In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by author, bookshop owner, publisher, and podcaster Zibby Owens. Zibby discusses her new essay collection, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances and Found the Plot, and shares her inspiring journey from facing early publishing rejections to building a massive literary media company. Key Takeaways: Zibby’s seventh book, Between Chapters, is a deeply personal essay collection chronicling a de

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Curto. Chelsea discusses the explosive popularity of her indie-published D.C. Stars hockey romance series, what she learned from making the leap into traditional publishing, and why she is determined to remain a "hybrid author" indefinitely. Key Takeaways: Chelsea’s incredibly popular D.C. Stars series is an interconnected hockey romance that foll

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Curto. Chelsea discusses the explosive popularity of her indie-published D.C. Stars hockey romance series, what she learned from making the leap into traditional publishing, and why she is determined to remain a "hybrid author" indefinitely. Key Takeaways: Chelsea’s incredibly popular D.C. Stars series is an interconnected hockey romance that foll

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by Philippa Sitters, a literary agent who founded her own boutique agency, PSA (Philippa Sitters Agency), two years ago. Philippa talks about her uniquely direct path into the publishing industry, how she smoothly transitioned into running her own business, and the specific things she is (and isn't) looking for from querying authors. Key Takeaways: Unlike many agents who "fall" into the career, Philippa t

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by writer, photographer, and editor Amelia Kyazze. Returning to the podcast after her first appearance in 2021, Amelia discusses her latest release, The Cinema on Yosef Blvd., and her uniquely varied publishing journey, having published her books through crowdfunding, self-publishing, and a traditional "Big Five" publisher. Key Takeaways: The Cinema on Yosef Blvd. is a companion novel to The Cafe on Manor La

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by Kate Barker, an independent literary agent with decades of experience across the publishing industry. Kate shares her journey from starting as a junior assistant to working as an Editorial Director at Penguin, and eventually founding her own boutique literary agency. She also provides insight into the genres she represents, the evolving digital landscape, and why the classic "apprenticeship" model of publ

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by web developer and middle grade fantasy author Oliver Lendon. Oliver discusses the upcoming 27th of August release of his traditionally published debut novel, No Tune Ned, his journey from self-publishing to signing with an independent press without an agent, and why aspiring authors should embrace writing simply for the joy of it. Key Takeaways: No Tune Ned is a middle grade fantasy set in Dravenlock, a k

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by contemporary romance and pop fiction author Elizabeth Richardson. Elizabeth works at Duke University and is currently serialising the release of her debut novel, Trad, on Substack. She discusses the bizarre real-world internet drama that inspired the book, why she chose to serialise it online after it failed to sell to traditional publishers, and how she mines pop culture for her wildest story ideas. K

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie sits down with English teacher turned historical fantasy author Pippa Dunn. Pippa discusses the upcoming release of her debut YA novel, The Sign of the Raven, her journey from a theatrical background into prose writing, and how she navigated the shift from writing a debut novel over four years to writing a second novel on a strict six-month deadline. Key Takeaways: The Sign of the Raven is a YA historical fantasy s

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by children's author Steve Blackman. Steve discusses his debut middle-grade sci-fi novel, Zero Override, his passion for getting young boys hooked on reading, and how his background working alongside coders in digital agencies informed his approach to writing about technology. He also dives into his evolving writing process, explaining how signing a two-book contract completely changed the way he drafts. Key

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie sits down with Christy Anne Jones, an author, illustrator, and popular content creator from Adelaide, Australia. Christy discusses the creative journey behind her debut novel, Theodora’s Tea Shop, how creating YouTube content has actually made her a better writer, and what she learned from trying the writing routines of famous authors like Dan Brown and J.R.R. Tolkien. Key Takeaways: Theodora’s Tea Shop is a 1920s-ins

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by independent children's author, publisher, and chartered librarian Rachel Pattinson. Rachel is the 2023 winner of the Hachette Children's Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Selfies Book Awards in 2026. She discusses the unique journey of her debut middle-grade mystery, 7 Distracted Detective, how she navigated the transition from winning a major traditional publishing award to confidently pursuing the

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by Flo Sandelson, an associate literary agent at the prestigious Curtis Brown. Flo shares her journey from working as a bookseller at Waterstones to navigating the “apprenticeship” model of publishing as an assistant to Felicity Blunt. She also breaks down how she is building her own client list—which leans heavily into the SFF (Science Fiction and Fantasy) and romantasy space—and why she actively scouts sel

In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, Jamie is joined by Lauren Gardner, a literary agent at Bell Lomax Morton and a 2020 Bookseller Rising Star. Lauren shares her unique journey from the world of luxury PR into publishing, breaking down exactly how she transitioned from an assistant to a full-time agent. She also offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how she actively headhunts non-fiction authors, balances her growing client list of around 60 authors, and mainta