Ekta Garg is an award-winning, hybrid-published author who writes stories where grief, magic, and hope meet. We talk about her three books, why she chose hybrid publishing after querying 80 agents, her 500-words-a-day writing habit, and the reader who told her The Truth About Elves should be required holiday reading. She's local to me in Champaign-Urbana, and this one is full of community love.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Reviewer, Editor, Author, Dreamer (and why it spells READ)

• Building systems as an indie author (and a book-event wagon)

• Her three books: The Truth About Elves, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, and The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories

• Self, traditional, and hybrid publishing explained

• Why 500 words a day works for her, and how to find your own number

• Her big dream: reach, not sales

• Novel Bookcamp, the writing retreat she now leads

CHAPTERS

00:00 A reader's holiday story

00:25 Meet Ekta Garg: her bio and building community

06:13 Bollywood, K-dramas, and storytelling

07:11 Organizing systems for indie authors

13:47 Her three fantasy books

16:29 Becoming an author: her origin story

18:47 Coloring, dance, and being a "word artist"

22:12 Hybrid vs. self vs. traditional publishing

31:45 Teaching writing workshops

36:20 Writing 500 words a day

41:20 Big dreams and Novel Bookcamp

50:00 November book events and wrap-up

NOTABLE QUOTES

"If you can only write on Wednesdays at two o'clock, then put it down like it's a doctor's appointment."

"The actual number doesn't matter. What matters is the exercise and the frequency and the consistency."

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• The Truth About Elves (5th anniversary: buy a copy from Ekta and get a free Christmas ornament)

• In the Heart of the Linden Wood

• The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories

• Atmosphere Press (Ekta's hybrid publisher)

• Novel Bookcamp Writing Conference and Retreat: novelbookcamp.org

• Spineless Books, Urbana

• Champaign Public Library writing workshops

• Taste of India (Indian Cultural Society of Urbana-Champaign, benefiting Feeding Our Kids)

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

SEE EKTA IN NOVEMBER

• Nov 4, 6pm: Local indie author panel at the Literary, Champaign

• Nov 14: Bookfest, Peoria

• Nov 20: Pink Friday, Bloomington Country Club

• Nov 21–22: Gifford State Bank Community Craft Fair, Gifford

• Nov 28: CU Yuletide Market at the Orpheum, Champaign

FIND EKTA

Website: ektargarg.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ektargarg

Facebook: facebook.com/ReviewerEditorAuthorDreamer

ABOUT MAYA

I'm Maya Gouliard, a fantasy author, artist, and host of The Makings of an Artist. I talk with working creatives about where they started, what their days look like now, and the dreams they're still chasing. It's not too late to create.

FIND MAYA

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Discord (book club, writers, makers): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

My book Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

WANT TO BE A GUEST?

https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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What if the bio is the least interesting part? Catrina Taylor is a mom, sci-fi author, multimedia publisher, Twitch streamer, and podcast host with nearly 70 books behind her. She knew at twelve she'd be a mom, a teacher, and an author, and she's quietly been all three ever since.

We talk about going indie as a single mom (because she had to feed her kids), the night book one went free and 5,000 people downloaded it, why she turned down a TV or movie intro, and how her 5am writing streams (as a redheaded VTuber catgirl) became body doubling for writers everywhere. Plus her big dream: Third Space, a bookstore, art shop, and creative hub for our own community.

In this episode

- Writing as a career from day one

- Indie vs. traditional publishing, and why she chose 70%

- Free first books, read-through, and series momentum

- Imposter syndrome, ADHD, and saying no too soon

- VTubing, Twitch, and body doubling for writers

- Third Space and what's next for Xarrok

Chapters

00:00 Show up and put a word down

00:26 Meet Catrina Taylor

06:56 Knowing at twelve she'd be an author

10:05 Single mom to indie author

12:35 Indie vs. traditional publishing

17:08 Your goal is to stir emotion

20:47 Book one free, 5,000 downloads

25:05 Imposter syndrome and ADHD

29:50 A day in the life of a full-time author

32:18 VTubing and body doubling for writers

42:34 Big dream: Third Space

50:18 Where to start with her books

Notable quote

"If you only put the word 'the' on the page, that's more than you put on the page yesterday." (Catrina Taylor)

Mentioned in this episode

- Xarrok: Birth of an Empire series by Catrina Taylor

- Knights of the Immortals by Catrina Taylor

- Two Cats Writing podcast (Catrina Taylor and MJ Beasi)

- I Was a Teenage Death God by MJ Beasi

- Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern

Find Catrina

Twitch: twitch.tv/theladywrites

X: x.com/theladywrites

Facebook: facebook.com/TheLadyWrites

The Writing Network: thewritingnetwork.com

About Maya

I'm Maya Gouliard, a fantasy author (the Chroma series), artist, and community builder. I came to writing later in life, after raising four kids, and I'm living proof it's not too late to create. Here you'll find conversations with working creatives, my own messy creative life, and the books I love. You're already an artist. So go try things, make messy art, and learn as you go.

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

Know a creative with a story? Become a guest: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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H.H. Rune started writing the Find Me series in 1999. She didn't publish until she was 50. It took as long as it took (and she wouldn't change a thing).

We talk about her rule-breaking series (part memoir, part fiction, told in first, second, and third person), the traveling books she hands to strangers, and finding out she has ADHD at 52. We also swap stories about bookmarks, ferries, doing the whole indie business ourselves, and the moment each of us finally got to say "I'm an author."

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome, H.H. Rune

1:48 Why we need messy stories

3:35 The Find Me series

5:34 Bios, algorithms, and Swiss Army knives

8:47 The paintings on her wall

10:58 Art camp, ADHD, and early stories

12:42 Why it took 25 years

14:27 From one book to five

18:30 Real life and the business side

21:18 Bookmarks, a ferry, and taking chances

25:12 A rule-breaking series

29:46 Color realms and a mother's skills

32:48 A real writing day (and ADHD)

39:48 Doing it all yourself

43:36 Publishing Waterweaver

46:03 When did you call yourself an author?

48:51 Living book five

53:17 The big dream

55:59 Where to find her books

"It took as long as it took to be able to say, I'm the artist, I'm the writer, my stories deserve to be told and heard." (H.H. Rune)

Mentioned in this episode:

Find Me: Extraordinary Life Seeker series, Books 1 to 3 (Book 4 coming soon)

Ellie Alexander (cozy mystery author and book coach)

Reedsy (free book formatting)

Atticus (formatting software)

Vellum (formatting software)

IngramSpark

Draft2Digital

Find H.H.:

Website: https://hhrune.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.h.rune/

Substack: https://hhruneauthor.substack.com

Find Me, Book One: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3GD4P59

Want a signed nameplate? Send H.H. a postcard from your town.

About Maya:

Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Want to be a guest? Tell me about your creative life here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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Pull Up a Chair

Pull up a chair. Let's talk about Spark to Story, my free writing workshop at Rantoul Public Library. It's the first stop in my Spark to Published framework (from your very first idea all the way to selling your book). I share how the workshop works, what happened at the last one, and where I hope this goes next.

Join me Saturday, October 17 at 10am at Rantoul Public Library. Free, casual, and no writing experience needed.

In this episode:

- How I went from not writing at 48 to three and a half books published

- Planner, pantser, or somewhere in between

- Why you should find your story's destination first

- The two writers at my first workshop (and why everyone left better off)

- My resource shelf

- The big dream: a workshop for every step, idea to sold

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome

00:13 Pull Up a Chair: Spark to Story

01:39 How the Workshop Works

05:05 Story Pieces and Your Plan

06:10 The Last Workshop

07:13 My Resource Shelf

08:00 The Big Dream

09:10 Why I Do This (Join Me Oct 17)

"The plan should fit how you work and how your brain works."

"Support and friendship and community is how we improve and we grow."

Mentioned in this episode:

- Spark to Story, Sat Oct 17, 10am, Rantoul Public Library: [Facebook event link]

- On Writing by Stephen King

- Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

- Brandon Sanderson's Creative Writing Lectures: youtu.be/RPyj376qJiw

- Scribes Guild (on my Discord): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

About Maya:

Maya Gouliard is a fantasy author, artist, and community organizer in Rantoul, Illinois. She writes the Chroma series and runs the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club. Her whole message is simple. It's not too late to create, to grow, or to find who you are.

Find Maya:

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Website: mayagouliard.com

Substack: substack.com/@mayagouliard

TikTok: @mayagouliard

Discord (Scribes Guild + WWFBC): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Waterweaver on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

Want to be a guest on The Makings of an Artist? Apply here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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Becky Wanzek | The Makings of an Artist

Becky Wanzek has always been an artist. (She took every art class her high school offered.) Today she runs Becky's Enchanted Emporium, a side hustle full of beaded earrings, mini ornament trees, diamond paintings, and upcycled treasures. We met as booth neighbors at local markets, and this conversation is just as fun as hanging out behind the tables.

We talk about Pinterest rabbit holes, a paint-splattered remote, the "fine art vs. crafty art" question, and why her storage unit is organized by season. Plus her big news: an Etsy shop launching January 2027.

In this episode:

- Turning a love of making into a market business

- Why jewelry is her best seller (and easiest to ship)

- Art school, college detours, and the art teacher path not taken

- Making art as her after-work unwinding

- Using pop culture to find your audience

Chapters:

00:00 Becky's Enchanted Emporium

00:20 Meet Becky

02:08 An Etsy shop launching in 2027

02:45 Mini trees, jewelry, and diamond paintings

06:03 Pinterest rabbit holes (and a paint-splattered remote)

08:25 Storage units, seasonal totes, and market prep

13:58 Art was always the plan

18:41 Fine art vs. crafty art

22:50 Audiobooks, D&D, and her art mentors

28:11 College credits and the art teacher detour

34:52 The side hustle dream (and her unwinding)

39:09 The big dream

41:00 Social media and picking one platform

44:52 Permission, pop culture, and target audiences

47:14 Etsy plans: cowgirl hats and polka dots

"Don't put a plant in a vase in front of me and ask me to draw it."

"Most, if not all, artists love talking about their work."

Mentioned in this episode:

- The Idea Store (creative reuse shop, Lincoln Square, Urbana)

- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

- Johanna Basford's coloring books and calendars

Find Becky:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069950053255

Instagram: @beckyenchantedemporium

Etsy shop launching January 2027

About Maya:

I'm Maya Gouliard. Fantasy author, artist, and host of The Makings of an Artist. I love talking with creatives about where they started, what their days look like now, and the dreams they're still chasing.

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club (Discord): discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Want to be a guest? https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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I showed up. Hoodie, ponytail, no makeup (and a very tired brain).

In a world where an app can fake your eye contact, I'd rather just be real. So here's my creative week, messy parts included.

This week:

- Podcast update (interviews booked through November!)

- Organizing the bar inventory at Papa Del's (so satisfying to finish something)

- Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

- Writing, and learning to "just do it" instead of "do it well"

- A tour of my craft room (and the unfinished projects in it)

- A little journaling haul (Pochacco!)

Next Monday on I've Always Got Time to Talk: fantasy author Nikki McCormack on going from traditional to indie publishing.

Chapters:

00:00 I showed up (even when it's hard)

00:33 The creepy AI eye-contact button

00:58 Showing up real and messy

01:48 Podcast update

04:04 Launching the interview series

05:58 Organizing at Papa Del's

06:52 Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: The Bone Maker

08:06 Writing, and just doing it instead of doing it well

09:38 Craft room tour and unfinished projects

11:08 Journaling finds and stickers

11:24 Next week: Nikki McCormack

Links:

Join the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Waterweaver (Chroma, book one): https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

Book sleeves and handmade goods: [WEBSITE LINK]

Subscribe: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

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Shoshie Bauer | The Makings of an Artist

Shoshie Bauer spent twenty years as a working artist (whimsical watercolors, then award-winning miniatures). Now she's stepping away from art as a job and heading to grad school for conservation. We talk about knowing your worth, branding yourself, surviving the internet, and why you have to call yourself an artist first. Plus a real, messy talk about AI.

"You have to identify as an artist for other people to accept you as one." (Shoshie)

IN THIS EPISODE

- Once you've been paid, you're a professional. Period.

- Brand yourself, not your art

- The pottery class story

- An honest talk about AI and small businesses

- Handling haters with "thank you for your comment"

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and meet Shoshie

01:06 Always an artist (ADHD, notebooks, writer parents)

02:39 Art school and the 90s gatekeepers

04:24 Indie or traditional? You can do both

06:17 Know your value (never discount)

08:33 Once you're paid, you're a professional

09:25 Brand yourself, not your art

12:55 Burnout and the big pivot

14:39 From mini painting to conservation

18:43 Showing up as your real self

20:31 Fail in public (the pottery class story)

23:01 Let's talk about AI

28:30 A photo of a bird vs. an AI prompt

31:30 Shoshie's art journey, take two

37:03 Community building and super fans

38:43 Creating the Shoshie persona

41:11 Handling haters

44:05 Who Moved My Cheese?

45:05 How real is too real online?

46:59 Never apologize for taking a break

49:17 Nuggets of wisdom (15 minutes a day)

53:43 Plant something native

55:29 Where to find Shoshie

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

- Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson

- I'd Rather Be in the Studio! by Alyson B. Stanfield: https://artbizsuccess.com

- Geoffrey Hinton on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

- Last episode, Jennifer Rabbitt: https://youtu.be/G97f8ETMkT4

FIND SHOSHIE

https://www.shoshiesminis.com

https://bio.site/ShoshiesMinis

ABOUT MAYA

I'm Maya Gouliard, a fantasy author and artist in central Illinois. I believe it's never too late to create, to grow, or to find who you are.

FIND ME

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Website: mayagouliard.com

Substack: mayagouliard.substack.com

Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Pinterest: @mayagouliard

Facebook: facebook.com/mayagouliard.fantasyauthor

Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club on Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Be a guest: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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Nikki told her sixth grade teacher she was going to be an author. She was eleven. She was writing about talking unicorns in space. Twenty books later (plus six short stories), she's still at it.

We talk about the traditional deal that turned her book into a romance it was never meant to be, why she went indie, and how she writes an entire series before editing book one. We also talk about her love of jumping spiders, her 18-year-old cat, and the joy that keeps her writing even when it doesn't pay the bills yet.

Chapters:

0:00 Writing Advice for Authors: It's a Journey

0:36 Introduction and guest bio

4:05 Nikki McCormack's Epic Fantasy Books

5:44 Becoming a Fantasy Writer

8:41 Writing Career and First Publishing Deal

12:25 Writing Routine and Author Business

15:04 Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing

21:18 Steampunk, Epic Fantasy, and the Vanris Series

23:58 Epic Fantasy Worldbuilding

25:41 Writing Process, Editing, and Beta Readers

31:21 Video Game Writing and Series Releases

34:13 Writing Tools: Papyrus, Word, and ProWritingAid

36:26 Kindle Unlimited, Wide Publishing, and Direct Sales

38:21 Upcoming Fantasy Book Projects

42:02 Making a Living as an Author

45:54 Best Craft Books and Writing Advice

49:56 Writing Advice: Don't Rush Publishing

51:01 Authentic Author Marketing and Social Media

54:11 Vanris Epic Fantasy Series and Found Family

"If I could digest the joy I get from it, I would be fat and happy." (Nikki McCormack)

Mentioned in this episode:

- Child of Vanris (The Warden's Son, Book 1; placed 4th in the 2025 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards)

- The Warden's Son series: Child of Vanris, Blood of Vanris, Heart of Vanris, Throne of Vanris

- Daughter of Vanris trilogy: Wave Dancer, Wave-Touched, Wavelord

- Warden's Rise (short story)

- Clockwork Enterprises: The Girl and the Clockwork Cat, The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy, The Girl and the Clockwork Crossfire

- Birth of the Firebringer by Meredith Ann Pierce

- On Writing by Stephen King

- Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

- Papyrus Author (writing software)

- ProWriting Aid

- Alyssa Matesic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjakQDcauhEDx_ovnK36kMQ

- Abbie Emmons: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieEmmons

Find Nikki:

Website: https://www.elysiumpalace.com/

Shop direct: https://shop.elysiumpalace.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nikkimccormackwriter

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/authornikki.bsky.social

About Maya:

I'm Maya Gouliard, a fantasy author, artist, and community organizer who believes it's never too late to create. I write the Chroma series and host the Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club (fantasy with older women at the center).

Waterweaver: https://a.co/d/2tl8Unz

YouTube: youtube.com/@mayagouliard

Wise Woman's Fantasy Book Club Discord: discord.gg/tQZrHm8YWC

Want to be a guest? Tell me about your creative life here: https://mayagouliard.substack.com/p/become-a-guest-makings-of-an-artist

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