Meet a debut author juggling kids, writing, Instagram and success. Leesa Ronald's debut romcom Special Delivery was published in December 2024 and has already been reprinted. Success! Leesa has also signed a further two-book deal with Allen & Unwin, her second romcom will hit bookshelves towards the end of 2025.00:00 Introduction

01:10 Jane asks Leesa about her lived experience as an author. Leesa explains how she was fortunate to land up with Allen & Unwin and the rhythm of her interactions with her publisher.

04:00 Interactions with various people at the publishers and getting used to response times.

05:30 Finding the publisher, ASA Literary Speed Dating and getting a contact at A&U.

07:45 Knowing your genre. Leesa started reading romcoms about 18 months before she started writing one. Writing the book in the midst of being pregnant and having third child.

09:21 Understanding the contract, where Leesa got advice.

10:20 The titles changes and draft front cover.

13:00 Deciding to just write and let the publishers look after the publishing. Feedback on the book so far, reviews etc

14:15 Leesa on her social media strategy and advice she got.

17.20 Writing the book, first the plot of the book, and then how Leesa got started. Not much of a plotter in first book but currently writing second book and doing more plotting.

20:20 With job and three kids, Leesa tends to write at night, some early morning.

21:30 Special Delivery did not have a huge amount of editing to be done.

22:20 Leesa didn't do writing courses before she wrote the first book, but has always worked as a writer of magazine and now corporate communications. Trying to write the type of book I wanted to read. Did do a 6-week course before book 2, what was useful in that.

25:20 Meeting other writers and the romcom community. The Romance Writers of Australian Conferenece.

28: 10 The audiobook production process.

29:00 Thanks and farewells

Leesa Ronald's website is here.

Leesa Ronald is on Instagram here.

Mhairi McFarlane

Emily Henry

Kelly Rimmer

Romance Writers of Australia

Jane Curry Links

• Jane Curry Advisory: www.janecurryadvisory.com
• Ventura Press: www.venturapress.com.au
• www.instagram.com/venturapress__

Seana Smith Links

• Seana Smith website: www.seanasmith.com
• www.instagram.com/seanasmith

Going Under Audiobook: Going Under on Audible, narrated by Seana Smith, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of The Publisher & The Writer, we answer questions on a variety of writing and publishing topics.

00:47 Jane’s trip to London, with a stop at the huge Waterstones bookshopat Piccadilly. Seeing how genre fiction is laid out and how much it dominates the fiction floor.

02:40 The fantasy section being close to children’s section and issues that causes. Sex in fantasy is pretty full on so parents are helped to appreciate topics in young adult books. Reading Fourth Wing, and how author writes for those who feel they don’t fit in.

05:00 Who’s reading books. That Waterstones is a citadel. The joy of bookshops that stay open late.

08:00 Fonts and colours in vogue now.

09:00 Meetings with old friends and the changes sweeping through publishing, the power of digital publishing.

09:50 What is print on demand and who is using it. A primer. Change your religion! It means a virtual warehouse.

13:00 How spammy publishing companies claim to get your books into bookshops but anyone can do it via Ingram.

13:50 Amazon has the algorithm, and promotion. Promoting digitally and fulfilling demand digitally. Upsides and downsides of Amazon.

15:50 Best to upload to both Amazon and to Ingram.

16:30 Question about promotional blurbs on book cover, how to get them.

19:15 Question about writing courses, advice on value for money. Join the local writer’s’ centre.

21:20 Writing courses or mentors first? BBC Maestro course.

23:00 Memoir writing groups, Jenny Valentish as mentor and teacher.

23:30 How to start a career in publishing and is it a good place to work if you’d like to be a writer? Other careers that work well for writers.

26:30 Latest books we have been reading.

• Nina Stubbs Went To London, Took The Dog
• Robyn Cadwallader The Fire And The Rose
• Fiona McFarlane Highway 13

29:00 Send your FAQs to Seana Smith via Instagram or website, see below.

Websites mentioned:

Ingram Content

Amazon KDP

BBC Maestro

Jane Curry Links

• Jane Curry Advisory: www.janecurryadvisory.com
• Ventura Press: www.venturapress.com.au
• www.instagram.com/venturapress__
• www.instagram.com/janecurry1

Seana Smith Links

• Seana Smith website: www.seanasmith.com
• www.instagram.com/seanasmith

Buy Going Under

In Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

Audiobook: Going Under on Audible, narrated by Seana Smith, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Publisher and the Writer podcast, Seana Smith interviews Lynne Johnson, former lawyer and current author of the indie published crime novel 'The Bait Trap.' They cover Lynne's initial interest in crime writing, her experiences with online creative writing courses, the challenges and strategies of self-publishing, her marketing efforts, and the supportive community she found in the process. The episode also touches on her upcoming second novel and the valuable insights she's gained from her writing and publishing experiences.

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Meet the Hosts

01:21 Interview with Lynne Johnson, lawyer turned crime novelist

02:45 Crime fiction's appeal as reader and writer

04:18 Writing courses and classes, editing the novel

08:49 Pitching to agents and publishers

12:13 Choosing indie publishing means being the CEO, the cover, the preparation, finding the right professionals and then marketing and reviews

19:49 The Bait Trap: plot and characters

22:28 Research and realism in crime

23:43 Quick outline of the next novel and the plan for that one

28:21 Conclusion and contact information

Websites mentioned:

https://www.lynnejohnsonauthor.com

https://www.lauraboon.com/book-editing-services

Jane Curry Links

• Jane Curry Advisory: www.janecurryadvisory.com
• Ventura Press: www.venturapress.com.au
• www.instagram.com/venturapress__
• www.instagram.com/janecurry1

Seana Smith Links

• Seana Smith website: www.seanasmith.com
• www.instagram.com/seanasmith
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatdidyoureadtoday/

BUY GOING UNDER

In Australia: Going Under is available in bookshops and online stores in Australia and on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

In the USA: https://www.amazon.com/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

In the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

Going Under Audiobook: Going Under on Audible, narrated by Seana Smith, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.