The Resilient Writers Radio Show

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Aga Maksimowska, author of Becalming and Giant, for a thoughtful conversation about voice, literary fiction, and what it means to return to a character after more than a decade. 

Aga’s latest novel, Becalming, is anything but calm. It’s propulsive, emotionally layered, and deeply attentive to the messy, often contradictory experience of early adulthood—something Aga knew from the beginning she wanted to capture on the page.

We begi...

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There’s something fascinating about stories that sit just outside the spotlight—moments in history that don’t always get the same attention, but quietly shape the world we’re living in now. That’s exactly where this conversation with Melanie Anagnos begins.

Melanie’s novel Night Swimming is set in the 1970s—a decade often overshadowed by the cultural upheaval of the 1960s, but one that was just as complex, just as charged, and in many ways, still echoing today. 

As she shares...

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If you’ve ever found yourself polishing the first chapter of your novel over and over again while the rest of the story stubbornly refuses to move forward, this episode is going to feel very familiar—and very reassuring.

In this conversation, I’m joined by editor, author, and book coach Rebecca Pickens, and we talk about something that doesn’t always get as much attention as plot or structure, but might actually matter more than anything else: emotional impact.

Rebecca...

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m talking with novelist Whitney Cubbison, who lives in Paris and writes romantic comedies inspired by her experiences as an American expat navigating dating, divorce, friendship, and life abroad. 

But what makes Whitney’s story so interesting isn’t just the Paris setting or the dating disasters—it’s how she became a novelist in the first place.

Whitney didn’t grow up planning to write novels. She spent many years working...

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If you love stories that explore art, history, identity, and the lives of women artists across time, this episode will absolutely fascinate you.

In this conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by writer, translator, and literary critic Merav Fima, author of the short story collection Late Blossoms and the forthcoming novel The Rose of Thirteen Petals and the Pomegranate Tree. 

Merav’s work explores the lives, struggles, and artistic legacies of Jewish women artists across history, and t...

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If you’ve ever wondered whether a personal essay might actually be the seed of something much bigger—or if you’ve felt the tug to write a memoir but weren’t sure where to begin—this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Carolyn Flynn: eight-time published author, TEDxWomen speaker, winner of the 2014 Rick Bass Montana Prize for Fiction, and founder of The Story Catalyst at Soulfire Studios. 

Carolyn is also...

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If you love historical fiction that uncovers the hidden stories of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, this episode is going to pull you right in.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by historical novelist Diane Shotton, author of Motty’s Vow and her latest novel, The Dictograph Case. 

Diane writes the kind of fiction that shines a light on forgotten people and overlooked moments in history—and this story began with one of those...

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If you’ve ever wished someone could take all those slippery, hard-to-explain storytelling principles and turn them into something you could actually see, this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by book coach and editor Lori Puma, and we dive into a topic that is both delightfully nerdy and wildly useful: story structure infographics.

Lori came to this work in a fascinating way. With a PhD in epidemiology and a back...

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If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring a whole historical world to life on the page—without losing your reader in the weeds—this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by author Sharon Curcio, and we’re talking about her indie-published historical novel, Asayi: An Autistic Teen’s Journey to Topola Shogun in Medieval Japan. 

Sharon shares how this book (volume one of a trilogy) has already earned...

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If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a brand-new novelist takes a big, brave swing—tackling history, identity, community, and book bans all in one story—this episode is for you.

Today on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Julie Snider, a retired public school teacher near Sacramento who now writes both fiction and nonfiction with a big-hearted focus on social justice and connection. 

Julie’s debut novel, Chapel Bay Secrets (released January 2026), is set in a small town...

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If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if the “perfect” PTA mom had a secret life… this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by women’s suspense author Kendra Pecci, and we’re talking about her debut novel, Focus on Deception—a deliciously fun, high-stakes story set in a world of soccer games, fundraisers, and wine moms… with a twist.

Kendra introduces us to Stella Meyers, a photographer who blends right int...

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If you’ve ever had a moment where something about your life suddenly made sense—and at the same time opened up a whole new set of questions—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by writer and memoirist Julie Green, author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance. Julie shares the long, layered journey that led her to this book, beginning with her son’s autism diagnosis and eventu...

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This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda is joined by Robert Boyle and Joe Cimenti, longtime friends who co-authored Thai Hut Tuesdays—a collection of short, heartfelt stories that’s meant to be both comforting and genuinely funny. 

They describe the book as “Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Nate Bargatze”: emotional, relatable, and light enough to make you laugh at the things that once felt overwhelming.

The idea for the book began years ago—around 2006—after Bob and Joe spent...

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What happens to creative writing—and to us as writers—when artificial intelligence becomes part of the conversation?

In this solo episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I share why I'm introducing video to the podcast in 2026, and then dive into a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about AI and creative writing. 

This is not a how-to episode on using AI to write your book. Instead, it’s an invitation to slow down, think critically, and decide—intentionally—how (or if) AI belo...

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If you’ve ever wondered whether that wild, complicated story in your family could become a novel, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by award-winning author Barbara Sibbald, whose latest book, Almost English, began as a family legend, became a genealogy project, then tried to be creative nonfiction—before finally settling into the form it needed all along: a historical novel.

Barbara’s great-grandparents lived in Quetta, on the Northwest Frontier of British India (now Pakistan) between 1885 and 1912. Growing...

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Welcome to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

My podcast editor is in sick leave this week, so thanks for your understanding with this unedited episode. 🥰

The stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year's can feel like a creative black hole for writers. Between holiday preparations, family gatherings, and end-of-year obligations, that precious writing time often disappears completely. In this episode, I offer a powerful mindset shift to help you protect your writing practice during the busiest season of the...

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If you’ve ever felt like your novel is taking far too long—or wondered whether you can keep writing through big life challenges—this conversation with novelist Melanie Schnell will speak straight to your writer heart.

Melanie is the author of While the Sun is Above Us, which won both the Saskatchewan First Book Award and the City of Regina Award and has been part of the ELA A30 curriculum in Saskatchewan schools. 

Her new novel, The Chorus Beneath Our Fee...

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If you’ve ever wondered whether self-publishing is “worth it,” or felt overwhelmed by all the moving parts—editing, design, distribution, marketing—this episode is for you. 

I’m joined by Leanne Janzen of FriesenPress, the author-services arm of Friesens Corporation, a century-old Canadian printer trusted by traditional publishers and indie authors alike. 

Leanne has worn multiple hats—from publishing specialist to leading a sales team—and she’s passionate about demystifying today’s publishing landscape so writers can make informed, confident ch...

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If you’ve ever wondered how a writer turns the messiness of lived experience into a story readers can’t put down, this conversation with Shani Mootoo will light you up. 

Shani—novelist, poet, and visual artist—joins me to talk about her newest book, Starry Starry Night, a work that took root more than 35 years ago and slowly transformed from raw, private pages into a fiercely crafted novel.

Shani shares how, in her early years, she was primarily a visual ar...

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If you’ve ever wondered how your personal history and lived experiences might shape the stories you write, this conversation with novelist and poet Bruce Hunter will move and inspire you.

Bruce joins Rhonda to talk about the re-release of his award-winning novel In the Bear’s House (Frontenac House, 2024)—a powerful story set in 1950s and ’60s Alberta about a young mother raising her deaf son, told through two unforgettable points of view.

Born in Calgary on Treaty Seven lands, B...

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If you’ve ever ended a writing day with sore wrists, tight shoulders, and a brain that feels like mush, this conversation is for you. 

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer—author of 19 books and the creator of two signature programs: Fiction Writing: American Indians (for writing authentic stories that honor Native history and culture) and the Dictation Bootcamp for authors. 

You may know Sarah from Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn podcast, Jane Friedman’s...

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Welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

This week, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Aamir Hussain, whose debut novel Under the Full and Crescent Moon is officially out in the world. 

This is no ordinary debut. It’s a speculative historical novel that asks a bold and fascinating question: Could there be a Muslim matriarchy—and what would that world look like?

The story follows Khadija, a young woman growing up in the ima...

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Here's one for the poets!

In this special episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda Douglas hosts a poetry panel featuring four accomplished poets: Kess Mohammadi, Guy Elston, Lorne Daniel, and Melissa Powless Day. 

Together, they read from their latest works and share an honest conversation about building poetry collections, navigating mentorship, and growing alongside their readers.

Each poet begins by reading a piece from their newest collection. Lorne Daniel shares “Crushed” from What Is Broken Binds Us (U...

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What if the truest way to write your story is to follow feeling instead of chronology? 

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by award-winning Iranian-Canadian author Hollay Ghadery, whose work fearlessly crosses genres: memoir, poetry, flash fiction, and even a novel narrated by a sock puppet.

Hollay’s debut memoir Fuse won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Award for Nonfiction/Memoir, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever read. Rather than laying out her life in n...

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sit down with award-winning indie author Eveline Rose, creator of the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series. If you love page-turning romantic suspense set against the backdrop of a cozy small town, you’ll want to listen in.

Eveline shares how her love of storytelling began back in high school, and how it grew into a nine-book series featuring strong heroines, protective heroes, and the found families that keep us coming back for more. Bo...

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we break down the complete roadmap for finishing your book—because contrary to what movies show us, it's not just "type, spell check, publish." 

Finishing a book requires a systematic, step-by-step approach that prevents overwhelm and helps you track real progress.

Why You Need a Step-by-Step Process

Our culture perpetuates myths about book writing—think Jo March in Little Women or countless Christmas movies where characters magically go fr...

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In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, we dive deep into one of the most common struggles writers face: the feeling that their book is taking forever to complete. If you've ever caught yourself thinking "I'm too slow" or "this book will never be finished," this episode is for you.

The Story We Tell Ourselves

About 80% of the time, the feeling that our writing is "too slow" is simply a story we tell ourselves. This...

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Welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this solo episode, Rhonda tackles a sneaky form of procrastination that plagues so many writers—what she calls “procraftination.”

You know the feeling. You sit down to write that tricky third scene in Act Two… and suddenly you need to read just one more writing craft book. 

Or register for a new workshop. Or spend two hours researching the Victorian medical tools your character might use—even though that detail doesn’t show up for...

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In this solo episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Rhonda dives into one of the most common struggles writers face—imposter syndrome. 

If you’ve ever heard that insidious voice whisper, “Who do you think you are?” or “Your writing isn’t good enough,” this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone—and that voice is lying.

Drawing on thousands of weekly check-ins from writers inside her First Book Finish program, Rhonda unpacks why imposter syndrome shows up (especially for...

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Welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this solo episode, Rhonda dives into two of the most common struggles writers face: finding the time and the focus to write consistently—especially during emotionally and politically challenging times.

She shares how global events and personal overwhelm can lead to creative paralysis, making it feel almost impossible to stay on track with writing goals. 

But rather than waiting for the perfect time or long, uninterrupted hours, Rhonda encourages a more com...

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If you’ve been toying with the idea of writing a memoir — or you’re knee-deep in draft pages wondering what now? — you’re going to love this conversation with memoir coach and author Wendy Dale.

Wendy’s the author of Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and the creator of The Memoir Engineering System, a structured seven-step process for turning your life stories into page-turning memoirs. 

She’s also been a memoir coach for 17 years and has read more than a tho...

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Hey there, Writer—welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of short fiction with the wonderful Pamela Gwyn Kripke. If you’ve ever been curious about writing short stories, how to build a collection, or what publishing with a small press actually looks like—this conversation is for you.

Pamela is an award-winning writer with bylines in The New York Times, Elle, Seventeen, Newsweek and more. Her debut novel At The Seam...

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Hey there, Writer—this week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re diving into something so many of us wrestle with: how to get that first draft down… faster. And more importantly—without all the agony.

I’m joined by Daphne Gray-Grant, who brings a lifetime of experience to the writing process. She grew up in her family’s newspaper business, later worked as a senior editor at The Vancouver Sun, and somewhere in the middle of all that, gave birth to triplets...