The Write and Wrong Podcast | Writing Tips, Book Publishing and Literary Agents

Bookshop owner, publisher, and author Zibby Owens joins Jamie this week to chat about her upcoming essay collection, Between Chapters, out September 22nd. Zibby shares the winding journey of trying to get published since her 20s, building a media empire that started with a podcast in 2018, and why authors need to stop viewing rejection as an indictment of their talent.
Whether you are an aspiring writer trying to navigate the traditional publishing submission process or a devoted reader curious about how your favorite books hit the shelves, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights.
How Zibby’s podcast, originally started as a side project in 2018, evolved into five episodes a week and a massive literary platform.
The logistical realities and unexpected community responsibilities of opening an indie bookshop in Santa Monica.
Why traditional publishers rely heavily on "lead titles" and how Zibby Publishing aims to disrupt this by treating every book like a priority launch.
Actionable advice for writers looking to get published, including why you should perfect your manuscript before showing it to the industry.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Writing Between Chapters
07:11 - The Entrepreneurial Drive and Starting a Podcast
13:20 - Zibby's Winding Journey to Becoming a Published Author
20:48 - Founding Zibby Publishing to Champion Authors
30:40 - The Truth About "Lead Titles" in the Book Industry
39:05 - Opening an Indie Bookshop and Curating Shelves
49:55 - Final Advice for Writers Trying to Get Published
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Bestselling hybrid romance author, Chelsea Curto joins Jamie this week to chat about her DC Stars hockey series and her traditional publishing debut, In Stormy Weather. Chelsea shares the surreal journey of writing her first book in 2022 to landing a major book deal, and why she believes that publishing is a marathon and not a sprint.
Whether you are an aspiring writer trying to decode the indie publishing world or a romance fan obsessed with forced proximity and sports tropes, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights.
Why hockey's physicality and 82-game travel schedule make it the ultimate sport for romantic tension.
How Chelsea researched storm chasing and atmospheric science for her STEM-focused rival meteorologists in In Stormy Weather.
The realities of being a hybrid author and balancing the creative control of self-publishing with the collaborative team support of traditional publishing.
The Emily Henry book that sparked Chelsea's love for the genre and led to a magical full-circle career moment.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Latest Releases
05:08 - Why Hockey Dominates the Romance Genre
07:50 - Writing Women in STEM & Storm Chasing
14:09 - The Leap into Traditional Publishing
25:17 - The Book That Started Chelsea's Journey
30:40 - From Flight Attendant to Bestselling Author
45:45 - Realities & Advice for Indie Publishing
57:45 - The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Publishing
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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Literary agent, Philippa Sitters is with Jamie this week to chat about her career in publishing from a high intensity start with a major talent agency all the way through to starting her own agency, PSA Literary. Philippa shares a candid look at the day-to-day reality of running an independent agency, what she is looking for in her inbox, and why online author platforms are becoming increasingly significant in the industry.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Philippa’s entry into the publishing industry.
07:28 – The leap to starting a solo agency (PSA Literary).
13:54 – What Philippa represents (and the genres she doesn't).
19:45 – What makes a standout crime thriller and the need for fresh perspectives.
22:45 – Which book would Philippa want if she was snowed in at a cosy woodland cabin.
27:06 – Fiction vs. Non-Fiction queries: Breaking down the submission guidelines.
39:37 – How to write the perfect query letter (and major red flags to avoid).
49:20 – Do you really need an author platform and a social media presence?
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
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Writer, editor and photographer, Amelia Kyazze is back on the podcast after first joining us back in 2021 with her debut novel. We chat about everything that she has written and published since then both with big publishers and independently. Amelia goes on to discuss her experiences with different publishing models, how she discovery writes in historical fiction, and why finding a community is so intertwined with creative success.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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What does it take to find a literary agent and navigate today’s ever-shifting publishing world?
In this episode, Jamie sits down with publishing veteran and literary agent Kate Barker to pull back the curtain on the industry. Kate talks about the ways in which AI and social media are changing author discoverability, why she asks for the first 500 words of a manuscript in her queries but not a synopsis.
Whether you're fine-tuning a pitch or love bookish insider talk, this conversation is packed with goodies.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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