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I have had the pleasure of being a guest on book talk podcasts of late, and a question that recurs is one I think bear posing again here: what advice do you, as in me, give to new authors? It's a question I asked when I was just starting out as an author, and the answer I got was "Don't." I thought it revealed more about the respondent than it did about my reality, so I ignored it, and more than twenty books later, I am glad that I did. If you're a new author, as in someone who has just realized that you have a story that you want the world to know, then you have cracked Hard Part #1. That's realizing that you have a story that you want to tell. We all have stories, but not everyone wants to believe that they should be told. Good on you for making that leap. You believe in yourself. So what's next? You have a story that you want to tell, so now… you must tell it. In fact, it has never been easier to tell stories to the world than it is today. Just so long as it is you telling your story, and not AI. Of course, the world is in turmoil by the challenges that AI poses on everything from the job market to artistic expression to the environmental cost of AI, but in publishing, we have a pretty clear path to seeing it for what it is: it's a robot masquerading as a human using plagiarized works to do so. That's how AI learns, by being fed books and articles that are out there in the world, which it then digests and feeds back. So when you use it to write your story, somebody else's story is helping you via the bot, and that's not good for the world of human storytelling. Nor for the AI companies, who are currently being massively sued for plagiarism. Not to mention that you can't copyright a book written with AI, and our printer will not print an AI composed book either. Use it for research, no problem (save for the fact it's not always right), but do not put it in your manuscript. Publishers run manuscripts through AI detectors these days, to avoid lawsuits and reputational damage. If they find your work is AI produced, you have lost a publisher. So, take that on board, and honor the person who came up with the story. You. Once you have your very own, original story that you want to tell, then you have to tell it. And that means confronting the blank page and filling it with words. Which to me is the fun part, as the words that you had not imagined will come out into your story, and take it in a whole new direction. This is part of the creative process, so it is to be embraced, but you can only embrace it if you do it. Ask yourself: who is my story about? What is my story about? Why should anyone care? That's Hard Part #2. Answer those three questions and you are on your way. It may take you two weeks or two years, but once you have begun, then you have honored the story within you. And you will soon be writing The End. Which, of course, is really just another beginning, for once you have told one story, then I am willing to bet that another one has bubbled up within you. It's the beauty of the story telling form, for once you have done it, you know that you can do it again. If you want to. So, if you are a new author with a story to tell, then sit down and tell it. You have more venues than ever before in human history to publish that story, but until it is told, it is simply in your head. Get it out there and into our heads, and then see what happens next. Which is another story, to be sure.

The Agony of Genius #28: Advice for New Authors

Michael McKinley on the one piece of advice he was given when starting out as an author — and why he ignored it.

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If you were stranded on a desert island, what books would you take? Or so the old question-trope goes. Since it is 2026 and most desert islands have been bought up by tech billions, who could—or would--want to go there and read? Seems it is time for an update for the old trope which now might go like this: "If you were stranded on a quiet, sunny beach, what book podcast would you listen to?" With June's arrival and the beach calling out for books to be read, my first stop on the way to summer reading is the book podcast. Since 2004, when podcast tech was popularized, book podcasters have been chatting about books and recommending them to book lovers for summer and all year round. All this book-love comes to us via 1000 plus podcasters in the US alone and continues to engage us and our literary habits without annoying ads, or a big PR push for sales, or even Oprah. Just books. Recently, I spoke with my favorite book podcaster, Will Cooper, of Books and More, about this divine threesome: the book and the podcast and the listener. Will, an author from California, said the match is great because the work of a podcaster is easy to do. This is actually no easy thing for Will to say, who is by day Senior Vice President, Legal and Corporate for Fortinet. By night, Will is a podcaster and also a journalist, and he is also co-author of the thriller A Quiet Life, with Michael McKinley, author and CEO of BookGo. For Will what is actually very easy is producing and hosting a book podcast. "There are no barriers. People want to talk and they want to talk about books." And they are regularly chatting with Will, who has hosted 100 podcasts over the last year. To do it, Will works with a very open format, allowing for book chat to run for 15 minutes or up to an hour, and for the podcasts to drop every few days—even several at a time--as opposed to fitting his podcast into a regimented half-hour time slot which drops every week. And what also makes podcasting easy for Will is being a brainy guy. "Being an attorney is my day job, and I keep that separate from my other professional activities, from my journalism, from writing books, and also the podcast Books and More. But I certainly have learned a lot from being a lawyer, so that informs my books, like my most recent book, the legal thriller: The Trial of Donald H. Rumsfeld." For most writers, Will notes, there are many barriers to becoming a published author. "It is hard in the same way it is really hard to get a movie made, which takes hundreds of people and millions of dollars to do. With the podcast there's no barrier to entry." Will then adds, "Once you get going, all the momentum is in your favor, so podcasting for me has been a real joy, and a big part of why has just been all the momentum in favor of the people that are creating podcasts and really making them happen." And podcasts, Will adds, support authors by bringing in more readers. Podcasts are a heavenly match for discussing books because people who write or read books are keen to cast off the solitude of reading a book and talk about it. And when it comes to chatting, most readers and authors, given their literary love, are usually quite articulate. All you need to do is to toss in a few good questions and, voila, you have a book podcast. Another reason Will began his podcast was to have a chance to speak with his own literary heroes. Will tapped one such hero to join him on his podcast: Brian Garner, the American legal scholar and editor of Black's Law Dictionary since 1999. "Brian is a major mentor of mine," Will explains, "and he's a legal author. He wrote several books with Justice Scalia and many others. I actually interned for Brian, but hadn't connected with him in years, and so having him on was a joyful occasion, just to reconnect and talk about books." When I asked if there were any tough shows, any authors who were unforthcoming, Will said no. "It's a pretty casual show, and I keep it that way on purpose." He follows the writer's lead and speaks about what the author wants to talk about and so it is all always forward motion. But sometimes it can be a challenge to get authors on the podcast, especially if they are popular. "I'd love to get Andrew Sean Greer, who wrote one of my all-time favorite books, the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Less," says Will with a wistful sigh. Greer is probably very busy these days with a new novel coming out next week, Villa Coco. As Greer has yet to join Books and More, his new book will be joining Will this summer on a quiet, sunny beach. As for Greer, if you read this, you can contact Will and enjoy his engaging and wide-ranging podcast–as we all can–at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-and-more-with-william-cooper/id1812487408 Other favourite book podcasts for summer reading: What Should I Read Next, with the genial host Anne Bogel, author and creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs. Darcy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-should-i-read-next/id1073499086 Any time of year, I adore listening to the kind, caring Amy Shannon and her book podcast Amy's Bookshelf. You can also hear all about BookGo books on her podcast: https://amysbookshelfreviews.com/podcast If you love poetry, be sure to give a listen to the sage and soulful poet and podcaster Sharon Israel on her podcast, Planet Poet: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sharon-israel-voice-lesson-post-traumatic-press-2017/id477719156 Did I miss your favorite book or poetry podcast? Let me know and I'll give them a shout out: info@bookgo.pub

The Beach, the Book and the Best Book Podcast

With June's arrival and the beach calling out for books to be read, Nancy Merritt Bell on the podcast that brings books to life all summer long.

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By Nancy Merritt Bell It's February and we're creeping out of the dead of winter into the adoring arms of Valentine's Day. Time to cuddle up with someone or a good book, and I'm thinking romance. But why think of one book of love literature or two, when there is an entire bookstore to look over. The Ripped Bodice bookstore (or TRB for short) is deeply devoted to romance books — all of them, from the tried and true Dame Barbara Cartland to the new queen of romance, Colleen Hoover, to the latest in amorous aliens. The bookstore was quickly embraced by its neighbourhood in Park Slope, Brooklyn, since it opened its pink shop on August 5, 2023. It's the second shop owned by Leah Koch and Bea Hodges-Koch, sisters who are devout romance readers. When their first TRB store opened in their hometown of Los Angeles in 2016, it was the very first bookstore in North America dedicated to romantic fiction. Romance is out of the slipcover and rocks the bestseller list. In 2022, romance novels accounted for nearly 19 million books sold in the US — a 52.4% increase from 2021. TRB parties with all of the new romance literature's subsets, be that romantasy, historical romance, classics, erotica, contemporary, YA, LGBTQIA+, and even paranormal passions. When I came to trawl the shelves, I was given a glass of wine and chocolate. I immediately apologized, thinking I had crashed a launch party. No — it was just another Friday afternoon at TRB. The charming staff and TRB's excellent website will help you find books from favourite authors like Austen, Hoover, Sarah J. Maas, or whatever your heart desires. Romance books all have an enchanting home in TRB to heat up the cold February nights, and all through the year. You can support The Ripped Bodice by visiting them in person or using their online store at Bookshop.org: https://www.therippedbodice.com/

Give Love a Chance: A Visit to The Ripped Bodice Bookstore, Brooklyn

By Nancy Merritt Bell It's February and we're creeping out of the dead of winter into the adoring arms of Valentine's Day. Time to cuddle up with someone or a good book, and I'm thinking romance. But why think of one book of love literature or two, when there is an entire bookstore to look over. The Ripped Bodice bookstore (or TRB for short) is deeply devoted to romance books — all of them, from the tried and true Dame Barbara Cartland to the new queen of romance, Colleen Hoover, to the...

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By Michael McKinley In the beginning, there was a conversation between me, Michael McKinley, and Chuck Wardell about doing something to change the way we get books to readers. Chuck had this brilliant idea on how to do it, and as a writer, I was all in, as I wanted to change the way writers got books to publishers. So we thought: 'Let's round up some writers we know, and offer them a small advance, a large and sliding upwards scale of the royalties, as well as their own webpage for their book, and marketing support to help that book reach readers.' In other words, we don't care if you have a gazillion Insta followers, or minus-two. You write, and we'll sell together. Along the way, you, the writer, will have a hand in the process as much as you want. Cover and font ideas? Great. Marketing outreach thoughts? Brilliant. Web page design schemes? We're listening. BookGo wants to make writers happy, because that will make our readers happy. And as the saying from the creator of Charlie Brown puts it, 'Happiness is a warm puppy.' Along with a great BookGo book that the puppy doesn't eat.

For the Love of Books — BookGo's Origin Story

By Michael McKinley In the beginning, there was a conversation between me, Michael McKinley, and Chuck Wardell about doing something to change the way we get books to readers. Chuck had this brilliant idea on how to do it, and as a writer, I was all in, as I wanted to change the way writers got books to publishers. So we thought: 'Let's round up some writers we know, and offer them a small advance, a large and sliding upwards scale of the royalties, as well as their own webpage for their...

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IN THE JAWS OF THE DRAGON TELLS OF A COMING WORLD WAR THAT MAY ALREADY HAVE BEGUN Michael Wellman’s debut political thriller imagines a near-future China-Japan war in alarming detail. At a moment when the Indo-Pacific has become an even more fraught stage for contemporary geopolitical tension, debut novelist Michael Wellman delivers In the Jaws of the Dragon (New Generation Publishing, January 2025) — a meticulously researched thriller that asks the question on every strategist's mind: what happens when China decides to move? Set against the backdrop of China’s naval expansion and dominance across the South and East China Seas, the novel follows a cast of political and military figures as Beijing's leadership, facing domestic economic crisis, plans a tactical strike on a vulnerable nearby territory. Only it’s not what the world expects. With Western intelligence focused intensively on Taiwan, China looks to the old enemy in the East, targeting the southern base of Japan's vulnerable Ryukyu Islands. The strike deflects popular unrest and stirs Chinese national sentiment. And it’s made possible by a deep-cover mole embedded in Washington, who feeds Beijing live intelligence of American strategic intentions. As Washington mounts a desperate hunt for this mole, the novel's parallel storylines converge toward a violent endgame — culminating in Japan's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in a last attempt to halt the advance. In the Jaws of the Dragon will appeal to readers of Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, and Daniel Silva, and to admirers of Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance — readers who want the full sweep of geopolitical conflict rendered through the lives of those living it. It will also find an audience among those following real-world Indo-Pacific developments through outlets such as Foreign Affairs, The Diplomat, and War on the Rocks. The novel moves with cinematic pace from the corridors of Washington intelligence to the contested waters of the East China Sea. What Readers are Saying “A thrilling read. A nail-biting account of what could so easily happen with the contemporary build up of international hostilities.” — Reader Review “Wellman's extraordinary mastery of the detail of the naval assets available to the different countries, the military strategies and manoeuvres pursued by them, and the politics involved, are quite simply staggering.” — Reader Review About the Author Following service as an officer in the United States Army, Michael spent over forty years in international investment banking eventually specializing in the aerospace & defense sector. With senior roles at Citibank, Bank of America, Schroders, Bear Stearns, and the Industrial Bank of Japan, his career took him from New York to London, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires — giving him an insider's understanding of the military-industrial landscape and geopolitical forces that underpin In the Jaws of the Dragon. He is currently a Managing Director at TrueNorth Capital Partners. He speaks five languages and holds a multi-engine instrument rating as a pilot. In the Jaws of the Dragon is his debut novel. Drawing on decades of first-hand experience in the corridors of international finance and defence, it imagines a near-future conflict between China and Japan. Meticulously researched and chillingly grounded in geopolitical reality, it marks the arrival of a distinctive new voice in the thriller genre. Publication Details Title: In the Jaws of the Dragon Author: Michael Wellman Publisher: New Generation Publishing Publication Date: January 6, 2025 ISBN: 978-1835634011 Available from: Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble, and all major booksellers Marketing and PR is being handled by BookGo on behalf of Michael Wellman. For review copies, author interviews, or further information, please contact: Tomas Elliott, Director of Media, BookGo, tomas@bookgo.pub

Press Release: In the Jaws of the Dragon by Michael Wellman

Michael Wellman’s debut political thriller imagines a near-future China-Japan war in alarming detail.

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Inside the Room: 50 Years of Making Presidents and Building the Democratic Party takes you - yes - inside the room where it all happens. This memoir by John Graham and his sons, Ryan and Michael, follows their careers in politics over the last 50 years. John was inspired by his own father, a deeply respected Philadelphia Republican leader, Joseph “Goldie” Graham. And then Ryan and Michael were inspired by their father to become involved in politics. Together the Grahams give us an honest and stunning insider’s view into New Jersey politics, its place as a keystone state in building the 21st century’s Democratic Party, its policies and financing, and its present and future in the making of American presidents. YourBook is honored to develop this powerful new book with Ryan, Michael, and John Graham. John is the founder of Fairview Insurance Agency Associates, one of America's top 20 insurance agencies now celebrating 55 years in business. Ryan Graham is VP and Michael Graham is COO of Fairview. COMING THIS FALL

INSIDE THE ROOM - Forthcoming YourBook Political Memoir

Inside the Room: 50 Years of Making Presidents and Building the Democratic Party takes you - yes - inside the room where it all happens. This memoir by John Graham and his sons, Ryan and Michael, follows their careers in politics over the last 50 years. John was inspired by his own father, a deeply respected Philadelphia Republican leader, Joseph “Goldie” Graham. And then Ryan and Michael were inspired by their father to become involved in politics. Together the Grahams give us an honest...

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Redeemed, the incredible tale of loss, resilience, and the power of faith, has received a positive review from Kirkus, who calls the book "A touching and compellingly told story of a brother and sister living fractured lives." - Kirkus Reviews Redeemed tells the extraordinary story of the journey that authors Alain and Nella Orozco make as they navigate the world following the murder of their beloved mother. They live in a world of danger, as their father is a drug dealer. Millions of dollars come and go. Violence is everywhere, and the world of crime provides a powerful lure for Alain, who winds up in prison after selling drugs with his father and uncovers his family’s deepest, darkest secrets. Alain and Nella may never have recovered from the truth, but with faith, hard work, the love of their families, and the love of God, they are Redeemed. BookGo is also proud to announce that the Spanish-language edition of this exciting memoir, Redemidio, will be released this coming fall!

Redeemed receives acclaim in Kirkus Reviews + Forthcoming Spanish edition

Redeemed , the incredible tale of loss, resilience, and the power of faith, has received a positive review from Kirkus , who calls the book "A touching and compellingly told story of a brother and sister living fractured lives." - Kirkus Reviews Redeemed tells the extraordinary story of the journey that authors Alain and Nella Orozco make as they navigate the world following the murder of their beloved mother. They live in a world of danger, as their father is a drug dealer. Millions of...

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Come Up Big, the engrossing story of the astonishing life of Charles "Chuck" W.B. Wardell III, is receiving high praise and new accolades. Now, Come Up Big has received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, which calls it: "A warmly inviting story full of life." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Read the full review here! But that's not all! This coming April, BookGo will be releasing Come Up Big in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and BlueSky to stay updated on these exciting releases and more.

Come Up Big receives starred review in Kirkus Reviews + Upcoming audiobook & more!

Come Up Big , the engrossing story of the astonishing life of Charles "Chuck" W.B. Wardell III, is receiving high praise and new accolades. Now, Come Up Big has received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews , which calls it: "A warmly inviting story full of life." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Read the full review here! But that's not all! This coming April, BookGo will be releasing Come Up Big in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on...

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BookGo, the independent book publisher, and its authors services department, YourBook, are celebrating memoirs all month long. They are kicking off the festivities by honoring the memoir Come Up Big, by author Charles (Chuck) W.B. Wardell III. The book itself has “come up big,” earning a starred review from the prestigious Kirkus Reviews, which called the memoir “A warmly inviting story of a full life.” Kirkus is featuring Chuck’s wonderful book all month long. And so is YourBook! The same talents at BookGo which helped create Come Up Big are on the YourBook team. One of their top writers is also its CEO, Michael McKinley. Author of over 20 books, Michael’s work includes co-writing the the memoir of Willie O'Ree, entitled Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player. The book has since been nominated for the NAACP Image Award. “If you are serious about writing your memoir, we at YourBook want to work with you,” says Michael. “We have the talent, the experience, and the passion to make sure you are proud of your book and ready to share it with your family and friends. And more than a keepsake, your book will be so readable and engaging, so well-crafted and produced, it can make it to the best sellers’ shelf like Come Up Big!” Michael and his team at YourBook are committed to making outstanding memoirs, from idea to production to PR. He is all the more determined to create compelling memoirs with authors who have been previously disappointed by so-called “vanity presses.” These authors find mistakes in their books, or are unable to even access the personalized websites promised in many vanity press “publication packages.” Often these organizations are run by investors or software engineers, and, unbeknownst to clients, their books are produced not by seasoned co-authors and designers but by AI. YourBook’s team and Michael work closely with their authors to bring their stories to life. Currently, Michael is developing the moving political memoir of John Graham, which focuses on his family's 100-year-long involvement in politics starting from their part in the administration of Harry A. Mackey, Mayor of Philadelphia in 1930, all the way to their part in the recent election of Governor Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. Michael and his team at YourBook want to ensure their authors, like John, receive the best memoirs they can imagine. YourBook begins by conducting extensive interviews with each author, then includes the author during the composition process to make sure every word is just right. Next, top designers create the book’s distinctive look. Finally, the author receives handsomely bound editions of their book as well as a bespoke website to share with family, friends, and anyone else who wants to enjoy their story. This month, new authors receive Ebook editions for free. And just for asking about creating your memoir with YourBook, you’ll receive a free membership to BookGo’s newsletter and a copy of Come Up Big. For more information, contact YourBook at info@bookgo.com. Visit bookgo.pub, subscribe to its newsletter powered by Substack, and follow BookGo on Instagram and BlueSky.

March is Memoir Month

BookGo, the independent book publisher, and its authors services department, YourBook, are celebrating memoirs all month long. They are kicking off the festivities by honoring the memoir Come Up Big, by author Charles (Chuck) W.B. Wardell III. The book itself has “come up big,” earning a starred review from the prestigious Kirkus Reviews , which called the memoir “A warmly inviting story of a full life.” Kirkus is featuring Chuck’s wonderful book all month long. And so is YourBook! The...

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New review of Around the World in 80 Years by Peter Felix ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “This captivating memoir chronicles Peter Felix's extraordinary journey from wartime London in 1944 to a globe-spanning career across Pakistan, Hong Kong, the US, Algeria, and beyond. The narrative weaves personal transformation with the major political, economic, and social upheavals that shaped the modern world, offering a front-row seat to history through the eyes of an international management consultant...” ~ vincent kipngetich Read the full review here.

“Eight Decades of Witnessing History From the Inside”

New review of Around the World in 80 Years by Peter Felix ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “This captivating memoir chronicles Peter Felix's extraordinary journey from wartime London in 1944 to a globe-spanning career across Pakistan, Hong Kong, the US, Algeria, and beyond. The narrative weaves personal transformation with the major political, economic, and social upheavals that shaped the modern world, offering a front-row seat to history through the eyes of an international management consultant...” ~ vincent...

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SQUAWK 7700 The deadliest bomb is the one you can’t find… Dave Doyle has to unlock the secret of this mysterious bomb before hundreds more people die! Download the first chapter below

Squawk 7700 – Read the First Chapter Now!

Read the first chapter of Squawk 7700.

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In Around the World in 80 Years, author and international management consultant Peter Felix takes readers on a fascinating journey across cultures and countries, exploring some of the major political, economic, and social upheavals that have shaped the modern world—and him along the way. Buy it now from Amazon.

Introducing... Around the World in 80 Years by Peter Felix

In Around the World in 80 Years, author and international management consultant Peter Felix takes readers on a fascinating journey across cultures and countries, exploring some of the major political, economic, and social upheavals that have shaped the modern world—and him along the way.

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Early readers describe Squawk 7700 as “a riveting thriller that transports readers directly into the cockpit during moments of extreme peril.” "Squawk 7700" is a riveting thriller that transports readers directly into the cockpit during moments of extreme peril. The author, skillfully recounts the tense realities of aviation emergencies, offering both technical insight and emotional depth. Each chapter weaves together stories of in-flight crises—when the transponder code "7700" signals a state of emergency—highlighting not only the mechanical and procedural challenges, but also the intense psychological pressures faced by flight crews. What truly elevates this book is its balance of accessibility and authenticity. Pilots and aviation enthusiasts will appreciate the accurate representation of procedures and terminology, while general readers are drawn in by the suspenseful storytelling and the human element at its core. The author’s candid reflections on fear, responsibility, and the importance of teamwork add a compelling layer of introspection. "Squawk 7700" transcends its genre by exploring universal themes of resilience and decision-making under pressure. It delivers a realistic portrayal of flight emergencies without descending into melodrama. It’s a fast-paced and satisfying read for anyone curious about the inner workings of aviation or the fortitude required to navigate the unexpected.” Read the full review on Edelweiss

First Review for Squawk 7700

“‘Squawk 7700’” is a riveting thriller that transports readers directly into the cockpit during moments of extreme peril.”

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We are incredibly excited to announce the release of Squawk 7700, available to buy now! SQUAWK 7700 The deadliest bomb is the one you can’t find… Dave Doyle has to unlock the secret of this mysterious bomb before 100’s more people die Playing with fire as a boy taught Dave Doyle all he needs to know about arson and fire bombs as a grown man. Now the lead investigator for the National Transportation and Safety Board’s special unit, the Onsite Site Forensic Investigation Team, they call Dave their ‘Burn Boy’. Dave can find out why and how any fire started. And then suddenly, pilots are signaling “Squawk 7700” and planes are turning into fireballs in the sky for no reason at all. Dave has to find that reason – is it technical failure, an angry employee seeking revenge, a new kind of bomb, or the work of a terrorist group? He can’t solve the tragic puzzle alone this time: there is a deadly mystery about the blaze that only a medical doctor could know, if they are brave enough to find out. That courageous young medic is internist Sarah Hart. And she and Dave will risk their lives to find the truth and stop the fiery crimes. Fast paced and inventive, with compelling characters in great jeopardy, SQUAWK 7700 offers the thriller genre a new take on terror, one which will have the reader turning the pages to see if Dave and Sarah can save themselves. Or if it all goes down in flames…

Squawk 7700 available to buy now!

We are incredibly excited to announce the release of Squawk 7700 , available to buy now! SQUAWK 7700 The deadliest bomb is the one you...

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Last and maybe least in our total tour of the super submission package is your resume. While an all-important catalogue of your work and experience, the resume is not the beating heart of your submission. And yet it is essential to publishers, readers and editors, because… well, we need to know you have one! I have seen editors sigh with relief when they read your resume and they get to the part about your education: “Oh good, they went to college. They can put a sentence together!” Then the editor can begin to hope your new book makes sense—and might even be stunningly literate and possibly magnificent. Or in a cross-checking kind of way, your resume might indicate you worked as a reporter in Cairo, so you really might know about the Middle East, where your new novel happens to be set. Yes, resumes share a lot of stuff about you. They bestow some much needed reality upon the fiction writer. While it is not the heart of your package, there are still a lot of do’s and don’ts. For one, your resume needs to be up to date… Recently, I just got a submission from a well-known local writer whose resume announces her “brand new book” coming out next year. That was in 2016. A sad feeling wafted over me as I read this and felt the writer did not think enough, or care enough about her work to update her resume and share what’s been going on lately—even if an ancient resume was sent by mistake. Truth be told, her submission did not go forward and not because of this stale-dated resume alone, but it surely factored into the decision. About dates and datedness, I, myself, committed the deadly dated crime: I put my education and grad studies on my resume, after having graduated in the last century. My own managing editor told me to cut this ancient news out–pronto! I was then told the gold standard is this: if you became a college grad in the last ten years, even 15, and you’ve got shelves bowing under the weight of your college awards—for writing or debate, even lacrosse and other sports –put it on. Impresses the hell out of editors! Nothing from high school, please, unless you are still in college. As for what exactly to put in your resume, make sure you start with your name, solidly and clearly at the top along with your profession: writer. Add here if you’re also an editor or photographer to let the reader know there is more to you than words alone. Put your web links and podcast links right at the top as well, and of course your email and cellphone contacts--don’t make me hunt for that email address to contact you with the good news! On other top notes, I’m not sure about adding a photo. It can be distracting. Your resume should show off your skills and experience, and not your new hairdo. What else tops my own resume, following my name, is a writer’s statement which includes the fact I am a teacher and also I am disabled. The addition can seem old fashioned, preachy, maybe even self-aggrandizing, but it has gotten me work. The statement gives editors a place to start a conversation without diving into the deep end, AKA your book. As for the rest of the resume, tradition dictates that you list and outline your work in a few lines, from the most recent to the oldest work. It is a tradition that is hard to follow if you have few forms you work in, say, poetry, TV, film, fiction and non-fiction. If you’re a multi-talentlist your forms separately, and play to your strengths, putting your best forms first, even if it is not fiction and you are submitting a new novel. Add your glorious awards with the winning book or film or poem as it appears in your resume. If you’ve got a long resume, you are welcome to just cover the highlights over 2 or 3 pages—4 but no more. Then, for the details refer the reader or editor to your website–and get a website! If you are new to the writing game and have a short resume–and have already included your education and awards—add your ‘interests’ especially if you have an interesting interest, like race car driving or beekeeping. Once I got a submission package from a new writer who was also studying taxidermy which got me curious. Well, I simply had to read that submission and I did indeed admire the gory details about the cutting and stuffing of the bodies in his murder mystery! If you are not a “professional writer” and have a “real” day job, send in that resume. Having worked with a neurosurgeon, Dr. John, on a medically based thriller, SQUAWK 7700, his doctor resume is the one he hands in. Everyone gasps in awe! Perhaps not so awesome is when our doctor is asked about his writing, and he offers pieces he wrote on brain surgery. Now, though, readers can leave behind his essays packed with insights into the brain, such as brain stem carcinoma–and how to carve it–and enjoy Dr. John’s fantastic thriller. If this is all too too much, you may be thinking about hiring a professional resume writer. It can cost anywhere from $50 and up, and $250 for a good one. It’s a good investment especially when your future best-selling novel can be worth millions. I know the value of a polished resume personally–and painfully–as I was at one time not getting a lot of work and thought, OMG, it was me! When I saw a writer pal was getting lots of gigs, and then saw his flashy resume, I poached his resume writer–a moonlighting librarian as it turns out. Soon, I had my own flashy resume and I was getting the gigs. A professionally done resume does have a certain glow about it. As for an AI written resume, stay away: they are not yet up to the job. Even if you get a pro to do your resume, proof it and proof it again. Not only are many editors looking for any reason to say ‘No’ to your submission, we get suspicious when there are a lot of mistakes in your resume. This is because we’ve certainly seen writers apply their fiction writing skills to both their new novel and also to their resumes. What! Lie on your resume? Well, let’s call it padding. But only pad as you would lie about your age—which is to say, whatever you can honestly get away with. Some padding is very helpful if you are new at this. But too much padding and it comes bragging and it really shows. Plus, these days it is easy enough to Google around to find out if you really were long listed for the Booker Prize. So, you now have your resume completed, updated, proofed, and well laid out. Thus, the resume when done well is a welcomed addition to the submission package. It adds color and personality, reality and context, and can be full of hidden gems. And that gem might be that your day job is as a brain surgeon, or your hobby is taxidermy, or you were a reporter in the Middle East, you now have the editor intrigued– and your new book might get a second look. That may be all you need to turn the dial on your new novel from ‘maybe-yes’ to ‘yes’ and on toward the promised land—where it is published!

Getting Your Resume (and Everything Else) Right for Your Submission Package

The resume is essential to publishers, readers and editors, because… well, we need to know you have one!

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New York, NY – August 14, 2025 – BookGo, an independent book publisher for readers and writers, has launched a new model that helps writers tell stories faster, easier, and more profitably. Founded by executive search industry leader Charles (Chuck) W.B. Wardell III and award-winning author and filmmaker Michael McKinley, BookGo puts authors’ books into readers’ hands quickly, affordably, and sustainably. BookGo operates under a remarkably simple structure. Each author receives the same advance to write their book, which BookGo then edits, designs, publishes, and markets. BookGo writers receive a strong royalty share on a scale that slides upward for the writer depending on the number of books sold globally. Once published, books will be available digitally and in-print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, and Bookshop.org for purchase. With its launch, BookGo also announced its first three books set to publish this fall, including: Come Up Big: My Journey Through Vietnam, Harvard, the White House, the Department of State, and as CEO in Corporate America – A memoir taking us on an extraordinary journey from 1945 until today with Chuck Wardell, a kid with dyslexia who had been counted out, and who found a way to get himself counted in. Redeemed: A Journey From Darkness To Light – The inspiring true story of twins Alain and Nella Orozco as they struggle to grow up with a violent father dealing cocaine and a beloved mother who was mysteriously murdered. The Glamour of Evil: A Maddy Lynch Mystery – Maddy, just a lowly TV producer, is no one's idea of a spy. But that is why the Vatican secret spy agency, Omega, needs her, a complete outsider, to find millions of dollars missing from the Vatican Bank, and avert an all-out war. She becomes the Vatican’s Jane Bond. In addition, BookGo launched two complementary divisions: YourBook helps people tell their stories. YourBook treats each customer’s story idea as a bespoke book project, tailored specifically to them and their message. Storytellers are paired with renowned YourBook ghostwriters who work alongside them to write their book, as well as editors and development specialists. YourBook helps with research, editing, design, marketing and book production. YourFlick connects BookGo writers to the film, television and streaming industries. YourFlick will also write pilots, develop screenplays, and create pitch decks to help bring stories to the screen. “BookGo began as a simple mission to improve the way books get to readers,” said co-founder Michael McKinley. “As a writer, I knew firsthand how challenging today’s publishing process can be for authors. We wanted to create a publishing structure where writers have increased autonomy, equitability, fairer royalties, real marketing support, and a true partnership from start to shelf.” For more information, visit bookgo.pub, subscribe to its newsletter powered by Substack, and follow BookGo on Instagram, BlueSky and Facebook.

Announcing BookGo

BookGo launches to help writers tell stories easier, faster and more profitably.

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By Tomas Elliott The Craft Bootcamp In our regular bootcamp dedicated to the craft of literature, we'll be getting writing fit with some specialist exercises designed to hone your literary muscles. Each week, we take a brief look at an example of writing by a master of their craft — whether in prose, poetry, drama, film, or TV — and follow that up with a challenge for you to practise on your own. This week, in keeping with our theme of romance, we look at the craft of openings with an example from one of the modern masters of romance writing: Phoebe Waller-Bridge. We'll examine the first lines of the first episode of her TV-changing series Fleabag. 1. Playing with Genre Note how, immediately, this opening manages both to establish some generic conventions and subvert them — a hallmark of the rest of the show. In reading the opening description we might imagine ourselves in a horror movie: a woman's heavy breathing; fast cutting between a character and their POV; a night-time setting; tousled hair and smudged makeup. Almost as soon as these conventions are established, however, they're twisted upside down by Fleabag's first line, as she turns to the audience and breaks the fourth wall. The sudden shift in tone — what's known in literary studies as 'bathos' — transports us from high-climactic tension to the low-stakes and vulgar world of a bawdy sexual comedy. 2. Marrying Form with Content One of the major themes of this scene — and the show as a whole — is intimacy. Fleabag offers her audience access to her thoughts and life that is rarely seen on television, particularly when it comes to female TV characters. How better to begin to explore that theme than with a scene that is quite literally about letting someone in? The genius is that the scene signals that our access as audience members is even more intimate. We begin inside the home, with even more privileged access to Fleabag's thoughts and mind. Content and form are perfectly combined: opening the series means opening the door. 3. Preparing the Payoff What is so remarkable about this scene is that even in showing us how she lets a 'handsome man' into her home, Fleabag also simultaneously reveals that this is all an act. When letting someone in to your home and your life, the most important thing you have to do is pretend. In the opening lines of the first episode, Fleabag sets up the final payoff of the whole series: that the very act of letting us inside her head was not a genuine way of sharing her thoughts, but really a way of protecting herself and shielding the truth. Intimacy itself, Fleabag suggests, is a performance. That's the ultimate payoff of the show — and it's all there in the opening few seconds. Craft Challenge: Subversive Openings Give it a go yourself by trying out a subversive opening in whatever form you're writing in — prose fiction, screenplay, stage play, creative non-fiction, even poetry. 1. Choose an everyday or familiar setting and try to introduce us to it with all the stereotypes and clichés of a particular genre. 2. Now, write your character's opening line or interaction as if in a totally different form or genre. Can you subvert the reader's expectations? Try to set your reader up for something and then immediately knock them flat! Aim for one-to-two hundred words, or about a page of a script or screenplay. Leave a comment letting us know how it inspired you! The Craft Bootcamp is run by Dr Tomas Elliott, Assistant Professor in English and Creative Writing.

The Art of the Cold Open: What Fleabag Can Teach Every Writer

By Tomas Elliott The Craft Bootcamp In our regular bootcamp dedicated to the craft of literature, we'll be getting writing fit with some specialist exercises designed to hone your literary muscles. Each week, we take a brief look at an example of writing by a master of their craft — whether in prose, poetry, drama, film, or TV — and follow that up with a challenge for you to practise on your own. This week, in keeping with our theme of romance, we look at the craft of openings with an example...

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By Nancy Merritt Bell The Publishing Toolkit First of all, hurrah for finishing your book! Crack out the champers. And cheers again for wanting your new work to have an objective, general-public, possibly non-adoring reading. It might even be worth it. Next, round up the readers — but bypass the family and BFF reads. I actually gave Mom something of mine to read once. Her report was far less than the worship I'd expected. Mom, being a therapist, actually 'shrank' the book and its 'inappropriately aggressive' heroine. The wisdom here is a true home brew, with a view from both sides of the book jacket. Which goes to say: your reader must be someone you trust. If you are lucky enough to belong to a writers' group, you are very lucky indeed. Such groups are built to give feedback and support. If this sounds too much like a team sport or group therapy for the ultra-private writer, let me assure you that any good group which stays together will have matured out of any big ego bite-backs. Among my dear ones, I've found the best readers to be my mentors — including my one-time boss, an old professor, even my librarian. For one new kids' book I was editing, my librarian read it and shared it at Cozy Corner Reading Time, and while the youngsters' reports were filled with 'really really wow', my librarian could translate tot-speak into youthful and useful wisdom for the next draft. Next stop, and not a favourite, is the professional reader. I say that having been one myself. Many colleagues crack open a new manuscript, pen in hand, ready to pour bloody-red ink. And the online beta readers you find on Fiverr and elsewhere — some for as little as $10 — can be deeply generic. My wariness grows exponentially with their almost always positive reports. Should you still find yourself in real need of a beta reader, take yourself to your library or bookstore. Your librarian and your bookseller were born to bring good books into the world. And the final stop on the road: offer to read for another writer. Nothing will make you a better writer — both the person and the talent — than being another writer's thoughtful, caring, trusted reader. Write on! — Nancy

Finding Your Perfect Beta Reader

By Nancy Merritt Bell The Publishing Toolkit First of all, hurrah for finishing your book! Crack out the champers. And cheers again for wanting your new work to have an objective, general-public, possibly non-adoring reading. It might even be worth it. Next, round up the readers — but bypass the family and BFF reads. I actually gave Mom something of mine to read once. Her report was far less than the worship I'd expected. Mom, being a therapist, actually 'shrank' the book and its...

Read More
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