How to "Bee" A Professional Author

99 Books and Checking Every Box

Bestselling author Eliza Knight self-publishes romance novels and traditionally publishes historical fiction and contemporary thrillers. Her latest novel TRADWIFE, coming out in August under the pen name Michelle Brandon, will be her 99th published book! Her journey has been long and twisty… and wildly prolific!  We talk about her latest historical noel, LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ‘69, and how she manages to successfully juggle so many publishing balls at once! THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING WITH EVA LANGSTON: * Follow me on Substack [https://substack.com/@evalangston?utm_source=user-menu] or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers [https://evalangston.substack.com/]. * Find me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evalangston/] and Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/evalangston.bsky.social]. * Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com * To pitch to the podcast, go here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffTVgjx1w5OVa0BWBHn95p3m1-dWZaTjUdQK_lRP-LiiZE0w/viewform?usp=header] * Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston [https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston] ELIZA KNIGHT: * Website:  https://elizaknight.com [https://elizaknight.com/] * Instagram and FB handle: @ElizaKnightFiction  * Podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com [https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Lost in the Summer of '69: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9781464255113 * Tradwife: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780063470538 SHOW NOTES: * Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction: https://bookshop.org/a/91104/9780691256160 * Mentions of Novelists, Inc; Romance Writers of America; Historical Novel Society; Women’s Fiction Writers Association * Vellum Software: https://vellum.pub/?utm_source=google-ads&utm_campaign=vellum_search&utm_agid=141737776969&utm_term=vellum&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17767505168&gbraid=0AAAAAowUQB2cN9QMg6n9bFOxx7x4m9Pki&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxLQnUHaLI2rxVvGdET9G-qzUVvOFRSS5jlT5BjP-c1GPpdZHgB8iqcaAlz_EALw_wcB [https://vellum.pub/?utm_source=google-ads&utm_campaign=vellum_search&utm_agid=141737776969&utm_term=vellum&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17767505168&gbraid=0AAAAAowUQB2cN9QMg6n9bFOxx7x4m9Pki&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxLQnUHaLI2rxVvGdET9G-qzUVvOFRSS5jlT5BjP-c1GPpdZHgB8iqcaAlz_EALw_wcB] CREDITS: The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A Wild Path to Publishing Weird Books

Lawyer and bestselling author Emily Jane has penned an incredible pile of genre-bending manuscripts, and her publishing journey is just as unconventional as her books.  It wasn’t until her 6th manuscript that Emily landed her amazing agent, and her debut novel was actually the 17th book she wrote. Plus… you won’t believe the mind-blowing reveal that comes towards the end of this episode!  Her latest novel, MR. YAY, released on June 2, 2026, and her fifth novel, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE, is coming out in March of 2027.  THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING WITH EVA LANGSTON: * Follow me on Substack [https://substack.com/@evalangston?utm_source=user-menu] or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers [https://evalangston.substack.com/]. * Find me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evalangston/] and Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/evalangston.bsky.social]. * Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com * To pitch to the podcast, go here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffTVgjx1w5OVa0BWBHn95p3m1-dWZaTjUdQK_lRP-LiiZE0w/viewform?usp=header] * Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston [https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston] EMILY JANE: * Website: https://www.emilyjaneauthor.com.  * Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2282824/emily-jane/  * Instagram: @emilyjane.author   * threads: @emilyjane.author *  Bluesky: @emilyjaneauthor.bsky.social * GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, OR HOW OUR DAD CAUSED THE FUNPOCALYPSE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-the-people-what-they-want-emily-jane/1150359820?ean=9781368116053&irclickid=WvBSwhwl-xyZWiQwKeQDZ3sCUkuTyMWNsSwYwM0&sharedid=&irpid=128773&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-the-people-what-they-want-emily-jane/1150359820?ean=9781368116053&irclickid=WvBSwhwl-xyZWiQwKeQDZ3sCUkuTyMWNsSwYwM0&sharedid=&irpid=128773&irgwc=1&afsrc=1] SHOW NOTES: * Emily’s camper van IG video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYSbsnbR7BI/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYSbsnbR7BI/] CREDITS: The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kidlit Author Gets Her Place in the Sun

Moniza Hossain had FOUR middle grade novels die on submission before landing two picture book deals. Now she also has a middle grade horror novel coming out. After a brutal 10-year journey, it’s finally her time to shine! Her two picture books, Street Puppy, Masjid Cat and Ritu in the Sun, are out now. Her middle grade novel Bad Things Happened Here is coming out this September.  THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING WITH EVA LANGSTON: * Follow me on Substack [https://substack.com/@evalangston?utm_source=user-menu] or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers [https://evalangston.substack.com/]. * Find me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evalangston/] and Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/evalangston.bsky.social]. * Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com * To pitch to the podcast, go here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffTVgjx1w5OVa0BWBHn95p3m1-dWZaTjUdQK_lRP-LiiZE0w/viewform?usp=header] * Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston [https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston] MONIZA HOSSAIN: * Website: monizahossain.com * Ritu in the Sun: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740790/ritu-in-the-sun-by-moniza-hossain-illustrated-by-merce-lopez/ * Bad Things Happened Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825012/bad-things-happened-here-by-moniza-hossain/ * @monizahossain on Instagram  SHOW NOTES: * We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/ [https://www.diversebooks.org/] * Triada US Literary Agency: https://www.triadaus.com/ [https://www.triadaus.com/] CREDITS: The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

X-treme Research & Writing YA Thrillers

April Henry goes to extreme lengths to research her mystery/thriller novels, like allowing herself to get kidnapped!  She has published 31 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with more to come. Her latest YA novel is called IN THE BLOOD. In this episode we talk about where she finds inspiration, her adventures in co-writing, and, of course, the ups and downs on her long road to publishing. THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING WITH EVA LANGSTON: * Follow me on Substack [https://substack.com/@evalangston?utm_source=user-menu] or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers [https://evalangston.substack.com/]. * Find me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evalangston/] and Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/evalangston.bsky.social]. * Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com * To pitch to the podcast, go here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffTVgjx1w5OVa0BWBHn95p3m1-dWZaTjUdQK_lRP-LiiZE0w/viewform?usp=header] * Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston [https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston] APRIL HENRY: * Website: aprilhenry.com [http://aprilhenry.com/] * Instagram and Threads: @aprilhenrybooks * Facebook: @aprilhenry  * BlueSky: @aprilhenry * TikTok: @aprilhenrywritingadvice and @aprilhenrybooks  * IN THE BLOOD: https://annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books SHOW NOTES: * Rules for Liars by April Patten and Debra Garfinkle CREDITS: The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Scoring a Three-Book Deal

Tara Sexton landed a 3-book deal with her sports romance series... but it didn’t come easy! She had a 10-year marathon of close calls, TONS of unpublished manuscripts, and a crazy submission process before scoring this big win! The first book in the End Game series, THE GREATEST GAME, was just released in the UK and will be published in the US on May 19. THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING WITH EVA LANGSTON: * Follow me on Substack [https://substack.com/@evalangston?utm_source=user-menu] or subscribe to my Substack Newsletter for Writers [https://evalangston.substack.com/]. * Find me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evalangston/] and Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/evalangston.bsky.social]. * Send me an email at longroad.pub@gmail.com * To pitch to the podcast, go here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffTVgjx1w5OVa0BWBHn95p3m1-dWZaTjUdQK_lRP-LiiZE0w/viewform?usp=header] * Find books by guests and books mentioned on the podcast at the Long Road Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston [https://bookshop.org/shop/evalangston] TARA SEXTON: * Website: www.tarasexton.com [http://www.tarasexton.com/] * Preorder The Greatest Game: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/833386/the-greatest-game-by-tara-sexton/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/833386/the-greatest-game-by-tara-sexton/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerta13/ [https://www.instagram.com/writerta13/] * Find her on other socials at @writerta13 SHOW NOTES: * Tara's unboxing video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXiDzG8jfNK/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DXiDzG8jfNK/] CREDITS: The Long Road to Publishing is produced and edited by Eva Langston, and the intro/outro music comes from the artist Soundroll on #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love License code: EEKRDQPCTGSBM5LZ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.