Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time

Well...That Didn’t Happen: An Update on Publishing in 2021

2020 taught us never to get cocky in our plans. 2021 seems determined to reinforce this lesson. In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan digs through her plans for 2021, exposing some...mistakes, and some awesome achievements (can you say more audio?) Great things happen when you learn to accept the gifts the world smashes into your face. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Narrators, ”Naughty” Women, and Not Having the Time

Hiring a narrator for an audiobook means turning over control of your characters. From how your protagonist is portrayed to how that laugh line lands, your audiobook listeners' journey through your story will be dictated by your narrator's performance.In the case of Ena of Ilbrea, her journey through a society that holds onto negative stereotypes of strong women could end in triumph or disaster depending on how the narrator depicts her battle against the Guilds. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

How Many Novellas Does it Take to Make a Novel?

How many words does it take to complete a character arc with integrity while contributing to the greater narrative? How many miles can a rowboat travel along a coast in one day? How much backstory will your readers need, when do they need it, and what's the most efficient and entertaining way to offer that world building?All of these questions become monumentally important when orchestrating an epic fantasy narrative. On this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell walks through her triumphs and terrors in the writing and editing process for Myth and Storm, book two in the Guilds of Ilbrea series. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Six Questions to Ask Before Moving to a Fantasy Realm

Planning on making that move through the wardrobe a permanent one? Here's a helpful list of questions to ask before deciding to apply for citizenship in a new fantasy world. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Soul of Glass: A Special Release Day Episode

It's release day for Soul of Glass, book two in the Heart of Smoke series!In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan shares the top four reasons you'll want to escape into this paranormal dystopian with chemically induced vampires...as if chemically induced vampires weren't enough of a reason. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

For the Love (or Hate) of Spoilers: An author’s take on giving away the plot

Did you know the love interest dies on page 235?Did you want to know long before you hit the tragedy that destroyed the hero's heart?Whether you like to know the trauma ahead or want to be surprised as you turn the page, spoilers can ruin or (allegedly) improve the reader's experience.Dive into the pros and cons of knowing the plot twist in advance in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Find Your Nike Swoop...Just Do It: Building an Author Brand

From fonts to story formula, branding has a huge impact on how readers perceive authors.Whether an author presents a chipper personality or offers a stark website, every interaction with readers fosters a future relationship.As an author, it's your job to create a consistent brand that clearly tells your readers what to expect. As a reader, you (often subconsciously) interpret these cues to decide which books to adore and which to pass over.Peek inside the making of an author brand in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Overloading Your Readers: Info Dumps and the Top Three Ways to Avoid Them

700 years ago, the Great King of Inisvarden did...a bunch of stuff you won't need to know about until book six, but the author is dumping the information in the first part of book one.If you've ever come across moments like this while reading, you're not alone. If you've ever come across moments like this while writing...you're NOT alone. The good news? There are many ways to avoid these info dumps.Learn the tell-tale signs of a dreaded info dump and how to avoid them in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Free Books or Paying for Clicks: The Paths to Indie Author Success

To free, or not to free...Offering the first book in your series for free can be a powerful marketing tool, but the method is neither foolproof nor danger-free.From negative stereotypes to being lost in the chaos, this episode of A Book and A Dream will give you a crash course on navigating the free-books waters. Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe

Book Reviews: Magic or Mythology?

Reviews can make or break a book, but how does an author capture these illusive unicorns?From searching for help to begging online, there are many mythical paths to reviews. But the way is dangerous. Take the tale of my woe with you. It's dangerous to go alone! Get full access to Page by Page Podcast Substack at meganorussell.substack.com/subscribe