Matty Dalrymple talks with Jennifer Hilt about DECODING STORYTELLING TROPES, including the universality of about 40 tropes that cross various genres, especially the tropes of found family, misdirection, secrets and scars, and the ticking time bomb. Jennifer shares insights about how tropes like these help shape narratives and character motivations, touching on examples from popular books and movies.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/288-Jennifer-Hilt

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Jennifer Hilt is a USA Today Bestselling author and the creator of The Trope Thesaurus: An Author Resource, a five-book series beloved by writers seeking to hone their craft. With a diverse portfolio spanning twenty-four books under four pen names, she has also authored the urban fantasy trilogy The Undead Detective. As a professional plotter and concept creator, Jennifer has helped countless writers develop unforgettable stories. Holding degrees in linguistics and literature, Jennifer loves collecting obscure dictionaries, binge-watching Scandi-noir series, and shouting out tropes from her couch.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Roz Morris about MANAGING YOUR EDITORIAL CREW, including how authors can effectively manage their editing process, the role beta readers play in the development of an author's work, what the needs are for editing before submitting a work to a traditional publisher or an agent, and tips for indie authors on making the most out of their editing experiences and dollars.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

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Roz Morris’s novels and memoir have been recognized by major mainstream awards. She’s coached award-winning writers in both fiction and non-fiction, taught creative writing for The Guardian masterclasses, blogged for Writers & Artists Yearbook, and been a regular judge on Litopia’s Pop-Up Submissions show, critiquing manuscripts from promising writers. Roz is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Johnny B. Truant about THE NEW NORMAL OF AN AUTHOR CAREER, including the evolving landscape of self-publishing, the dilemma of comparisonitis, the need to accept slow growth in one's author career as the new norm, the value of patience, and the warning signs when patience turns into a rut.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

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Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of FAT VAMPIRE, adapted by The SyFy Network as REGINALD THE VAMPIRE. His other books include PRETTY KILLER, GORE POINT, INVASION, THE BEAM, DEAD CITY, UNICORN WESTERN, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

Johnny is one of indie publishing’s early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self-Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide WRITE. PUBLISH. REPEAT., and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Art Taylor about WRITING SHORT, including common challenges faced by novelists transitioning to short stories. Art emphasizes the importance of economy, efficiency, and focus; shares practical advice on trimming word count while maintaining narrative impact, such as eliminating redundant phrases and opting for active voice; and explores how key elements—like conflict escalation and character development—must be handled differently in short stories.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

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Art Taylor is the Edgar Award-winning author of two short story collections—The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions and The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense—and of the novel in stories On the Road with Del & Louise, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. He is a professor of English at George Mason University.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer about TRAINING THE BRAIN FOR FICTION DICTATION, including the differences in approach for fiction versus nonfiction. Sarah describes the challenges authors face when transitioning to dictating fiction and offers practical advice for overcoming mental blocks. Sarah also highlights the flexibility of dictation, allowing authors to work in different environments and in shorter time blocks. And she discusses how dictation can improve other audio assets and can engage audiences in new ways.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

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Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is an author and writing instructor who takes authors struggling to master the tools and knowledge of their author journey and helps them become confident in writing their books. She has been featured on Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn podcast, Jane Friedman’s blog, Writer’s Digest magazine, and more. She’s published 19 books, 11 of which she wrote solely by dictation. Sarah is also host of The Confident Fiction Author podcast which empowers authors to live their best creative lifestyle. Her Fictation Digital Course takes authors through the exact process of mastering dictation to write fiction.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine and "Indie Author Magazine." She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kevin Tumlinson about WRITING PIVOTS AND THE POWER OF HUMILITY, including Kevin's journey of moving from a pantser to an outliner. They discuss his reasons for adopting outlining, influenced by his co-authoring project with J.D. Barker, and the cognitive challenges he faced during the transition. Kevin also speaks candidly about his existential crisis and burnout from overcommitting to activities outside writing, revealing how it affected his creative process. The conversation gives insights into the balance between structure and creativity, strategies for maintaining momentum in writing, and the importance of humility and continuous learning in a writing career. Kevin shares how his collaboration with J.D. is unfolding, along with his new role at BookBrush and the launch of Author Anchor.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

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J. Kevin Tumlinson is The Writer_, a bestselling and award-winning author, prolific podcast host, and in-demand public speaker. Kevin writes mostly thriller novels and Substack posts and enjoys a life of travel and exploration alongside his wife and their tiny dog.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Rossana Corniel about UNLOCKING THE POWER OF BOOK REVIEWS, including the importance of reviews in understanding reader expectations and forming effective marketing strategies. Rossana discusses the finding that research shows that reviews can significantly impact sales and reader trust; the importance of tailoring your book's cover and description to your target audience ; and the emotional challenge of dealing with low-star reviews. The conversation also touches upon practical strategies for gathering reviews, such as using platforms like BookSprout.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!
https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

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Rossana Corniel is a romantasy and paranormal romance author who believes in the magic of storytelling to inspire and connect. Writing under the pen name R.C. Luna, she has published six novels and a children’s book, with six more books slated for release in 2025. Drawing from her almost two decades of experience in marketing and communications, including her current role as Head of Marketing at Booksprout, Rossana blends creativity and strategy to help authors grow and thrive. When she’s not writing, she’s raising three incredible daughters and chasing the next great adventure.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Liesel Hill about USING RELEVANCE TO SAVE YOUR DARLINGS, including the importance of integrating emotional connection and subconscious storytelling to retain seemingly irrelevant scenes by making them essential. Topics include multi-tasking in scenes, pacing, evoking emotion, character arcs, purposeful character deaths, maintaining continuity in series, and avoiding unnecessary plot elements.

Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

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Liesel Hill is a USA Today best-selling author of 4 genres. She teaches authors to craft stories using the principles of energetics and transformational human psychology, and by tapping into one's individual subconscious creativity.

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.