Host Tina Strachan chats to debut author Carla Salmon about the journey of her young adult mystery thriller, 'We Saw What You Started'. Carla discusses her path from the initial idea to signing with publisher Pan MacMillan. She highlights crucial aspects like the structural evolution of her manuscript, the importance of fleshing out characters, and the challenges of reaching young readers in the current market. Carla also shares practical advice on marketing and building professional platforms for aspiring authors. The episode includes a segment by Tanya Scott about her debut novel, 'Stillwater'.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:43 Meet Carla Salmon: Debut Author
03:10 The Journey to Publication
06:15 Crafting a Young Adult Mystery
08:50 The Editing Process and Agent Search
16:38 Signing with a Publisher
20:52 Writing for Teens and Tweens
24:43 Debut Spotlight: Tanya Scott's Debut Novel 'Stillwater'
25:52 Challenges in Middle Grade and Young Adult Reading
30:22 Navigating the Young Adult Market
36:21 Marketing Strategies for Authors
46:11 Balancing Writing and Marketing
48:49 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

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