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Bestselling YA fantasy author and native Floridian Bethany Baptiste takes us inside her extraordinary journey—from dropping out of high school at 16 to becoming a nationally recognized voice in young adult fantasy. Her debut novel, The Poisons We Drink—described as Practical Magic meets Breaking Bad—follows a young witch brewing love potions in Washington, D.C., where magic, politics, and power collide. Born out of Baptiste’s frustrations with the 2016 election and social justice issues, the book carved out bold storytelling rooted in identity, resilience, and truth.

But Baptiste’s career quickly became entwined with larger cultural battles. Her Disney/Pixar Lightyear tie-in novel, which featured queer representation in Buzz Lightyear’s world, famously angered Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sparking his public feud with Disney over LGBTQ+ inclusion. Many point to this flashpoint as part of the escalating tensions that would later shape Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. Baptiste also became caught up in the Cait Corrain review-bombing scandal, in which Corrain—a white author—used fake Goodreads accounts to boost her own book while leaving one-star reviews to drag down debut authors of color, including Baptiste. The fallout highlighted how bias and bad-faith attacks in publishing disproportionately harm marginalized voices.

Through it all, Baptiste shares with unflinching honesty the obstacles she’s faced as a Black author in publishing, her breakthrough moment after 25 rejections, and the craft practices that sustain her: writing emotional beats over plot points, treating world-building as character-building, and reframing productivity around time instead of word count. She also emphasizes the importance of community—fellow authors, beta readers, and industry allies—who helped her navigate both creative and systemic challenges.

Listen in for a conversation that blends craft, controversy, and courage—and walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your own writing practice.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=craftchat

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🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.

About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.

When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.

💜 Connect with J.D. Myall
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Watch episodes on YouTube as well.

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What happens when a historian of medicine writes fantasy fiction? In this illuminating conversation, debut author Lindsay Bird takes us behind the scenes of her upcoming novel "The Sun-Blessed Prince," a story where immortal Givers who resurrect life clash with deadly Reapers in a world divided by opposing philosophies on life and death.

Lindsay reveals how her academic work studying antibiotic development provides a unique lens for fantasy worldbuilding, allowing her to create richly detailed settings grounded in practical realities. "If you're living in a winter wonderland," she explains, "you need to answer questions about heating, food, and construction." This attention to how environment shapes culture makes her fictional world feel authentic even as it explores magical elements and philosophical questions.

Her "unicorn" publishing journey—from completing manuscripts during her PhD studies to securing a two-book deal with Tor UK and Random House Canada—offers both inspiration and practical insights for aspiring writers. Lindsay balances celebrating her success with acknowledging the twenty years of writing practice that made it possible, including "over two million words" of fanfiction that honed her storytelling skills.

The conversation delves into craft topics rarely covered in author interviews, from creating compelling villains whose motivations readers understand ("Cool move, still murder") to the importance of incorporating sensory details beyond just sight and sound. Lindsay's advice to try experiences firsthand—"If you're writing about swords, join a HEMA club"—reminds writers that immersive research creates authenticity readers can feel.

"The Sun-Blessed Prince" releases May 1, 2025, with sequel "The Moon-Blessed King" to follow. Connect with Lindsay at lindsaybird.com to follow her debut journey and learn more about her unique approach to fantasy storytelling that blends historical perspective with imaginative worldbuilding.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=craftchat

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Support the show

🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.

About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.

When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.

💜 Connect with J.D. Myall
📸 Instagram

🌐 Website & Media Kit

💌 Newsletter

🔗 Linktree

Watch episodes on YouTube as well.

💜 Level up your writing process with Scrivener — the ...

Send us Fan Mail

Bestselling romance author Zeo Axelrod takes listeners behind the scenes of contemporary romance writing in this candid, insightful conversation about creativity, publishing paths, and authentic storytelling.

Axelrod reveals her unique "ZeoVision" approach—visualizing characters and scenes like Netflix in her brain—which allows her to deeply inhabit her fictional worlds before writing. Her journey from rewriting a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode she disliked to becoming a Target Book Club selection demonstrates there's no single path to publishing success.

The contrast between traditional and indie publishing experiences offers valuable perspective for authors navigating both worlds. As a hybrid author, Axelrod discusses how the "hurry up and wait" nature of traditional publishing challenges her creative process compared to the immediate gratification of self-publishing. She shares practical advice on formatting, distribution, and marketing across platforms while emphasizing the importance of building genuine community connections.

Most compelling is Axelrod's perspective on diversity in romance. As a Black female author, she advocates for stories that reflect real-world experiences of marginalized characters without reducing them to their struggles. "These are the same kissing books," she notes, "they just happen to have brown people in them." Her approach to contemporary romance balances acknowledging societal challenges while centering joy and authentic relationships where characters complement rather than complete each other.

For writers at any stage, Axelrod's core message resonates: "Write the book of your heart." Despite industry trends and publisher hesitations, authentic storytelling ultimately finds its audience. Whether crafting conflict, developing characters, or building worlds, the key is creating stories that feel true to your vision while engaging readers seeking both escape and emotional truth.

Ready to bring your romance writing to the next level? Visit jdmyall.com for workshops, show notes, and more resources to help you craft your own bestseller.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=craftchat

romance writing tips, Xio Axelrod interview, hybrid publishing, indie vs traditional publishing, how to write a romance novel, diverse romance books, Black romance authors, contemporary romance, writing diverse characters, how to become a bestselling author, self-publishing romance, romance book marketing, author branding tips, publishing industry insights, behind the scenes with authors, ZeoVision, writing the book of your heart, romance readers podcast, Black female authors, Target Book Club author, fanfiction to published author, writing for marginalized voices, romance book podcast, how to format and distribute a book, publishing advice for new authors

Support the show

🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.

About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.

When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.

💜 Connect with J.D. Myall
📸 Instagram

🌐 Website & Media Kit

💌 Newsletter

🔗 Linktree

Watch episodes on YouTube as well.

💜 Level up your writing process with Scrivener — the ...