Month: April 2023

The Write Approach, Episode 33: From Spicy Romance to Chart-Topping Suspense with Alessandra Torre

In our conversation with NYT bestseller Alessandra Torre, we talk about launching into indie publishing in 2012 as a romance author and how her early success enabled her to quit her job to write full time. As a hybrid author, Torre has had huge success in both the indie and traditional publishing spaces. But more recently, she has made strategic business decisions about the kinds of novels she wants to write and who she wants to publish through, to attempt to amplify her success and reach new levels. In addition to her writing, Torre is the founder of Inkers Con, so we talk about why this project and connect with other authors has been important enough to take time away from writing.

If you want to listen to other hugely successful suspense authors, check out our past interviews with Robert Dugoni (Ep. 18), Georgina Cross (Ep. 14), and Robert Bailey (Ep. 27).

The Write Approach, Episode 33: From Spicy Romance to Chart-Topping Suspense with Alessandra Torre

The Write Approach, Episode 33: From Spicy Romance to Chart-Topping Suspense with Alessandra Torre

Listen to the episode here on the website.

Find The Write Approach on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

You can also watch it on our YouTube channel.


Alessandra Torre’s website: https://www.alessandratorre.com

Inkers Con Author Conference website: https://www.inkerscon.com/

Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/

J. W. Judge’s author website: https://jwjudge.com/

The Write Approach, Episode 32: What to Expect When Working with a Publicist with Kathleen Schmidt

Many authors have the idea that working with a publicist can change the trajectory for commercial success or failure of their book. Frequently, their expectations are unreasonable or not aligned with the budget. Kathleen Schmidt is our guest for Episode 32 of The Write Approach to talk about what it’s like to work with a publicist, what it is that publicists do, and how authors can have an effective relationship with the person doing the publicity work for their books.

You can find Kathleen on Twitter and subscribe to her Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, where she sheds light on the inner workings of the publishing and publicity industries.

The Write Approach, Episode 32: What to Expect When Working with a Publicist with Kathleen Schmidt

The Write Approach, Episode 32: What to Expect When Working with a Publicist with Kathleen Schmidt

Listen to the episode here on the website.

Find The Write Approach on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

You can also watch it on our YouTube channel.


Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/

J. W. Judge’s author website: https://jwjudge.com/

The Write Approach, Episode 31: Strategies for a Sustainable Writing Career with Jessie Kwak

One of the keys for a successful writing career marketing yourself and networking with other writers. It can take a while to figure out what sorts of marketing and networking are sustainable for you and your personality type. But like many other aspects of your writing career this is worth experimenting with and stepping out of your comfort zone.

For Jessie Kwak, science fiction writer and author of Big Idea to Book: Create a Writing Practice That Brings You Joy, stepping out of her comfort zone includes launching her own conference, Author Alchemy Summit, for February 2024.

The Write Approach, Episode 31: Strategies for a Sustainable Writing Career with Jessie Kwak

The Write Approach, Episode 31: Strategies for a Sustainable Writing Career with Jessie Kwak

Listen to the episode here on the website.

Find The Write Approach on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

You can also watch it on our YouTube channel.


Jessie Kwak’s website: https://www.jessiekwak.com/

Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/

J. W. Judge’s author website: https://jwjudge.com/

The Write Approach, Episode 30: Writing Fiction as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly

Author, lawyer, and entrepreneur Lisa M. Lilly knows what it’s like to have ambitions of becoming a writer, setting that aside for a time, and coming back to fiction writing as a second career. In Episode 30, we talk with Lilly about practical measures that busy professionals can take to pursue writing as a second career. 

For a deeper dive into the topic, pick up Lisa M. Lilly’s newest non-fiction book, Fiction Writing as Your Second Career. J. W. Judge’s own book, Write Your Novel One Day at a Time, explores a similar topic and includes a separate interview with Lilly.

The Write Approach, Episode 30: Writing Fiction as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly

The Write Approach, Episode 30: Writing Fiction as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly

Listen to the episode here on the website.

Find The Write Approach on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

You can also watch it on our YouTube channel.


Lisa M. Lilly’s website: https://lisalilly.com/ (including the podcast, Buffy and the Art of Story)

Lilly’s Writing As a Second Career website: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/

Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/

J. W. Judge’s author website: https://jwjudge.com/