Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing.

Novel Experience Podcast

No fluff, no filth, just fun, fascinating and fruitful discussions with authors, editors, booksellers, publishers and agents to help you fulfill your writing career. Your comments, guest suggestions and topic ideas are welcome.

Episode 15: Bloody Words Mystery Conference, June 3-5, Victoria, BC

Today, I interview Kay Stewart, published mystery author and co-chair of Canada’s largest mystery conference, being held in Victoria, British Columbia this June. (click link above or below).

Discover Kay’s embarrassing writing secret (I’m amazed and impressed that she revealed it), add her excellent tips to your writer’s toolkit, learn how she successfully collaborated on a mystery novel with her husband, find out about Bloody Words and why she’s desperately seeking a coffin maker before June! (duration ~ 38 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 15 – Kay Stewart

Also, hear our title track, Devil in the Details by Glynne Turner.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 14: From Words to Print

Today, I complete my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link above or below).

Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.

Listen to discover what challenges Clare encountered and surmounted as a small publishing house, learn what she would do differently if she were entering publishing today and find out she thinks makes an ideal manuscript. (duration ~ 18 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 14 – Clare Thorbes

This episode’s music track is the rockin’ instrumental Don’t Give Up, by Glynne Turner.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 13: From Words to Print

Today, I continue my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link above or below).

Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.

Listen to discover the inside scoop on what a small publishing house looks for in a manuscript. Also, ever wondered what is meant by “finding your voice”? Don’t despair; using the visual arts as a comparison, Clare’s explanation is simple and clear and soon you and your “authorial voice” will be one. (duration ~ 15 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 13 – Clare Thorbes 2

This episode’s music track is a demo of a very touching song, A Better Man, by Glynne Turner.

Find out more about Clare’s editing services and her art by emailing her at thorbesedit (at) gmail (dot) com.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 12: From Words to Print

Today, I begin my three-part chat with publisher, editor and visual artist Clare Thorbes (click link above or below).

Clare brings a diverse perspective to the writing/publishing business, being a professional editor and former co-owner of Salal Press, a boutique publishing company during the nineties.

In this episode, Clare simply and succinctly defines the different levels of editing (something most writers could use) and reveals what she looked for in a publishable manuscript.

Listen and discover if your work makes the grade! (duration ~12 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 12 – Clare Thorbes

We celebrate Valentine’s Day with our showcase song by Glynne Turner, a pretty snippet titled Avatar. Make sure you give your Sweetie a squeeze!

Find out more about Clare’s editing services and her art by emailing her at thorbesedit (at) gmail (dot) com.

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 11: From Screen to Page Part 3

I’m pleased to announce the release of the last episode of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link above or below).

Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.

Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!

If you’ve ever thought of writing a screenplay or adapting a novel to the screen, you’re gonna want to listen to this episode as Don offers practical tips to help you fine tune your blockbuster, provides nifty insights into the screenwriting world and gives us a taste of his new script. (duration ~20 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 11 – Don Truckey 3

This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner, a lovely story aptly titled Our Children, resonates our children’s theme.

Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 10: From Screen to Page Part 2

I’m pleased to announce the release of the second episode of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link above or below).

Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.

Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!

If you’ve ever thought of writing a screenplay or adapting a novel to the screen, you’re gonna want to listen to this episode as Don offers practical tips to help you write that blockbuster and provides nifty insights into the screenwriting world.

He’ll also answer a couple of fascinating questions: Which creative mind would he prefer to collaborate with: a novelist or a playwright? And, what do the instructions for a light airplane have to do with penning a script? (duration ~20 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 10 – Don Truckey

This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is a rockin’ tune, aptly titledInspiration.

Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 8: From Screen to Page Part 1

I’m pleased to announce the release of the first of my three-part conversation with award-winning Canadian screenwriter and children’s author, Don Truckey (click link above or below).

Don, whose credits include the television series, Street Legal and Urban Angel, and the movies, Net Worth and Chicks with Sticks, discusses the differences in the crafts of writing prose and penning a screenplay. He’s also the author of the children’s series, The Adventures of Caraway Kim.

Don and I worked together on some TV pitches and scripts; he’s funny, talented, quick thinking and very professional. Plus, he wrote a movie about women’s hockey!

Tune in to learn Don’s simple but insightful tip on how to discover the voice and thought processes of another writer. I’m gonna give it a try. (duration ~20 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 9 – Don Truckey

This episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is a lovely ballad, called Meet Me.

Click below to discover more about The Adventures of Caraway Kim by Don Truckey:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 8: Still Missing Part 3

I’m delighted to announce the release of the last of my three-part conversation (click link above or below) with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (duration ~18 minutes)

I met Chevy earlier this year at a book event in Victoria, BC, and was impressed by her intelligence and self-deprecating humour.

A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy reveals why she chose to use a nom de plume and how she overcame the challenges of her writing process.

Plus, discover what finger painting, word counts and New York’s famous Flatiron building have in common with the engaging Nanaimo novelist. And, get a sneak preview of Chevy’s next two thrillers, Never Knowing and Always Listening.

Also, in honour of Remembrance Day, this episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is the very moving military tune Battlefield.

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 8 – Chevy Stevens

Catch up on Chevy’s thriller:

Discover Renni Browne’s self-editing secrets:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 7: Still Missing Part 2

I’m delighted to announce the release of the second of my three-part conversation (click link above or below) with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (duration ~21 minutes)

I met Chevy earlier this year at a book event in Victoria, BC, and was impressed by her intelligence and self-deprecating humour.

A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy explains that even though she felt writing Still Missing was her destiny, she was extremely shaken when she decided to give up her full-time work as a successful real estate agent and take the literary leap.

Plus, discover out how many times Chevy fine-tuned her first novel, why she greatly values professional feedback and how she landed her agent and publisher.

Also, this episode’s showcase song by Glynne Turner is Sensitive Guy.

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 7 – Chevy Stevens

Catch up on Chevy’s thriller:

Discover Renni Browne’s self-editing secrets:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 6: Still Missing Part 1

I’m delighted to announce the release of the first of my three-part conversation (click link above or below) with Vancouver Island’s best-selling novelist, Chevy Stevens, author of the terrifying and unsettling debut thriller, STILL MISSING. (duration ~16 minutes)

I met Chevy earlier this year at a book event in Victoria, BC, and was impressed by her intelligence and self-deprecating humour.

A publishing phenom, with a six-figure advance, 150,000 hard-cover first print run, sales to over 20 countries and a movie deal to her credit, Chevy generously reveals how she mined her own personal troubles to drive her protagonist’s voice and which professional editor helped hone her manuscript and eventually land her an agent.

Plus, find out what selling real estate and using a hammer has to do with Chevy’s writing process!

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 6 – Chevy Stevens

Catch up on Chevy’s thriller:

Discover Renni Browne’s self-editing secrets:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 5: The Bowdancer Part 2

Just uploaded the fifth episode where I finish my two-part chat with the prolific and genial North Dakota fantasy writer Janie Franz. (Duration: roughly 23 minutes)

Listen (above or below) as Janie generously reveals the twists and turns in her long journey into the publishing light, offers some insight into the fantasy genre and provides a few solid marketing tips.

Discover how Janie’s work as a music reviewer provided her with a novel marketing opportunity for the book launch of Warrior Women, the third in The Bowdancer Saga. You’re gonna wish you could be there!

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 5 – Janie Franz

If you would like to hear my other Novel Experience interviews, please click The Novel Experience Podcast.

Buy Janie’s book:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 4: The Bowdancer Part 1

Just launched the fourth episode where I begin a two-part chat with the prolific and genial North Dakota fantasy writer Janie Franz. (Duration: roughly 19 minutes)

Listen (above or below) as Janie generously reveals the twists and turns in her long journey into the publishing light, offers some insight into the fantasy genre and provides a few solid marketing tips. Discover which aspect of writing challenges Janie the most and what she does to survive it. (And no, it’s not eating chocolate fudge!)

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 4- Janie Franz

If you would like to hear my other Novel Experience interviews, please click The Novel Experience Podcast.

Buy Janie’s book:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, enjoy and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 3: Date with a Sheesha Part 2

Just launched the third episode where I continue my conversation with the award-winning crime writer Anthony Bidulka, the pride of the Canadian prairies. (Duration: roughly 15 minutes)

Listen (above or below) to Part 2 to discover Anthony’s Five ‘Cs’ of author promotion and help your own book marketing…oh, all right. I’ll give you a hint. The first three are: Confidence, Communication and Capitalization.

Of course, to learn the last two and to hear Anthony’s terrific insight on Capitalization, which he describes as capitalizing on your strengths and dealing with your weaknesses, you gotta listen.

If you haven’t heard Part 1 or would like to hear my other interviews, click The Novel Experience Podcast.

The Novel Experience Podcast Ep. 3 – Anthony Bidulka

Buy Anthony’s book:

Welcome to The Novel Experience®, the podcast dedicated to the craft and art of fiction writing. Listen, learn and improve your chances of getting published!

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 2: Date with a Sheesha

Just launched the second episode where my erudite and entertaining guest is the pride of the Canadian prairies, award winning crime writer Anthony Bidulka.

Listen to Part 1 below to discover Anthony’s excellent tip for character development and to find out why Anthony ‘plays God’ now and then.

Come back soon for Part 2 to learn Anthony’s five ‘Cs’ of author promotion and help your own book marketing. (Duration: roughly 14 minutes)

The Novel Experience 2

Buy Anthony’s book:

The Novel Experience Podcast

Episode 1: Footprints in the Butter

My guest is my good friend and funny gal Denise Dietz, best-selling mystery and historical romance author.

Discover some key elements to mystery writing, learn a terrific tip to improve your fiction writing and find out what happened to Deni at The Dallas/Fort Worth Airport…it’s every author’s dream! (Duration: ~14 minutes)

The Novel Experience Podcast Episode 1

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