Informed About AI 33:55 AI Temptation Trap 35:57 Writers Need Humans 37:12 AI Echoes Blind Spots 39:10 Reading Builds Empathy 40:40 Books Scarier Than Film 44:41 Choosing Books To Review 48:13 Reading Formats And Habits 50:43 Getting Into Audiobooks 54:27 Publishing Takes Persistence 58:49 Final Thanks And Signoff If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom [https://buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion [https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com [https://book-lovers-companion.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion [https://x.com/book_companion]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Steep Reflections: Craig Yorke on Memory and Identity

Host Edith welcomes neurosurgeon and memoirist Craig Yorke to discuss his April 2025 memoir Steep, which began as a letter to his adult sons and evolved after encountering a James Baldwin quote about history living within us. Yorke reflects on how awareness of the past can bring perspective and a measure of freedom, especially for those shaped by misuse and assigned identities, and argues individuals aren’t responsible for historical atrocities but are responsible to understand them and do better, noting institutions’ roles as discussed in critical race theory. He describes his parents’ fear-driven push for education and armor through erudition, his love of the nervous system, and the book’s cover story about Ramón y Cajal’s foundational neuroscience insights. Yorke recounts memorable neurosurgical cases, comments on U.S. healthcare inequality, explains his meticulous writing process and family edits, and considers future writing as he frames Steep as an invitation to wake up to one’s past. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:39 Why He Wrote the Memoir 02:31 History and Liberation 05:57 Owning the Past Responsibly 08:12 Meaning of Steep 10:31 Education and Expectations 11:37 Growing Up Under Fear 14:38 Why Neurosurgery and the Brain 15:53 Cajal and the Cover Art 20:23 Memorable Cases in Practice 24:16 Spear Gun Trauma Story 28:23 Spear vs Bullet Trauma 29:22 Glasgow Coma Reality 30:16 Worst Brain Injury Hobbies 31:17 US Healthcare Breakdown 32:40 Fixing the System 35:50 Gender Medicine Questions 38:56 Writing the Memoir 42:00 CIA Roommate Story 46:19 Publishing Noise Today 49:39 Book Takeaway Farewell If you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. You can do so here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: bookcompanioncontact@gmail.com Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E