In this episode of the Book Deal podcast hosted by Natasha Rai, emerging fiction author Holly Brunnbauer discusses her path to publication, detailing her journey from blogging and copywriting to becoming a published author. Holly provides insights into her debut rom-com 'What Did I Miss?', her character development process, and the challenges she faced in getting a book deal with Harper Collins. She also shares her social media strategies and gives valuable advice for aspiring authors on obtaining professional feedback and engaging with the writing community. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the publication process and practical tips to enhance their own writing careers.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:39 Meet Holly Brunnbauer: Award-Winning Fiction Author
01:22 Holly's Debut Novel: What Did I Miss?
01:39 Interview with Holly: Writing Journey and Inspirations
02:20 Exploring the Themes and Characters of What Did I Miss?
06:03 Character Development and Writing Process
13:46 The Role of Sex Scenes in Storytelling
16:04 Addressing Serious Themes in Romcoms
21:15 Holly's Publication Journey
30:42 Sam Guthrie's The Peak: An International Thriller
32:07 The Importance of Author-Publisher Relationships
34:11 The Anxiety of Waiting for News
35:09 A Glut of Good News
36:51 Navigating Competitions and Grants
37:52 The Adaptable Pitching Experience
39:06 The Journey to a Book Deal
42:44 The Long Wait for Publication
43:18 The Editing Process
44:58 Social Media and Branding for Authors
59:33 Advice for Aspiring Writers
01:02:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
Madeleine: Subscribe here
Tina: Subscribe here
Natasha: Subscribe here