Words & Pictures Podcast
Words & Pictures Podcast is for writers to talk about their writing and the images, pictures, book covers, illustrations and artwork that they use to support their words. And also it is for artists who work in the book industry.
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Words & Pictures Podcast
This is a podcast for all writers and artists who are involved in the book business. Each week, author and artist DJ Bowman-Smith will have a brief chat about her own working week and then introduce a guest to talk about writing and the art authors use to promote their words. It's about inspiration and business. Aesthetics and exploring the creative mind.
Episodes
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Monday Dec 18, 2023
This week, I'm sharing my thoughts on this year and how my writing and publishing life went. The good bits. The bad bits, what worked and what didn't. And how I'm staying on top of things by letting some stuff go and ditching the deadlines.
Find DJ here: www.djbowmansmith.com and www.tigermolly.com
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Angela tells me about her current WIP, the third book in her YA series. Her main character can see the dead – so of course, we talk about ghosts and what inspires her to write for this age group.
We discuss finding the right designer for her book covers. Her writing process and how social media is such a help to independent authors like us.
Fitting in writing with a busy family life and a full-time job is challenging – yet possible if you're as dedicated as Angela.
In the intro, DJ talks about giving her mind some thinking space while she indulges in her guilty pleasure.
Find Angela here: www.dawn-publishing.com
Amazon page: Amazon.com: Angela van Liempt: books, biography, latest update
Her book cover designer: Natasha MacKenzie, Designer in Manchester, UK | Reedsy
Find DJ here: www.djbowmansmith.com and www.tigermolly.com
Also mentioned: www.reedsy.com
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Traditionally published author Hazel Prior tells me about her books, which are hard to categorise as they feature animals and diverse characters. Uplit is a term often used to describe them.
Hazel writes first and foremost from her own heart and likes to add humour and a sense of place to her writing.
She tells me about being a part of the Richard and Judy Book Club. Her cat Purrsy. Her writing process and so much more.
In the intro, DJ talks about making a soundproof room to create audiobooks. DJ mistakenly says this is episode 72. Sorry!
Find Hazel here: www.hazelprior.co.uk
Find DJ here: www.djbowmansmith.com & www.tigermolly.com
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Emma talks about her new Christmas romance A Christmas Truce. She tells me about her YouTube channel and how it led to writing a how-to book about X for authors. Find this and more on her Amazon page below. She talks me through taking part in National Novel Writing Month and being a hybrid author.
Find Emma here: www.emma-bennet.co.uk
www.joffebooks.com
Find DJ: www.djbowmansmith.com & www.tigermolly.com
Amazon page: Amazon.co.uk: Emma Bennet: books, biography, latest update
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Indy tells me about his two MC's, one a detective and the other a criminal and how they are both a mixture of good and bad. The world they inhabit, Central City, is a character in itself. He explains why he uses an imagined as opposed to a real place for his stories.
We talk about his excellent book covers and branding. His writing process and his plans for the future.
In the intro DJ talks about making new flat lays and seasonal adverts.
Find Indy here: www.indyperro.com
www.centralcitybooks.com
His book designer: Nicolae Negura https://nicolaenegura.com
Find DJ: www.djbowmansmith.com & www.tigermolly.com
Also mentioned: Bookbrush www.bookbrush.com
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Sheryl Bass tells me about creating her rhyming picture books. Her writing process and the social learning she wishes to convey within the stories. We talked about the importance of rhyme for reading acquisition. She shares how she chose the artist for the illustrations. We discuss the ongoing problems of book marketing.
In the intro DJ chats about making new covers for her kidlit.
Find Sheryl Bass: Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-bass-m-a-m-s-w-221b0413/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087176800294
Website: www.be-kindpublishing.com
Her illustrator Remesh Ram can be found here: Prayan Animation www.prayananimation.com
Find DJ: www.djbowmansmith.com & www.tigermolly.com
Also mentioned: www.pubby.co (for book reviews)
Her mentor, April Cox: www.selfpubmadesimple.com
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Tara tells me about her new series of spicey and cosy romance. The first book, Just Like Magic, is out on November 17th. We chat about romance genre language and she clarifies what a cinnamon roll hero is and why she chose this type of love interest for her latest book.
We talk about the differences between erotica and romance with spice. Her writing schedule, book covers, social media and author newsletters.
In the intro DJ chats about drawing chapter illustrations for her upcoming book.
Find Tara here: www.tara-wyatt.com
Her cover designer: www.crocodesigns.com
Find DJ here: www.djbowmansmith.com & here: www.tigermolly.com
Also mentioned : www.rosaleeauthor.com
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Helen tells me about the worlds she has created and some of the creatures in her fantasy books. We discuss the joy of inventing low-tech/no-tech worlds as escapism for ourselves and our readers.
We talk about book marketing, self-publishing and the impact social media has on modern authors and readers. Audiobooks, book covers, how to fit a writing life around a full-time job, and the value of the indie author community.
Find Helen Garraway here: Helen Garraway – USA Today Bestselling Fantasy author
Her Amazon page: Amazon.co.uk: Helen Garraway: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle
Her linktree: https://Linktr.ee/HelenGarraway
And find her in person signing books at Stroud Indie Book fair on October 21st, at Lansdown Hall, (2023)
Find DJ: www.djbowmansmith.com
Also mentioned: Book Dragon: https://the-bookdragon.com
Alliance of independent authors: www.allianceindependentauthors.org
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Dare talks about her latest book, Abilene, which is set in a small Texas town. We discuss the difficulties of creating books with more than one protagonist. Dare tells me about her methods for making each character real.
Dare works full-time and must fit her writing around a busy working life and her family. She talks about making the most of every moment and writing anywhere she can.
She discusses writing middle-grade fiction and the joys of being published by a local press.
In the Intro DJ chats about her WIP and getting a bit of writing in on holiday.
Find Dare here: Home - Dare DeLano
Find DJ Here: www.djbowmansmith.com
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Jennifer has written a memoir of her experiences living aboard a sailboat. Honeymoon at Sea – How I found myself living on a small boat tells the story of early marriage and adventure. We discuss sea sickness – naturally, and the difficulties of creating a readable memoir. Jennifer is a professional book editor, and her husband also writes. How do they manage a creative life in a small space? A lot of give and take and a good set of noise-cancelling headphones. We also chat about British accents, book editing, audiobooks and marketing.
In the Intro, DJ is excited to share completing her first draft and what happens next.
Find Jennifer:
www.jennyredbug.com
Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Silva Redmond: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle
Honeymoon at Sea | Jennifer Silva Redmond | Substack
Find DJ: www.djbowmansmith.com