Episode 118 – Wish I’d Known Then With Jami Albright and Sara Rosett

This episode features a conversation with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett.

Jami is the multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. USA Today and Audible bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries with atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunit.

The two are the best of friends, and Mark talks with them about their writing, their friendship, and their new podcast Wish I’d Known Then for Writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares an audiobook marketing tip from this episode’s sponsor, Findaway Voices…

Learn more about Findaway Voices

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark then shares a personal update, which includes:

Flying to Colorado Springs for the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars where he is a returning guest instructorThe release (on Feb 4th) of TAKING THE SHORT TACK (a book on how writers can leverage short fiction for marketing and revenue), which he co-authored with Matty Dalrymple

He then announces the winners of two different prizes that were randomly drawn from listeners who left comments on two previous episodes as well as patrons of the show who support the podcast over at http://patreon.com/starkreflections.

During their conversation, Jami, Sara, and Mark discuss:

How they first got into writing, and their unique entrances and pathways into the writing world, as well as the unique genres they write inThe runaway bride trope/theme in romantic comedy and the potential double standard of runaway groom not being as popularThe cozy mystery genre and the way certain readers have specific preferences for how a series is structuredWhat it would take for either of them to say “yes” to a traditional publishing contractWhy a traditional publisher wouldn’t be able to afford an advance for what Jami makes in a money off of her indie eBook salesHow Sara ended up with POD print titles in a bookstore and how she managed returns with a returnable status for the US and Canada only and non-returnable for the rest of world



[image error]Sara and Mark at Haslam’s bookstore in St Petersburg, FL



How Sara and Jami first met at the Smarter Artist Conference in Austin, TX and learned that they both lived in Austin about ten minutes away from one anotherThe ongoing “ladies that lunch” they participate in, often with other local writersThe importance of having other writer friendsWhy they both enjoy attending writer gatherings and writer conferencesThe origin of the new podcast that Jami and Sara started called Wish I’d Known Then for WritersWhat they each wish they’d know then, before they got into writing

After the interview, Mark reflects on something Sara mentioned about changes in the industry. Be warned, attentive listener, because Mark uses that as an excuse to quote Rush lyrics.